Anyone ever get competitive at the gym?

I've just started college and there's a gym on campus that's free for students. I've started going to the gym since now I'm settled in and adjusted to my schedule. I went four times this week and each time I'm on a machine (treadmill, elliptical, stationary bike, anything really) I get competitive when someone hops onto the machine beside me. I sneak glances at their monitors to see how hard their working. I up the ante just because. I can't be the only one though right? I find that it's good motivation

And asking for injury. Someone else's fitness level may not be the same as yours. You work at your pace. You can push yourself, but if someone is way more fit than you are, pushing yourself to their numbers is just asking for injuries.

Oh alriiight. I've since stopped competing after reading these warnings. I'm feeling pretty good about it too actually.