Photogs spotted "HSM" star Zac Efron heading for the gym on Wednesday, and he clearly needs it -- he lost a foot race to a paparazzo!

Efron was going to Ramsey's Sports Center in Toluca Lake when he spotted a gaggle of photogs waiting for him. He made a break for the door, but so did they -- and the paps won by a mile!

Zac laughed off the whole thing and went inside -- presumably to hit the treadmill.