Yesterday, Maritza wrote about the gym experience post New Years. I had to laugh on a number of her points. First off, her conscious decision to wear her marathon shirt so that people would not think that she was with the resolution warrior crowd was priceless. I can relate though. Those of us who have been hitting the gym year-round firmly believe that we should have some sort of priority on the cardio-equipment waitlist. As it stands, I may have to wait until February before I find a free treadmill again.
All exaggeration aside, Maritza brings up another point. The gym is a fantastic place for people watching. Oh, the primping that is going on inside of the women’s locker room. Come on girls, we are here to sweat, get all red faced and messy-haired. As I pull my beenie hat over my wet hair and go, I am baffled by the amount of attention that is paid to the pre and post workout process. I digress.
Back to the topic of people watching; I have reason to believe that I might be being watched more than I am watching. I expect that last night in particular, after 1500 yards of hard swimming, I was making FLOP-turns instead of flip-turns during a 500 yard cool down. I was actually so disoriented that I think I might have turned sideways instead of head over heals. *sigh*
I know at least one person noticed my fatigue-induced (or so that is the excuse I am using) flip flopping. He stood inside the cafe and asked YaYa if I was “drowning.” Later, after a very long shower, I eyed a text message from him on my phone. It read, “U need 2 work on your flip turns.” Yeah, he’s a funny guy. Anyhow…
If YOU were people watching [read: checking me out] last night, I hope you also noticed how FAST I was during my 50’s, how effortlessly I was gliding through the water during them, and how I was not nearly as out of breath as I was last week.
Of course, you might also notice how cute I look in my swimsuit. Just look when I’m sucking in my belly otherwise… [we won’t go there]
Yes, I DO care about my appearance.
Again, I digress.
I’ll end with this: In the next month or two:
- may your wait for your chosen cardio be short
- may your work out be hard (as it should be)
- and may you enjoy watching and being watched while you flip or flop
Regardless of which you choose, just don’t stop working out. All of the resolution warriors will be gone soon.
Gym truths:
We look down our noses at the resolution warriors. Yup we watch the women’s, we can’t help it…
So true! When I was more into weight lifting than running, people would stop and watch, and not say anything! Every once in a while someone would ask a a workout question, but mostly no conversation. It was kind of creepy to be watched, but at the same time a compliment. I, too, will be happy when the new year’s resolutions folks are back into their usual routine.
At my gym, it’s mostly the guys who do all the primping…
I joined the gym with my son a year ago for Christmas. I dreaded being thought of as a resolution warrior. Having stuck in out for a whole year, I show up proudly, but I do still wear a race t-shirt.
I always laugh to see the RWs too, but on the other hand I’m also happy when I see the one or two that keep it up after March. I’m just glad the cardio at my Y is never filled up, otherwise I would probably be very upset!
If they all stuck with it, our gyms would have more cardio equipment. But since the trends speak from themselves, we have to wait it out year after year. Here’s to the one or two that succeed in sticking to it.
The New Year is always so funny at the gym. People tring to get in shape in 1 day after years of in activity. Luckily it does not last long.
I apologize for being a newbie that steals treadmills, but am proud to not be a RW! Hahahaha! I’ve started going in the mornings when the treads are nice and empty b/c even RWs aren’t going to get up at 5am. So I feel better about using one up….hope your gym clears out soon!
P.S. I’m still wearing race shirts there.
P.P.S. I get that some people are getting ready for work in the locker room, but I do not understand all the make-up and primping done BEFORE the workout. There was a lady there this morning with SO MUCH make-up on…it looked terribly itchy.
P.P.S.S. Great job on your speedy 50’s!!!!!!!
FYI: A new gym membership, if you have already been leading an active life, is not what I am referring to when I bring up Resolution Warriors.
Thank you for letting me NOT be the only not-a-NR-snob. I needed that :-)
I also wish I could get faster in the pool- even if it meant to worse flip turns than I do now.