Runfessions - gym edition

Happy Friday of Memorial Day weekend! I am linking up with Marcia for another edition of Runfessions.

Today we're going to talk about three gym-related runfessions.

Locker Roulette

I've seen some folks who are extremely routine-oriented at the gym. They use the same locker every day, use the same fitness equipment every day, pick the same spot in class every day. 

I am endeavoring to keep things diverse so I try to change up all aspects of my workout as much as possible. 

My "diversity" initiatives have gotten me into trouble with the gym lockers. There have been a couple times where I was in a hurry and/or distracted, so I just picked a random locker and ran out as quickly as possible. 

Then I come back after my workout... and can't remember what locker I used. ARGH!

I runfess the "locker search" has created some awkward moments for me. Especially when there are a lot of other people in the locker room in various stages of dress, so to speak. Clearly I need to be more mindful.

Clean-Up Time

I'm very fortunate that my company's gym includes a bevvy of free fitness classes throughout the day. There are several classes that appeal to me, but are scheduled at 11:15 AM. I would be thrilled if these were low-impact workouts like yoga, but in this instance I am talking about mega-sweat-bucket classes like spinning.

I find 11:15 awkward because it is only a few hours after I showered and got ready for work. I'm not exaggerating when I say "a few hours" - these days I've been getting out of bed at 8:15 AM! (I arrive at the office around 9:00.) It feels cumbersome to either a) have to do it all over again at noon, or b) feel unkempt for the rest of the day. I runfess that I tried skipping the before-work shower once or twice, but then I felt unkempt all morning. 

Basically, I'd rather find another time/format to work out than deal with the awkward timing. Convenience is a much higher priority. Wah, wah, wah.

Flying Earrings

Earlier this week, I was wearing a pair of stud earrings with backings that are a little on the loose side. I went onto the treadmill without removing them. Mid-run, one of the earrings came off. I saw it hit the console in front of me, bounce off, then ricochet onto the (occupied) treadmill next to me. The earring came to rest on the track surface in between the moving belt and the base, i.e.:

I couldn't actually see the earring, so I couldn't tell if it had fallen through the cracks.

The woman on my neighboring treadmill had her headphones on and didn't notice what had happened. She was in a groove! I felt bad about interrupting her workout for my plight. I decided to wait until she was done, and then I'd go search her treadmill. But wouldn't you know it, she ended up staying on the mill for quite some time.

I didn't want to stray too far away for concern that someone else might take her treadmill as soon as she got off. I runfess that I tried to manufacture nonchalant ways to stay close by. Stretches! Planks! Rowing machine! Yes, it felt a little creepy.

Of course, after the woman finished her cooldown, she still wasn't quite done. She did a couple of stretches, stood on the mill typing on her phone, drank from her water bottle several times, then wiped off the machine very thoroughly. The agony! The good news was that once she did finally step off, I was able to dive in and recover my lost earring very quickly. =) 

Lesson learned - do NOT wear earrings on the treadmill!

Do you have anything to runfess?