Friday, May 27, 2016

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?

27 comments:

  1. Funny thing, your story about the lockers reminds me that when I go to work, I always park in the same part of the garage! If for some reason, I park in a different spot, I can't remember where I parked my car!

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    1. Ah yes, I can relate to that! Very similar situation with garages and locker rooms! The remote car lock "beep" function has helped me out many times when I needed to find my car. =D

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  2. HA ha.....funny story about you needing to hover to retrieve the earring! I have been in similar situations where it's a petty little thing I'm waiting to do, and didn't want to inconvenience anyone else...but was very inconvenienced MYSELF in my plight. I'm glad your story had a happy ending!

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    1. Totally hear you! At some points, it just gets ridiculous and you start thinking, how much is worth the inconvenience factor, right? Too bad it's always impossible to know up front. Thanks Kimberly!

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  3. I am such a creature of habit and pick the same locker! I park in the same area of the parking lot at work and sit in the same seat at the lunch table. :)

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    1. I think a lot of us are creatures of habit! When things are crazy, sometimes the familiarity can be nice, yes?

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  4. Glad you were able to get your earring back! And I've totally done that with the lockers before!

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    1. Thanks Alexandra! Isn't it the most awkward thing to have to search for your locker? It's much easier if the locker room is empty. =D

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  5. I'm totally one of those people who use the same locker every day :-) When I get to the gym and someone else is using "my" locker I'm all out of sorts. Thankfully we have to bring our own locks so it's pretty easy to find my locker since my lock is bright pink :-)

    There is a guy who like to use the same Olympic barbell all the time, though. It's funny when someone else is using "his" bar. You can see the mild agony!

    I agree that it's a little weird to get ready in the morning and then get sweaty a few hours later. I wish I could figure out how to take blog photos in the morning so that I get my freshly washed hair and make-up instead of my post-workout attempt to put myself back together. However, it's worth it to me to get my workout done at lunch!

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    1. Having a nicely unique padlock like a bright pink one can help out tremendously! Our lockers have e-padlocks so I thought about bringing a magnet to slap on top each time, LOL.

      Hilarious about the guy and "his" bar. Have you ever used that bar on purpose just to see the reaction? There's a guy in my gym who likes to use "his" treadmill and I admit I've gone onto it on purpose a few times. =D

      So when do you take your blog photos? After work? Yes, it is awesome to get the workout done early so you don't have to think about it the rest of the day! It's a very efficient use of time. =)

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    2. Hahah, I just use whatever bar is available. I don't have a favorite :-) He's actually a really nice guy so I try not to antagonize him.

      I do take my blog photos after work or on weekends.

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    3. So how is your new trainer? And does a lot of your blog photography depend on when Jason is available?

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  6. I totally get your plight about getting sweaty so soon after a shower in the morning. I'd have issues with that as well. Is it always the way that when you NEED something, the person manages to hang around and not move on? So funny! Glad you found your earring back though! Thanks for linking!

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    1. Thanks for hosting the link-up, Marcia! I am loving reading everyone's runfessions - there are so many where I completely relate!!!

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  7. I normally chose the same locker, but I always knew which one was mine anyway because of my lock combo. It's strange too whenever someone took that locker before me. I felt like Sheldon "that's my spot" Cooper.

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    1. My locker room has e-locks, so I thought about bringing in a magnet to slap on top of my locker each time, LOL. A unique padlock helps a lot! Great comparison to Sheldon Cooper, hehehehe.

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  8. I used to use the same locker all the time but now I don't, but I generally am in the same area. I have definitely opened the wrong locker before. So glad you got your earring back.

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    1. Thanks Kayla! Yes, I've seen a lot of folks who don't even bother securing their belongings in the lockers. I have opened up the wrong locker many times too!

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  9. No, no -- I couldn't get ready all over again after that short amount of time. I do understand your dilemma! I used to run a lunch on the TM at the Y. But I'd wait as looonnnggg as possible before going(like 2:30) so that when I returned to work all stinky-fied, it wouldn't matter because I'd only be there a short amount of time. The things we do...

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    1. I totally agree with you - I like going to the gym in the mid or late afternoon the best for the exact same reasons! Minimize the stinky-fied factor as much as possible, or better yet, just go home right afterwards. You totally understand!!!

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  10. Funny story about your earrings! I don't like it when the locker room is empty except for me, then someone comes in and takes the locker directly across from mine, or right next to mine. It makes things awkward. Maybe it's because they have to have their "regular" locker?

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    1. OMG don't even get me started on occurrences like that. It happens to me ALL the time. There are so many lockers to choose from so what are the odds?!?!? I think you are right - it's because the person wants "their" locker, LOL!

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  11. I actually make and effort to park in a different spot, change lockers, walk different routes... I think it stimulates the brain and reduces being so automatic about everything. Helps me smell the roses so to speak !
    LOL about your earring. Glad you found it.

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    1. My thoughts exactly, Karen! I think it's very healthy to shake up the little things and keep the brain juices flowing. Awareness is an absolutely wonderful thing - like you, I appreciate not taking things for granted. Thanks so much, Karen!

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  12. Thanks Karen! Yes, summertime heat and humidity are definitely wreckers for outdoor lunchtime workouts and you are right about the insanely cold AC! That is a good idea to try shower wipes! If only those wipes could fix the hair. =D

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  13. Oh wow!! the case of the flying earing!! I'm glad you got it back!! I was imagining this woman was there for a super long treadmill run!

    I don't leave my stuff at the gym locker room, but I can relate with my zumba spot... all the way in the back, on the right hand side corner. If anybody comes near it, i'll jump all the way to the front... I'm a creature of habit.

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    1. Thanks Ana! The woman was on the treadmill for over an hour, and I ended up waiting for her for about 15-20 minutes. All told, it wasn't that long of a wait, but it just FELT really long, you know?

      Interesting Zumba spot you picked! I kind of visualized you to be someone who would be closer to the front, for some reason? Isn't it weird how different the perspective is from a different spot?

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