Gym embarrassment

By Karen McNew
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: January 29, 2008

So I have already “blogged” about the busy gym now that the holidays are over but I have to say a busy gym leads to some embarrassing moments.

I have a theory that we all over indulge over the weekend and on Monday feel like we can undo two days of bad diet choices with one night at the gym on Monday.

I say this because Monday at the gym I walk in and it is packed.  Treadmills are going full speed.  Weights are clanking around like a big wind chime.  I mean there are people everywhere.  I get a little intimidated because I am an amateur “exerciser” in my mind.

I had determined on my way to the gym that I was going to use the elliptical machine for 45 minutes.  I wanted to give my legs and shin a break from the pavement pounding they took from a 4 mile Sunday run.

So, I get to the gym it’s busy as can be and I spot an unmanned machine of my choice in the distance.  To get to it, I have to walk by what I have lovingly nicknamed the “pit.“  I don’t go in the pit.  Professional “exercisers” work out in the “pit.“  It is where the main weight machines are and the really big dumb bells rest.  I take comfort as I pass the pit knowing I will soon be at my destination and can get started on my 45 minutes and blend it with the rest of the crowd.

I have to say in the back of my mind I wondered why such a desirable piece of equipment sat cold and motionless amongst the whir of activity.  I get closer.  One step away now… I go to put my water bottle in the cup holder and catch a glimpse of an OUT OF ORDER sign taped to it.  I felt like I had just tripped over my own feet because the whole row of runners behind this machine could have seen my blunder 100 yards away.  Each of them was probably thinking, “I’m glad I’m not that girl.“

I tried to play it off.  I mumbled to myself of course it isn’t working…  as if I had known that all along.  I quickly turned around nearly skipped past the pit and made a bee line up the stairs to continue my search for a machine.

Here’s where it gets bad on my part.  A guy was getting off an elliptical machine… The one I wanted… He cleans the machine… I am two steps away… I slide right onto the machine and start programming it.  I was silently excited that things had worked out only to have a teeny bit of guilt flow over me as the girl on the machine next to me looked over her shoulder to what I can only imagine was her friend on a treadmill behind and give a “shucks-like” grimace.

I had a split second to either give up the machine or continue with my workout as if I hadn’t noticed the non-verbal communication that had just taken place.  I chose to continue my workout.  My search was over and I didn’t have it in me to keep looking for another elliptical.