While I'm home on break I like to think I'm healthy and whatnot so I could to the gym quite a bit. The bad thing about going to the gym in my hometown though, is that I see people I went to high school with. Every time I see an old classmate I desperately hope that they don't notice me. It's always especially awkward when I don't know whether or not said old classmate remembers who I am. The following are the general categories into which I've filed these people.
1. Cocky guys
You know the ones. The guys with the home made man tanks that are cut extra so as to showcase their *non-existent* abs. The guys that spend more time looking in the mirror than they actually do working out. Also, they are always at the gym with 7 of their friends. All they do though if watch each other lift and spot each other and participate in other ridiculous activities. You know, girls may go to the bathroom in packs, but boys go to the gym in herds. The cockiest of the cocky though, is Ted. Ted is on the Harvard rowing team and wants absolutely everyone to know it. It's not enough to just go on the rowing machine, he must also wear his rowing onesy that had "HARVARD ROWING TEAM" emblazoned on it. I mean seriously, what is wrong with plain shorts? Is the chaffing really that bad? I mean sure, it's a great accomplishment to go to Harvard and be on the rowing team and whatever, but come on. There's definitely something to be said for modesty. He's like one half of those annoying twins from that Facebook movie.
2. Annoying Bitches
There's really no other way to describe them. These are the girls who do their hair and makeup just to go to the gym, and are always wearing the latest in gym fashion which is always neon colored. These girls usually just walk on the treadmill side by side while gossiping about old high school stories as well as anyone who dares walk too close to them. Girls in this category only go to the gym to be seen, and hopefully hit on, by the cocky guys described above. But of course, annoying bitches flirt with all the male personal trainers, when really they are just fishing for compliments. Basically these are the girls who go to the gym to say they go to the gym, when really they aren't actually doing anything at the gym.
3. What the....
Those people that you think you recognize but aren't quite sure if it's actually them so you spend the majority of your time creeping on them to try to figure out exactly who they are. Basically this category turns me into a stage five creeper. The worst is when they notice you staring and you then have to act like you were looking at something else or, in my case, proceed to immediately be embarrassed and never look in their direction again.
4. Teachers
Subcategory: Things that cannot be unseen
I do not want to see teachers outside of school. I like to think that they live at school and their sole purpose in life is to educate apathetic youths. But no, that is not the case. It's terrifying really, to see a teacher in real life. Especially if it's a teacher you didn't like. So you, or I in this case, spend my workout hiding out from the teacher. It's actually a workout in itself to avoid people at the gym. The worst though, is seeing your old principle at the gym. There really are no words for the trauma this causes.
When you work out with strangers it's sort of a camaraderie thing, everyone is sweaty and nasty but that's ok, because there's no judgment. But in the presence of any of the aforementioned people, the gym becomes an even more torturous experience.
So long story short, I'm going to get a home gym.
Leah
