gym crazies

Thursday Thoughts – Volunteering and other stuff

March 10, 2016 by Michelle 22 Comments

A few random thoughts this morning….

… I was so excited to open my email yesterday and find out that not only will I be returning as a Boston Marathon volunteer again this year, but I got a finish line assignment! I love volunteering at this race and cannot wait for an up-close and personal view of those elites crossing the finish line!

… speaking of the Marathon…there’s a film being made here in Boston about the bombing and they recently put out a casting call to runners for the marathon scenes. Um…no thanks to that. I could not imagine wanting to re-live that day in any way…could you?

… and from the department of “gym crazies”… there’s a guy who’s been coming to my gym and working out in jeans…I kid you not! I’m all for squeezing a workout in when you can, but seriously how uncomfortable must that be!?! What is it about gyms that bring out the…er…more interesting behavior in people?

Linking up with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursdays

Tell me something random. Do you think you could be an extra in that movie?

Filed Under: Boston Marathon, gym crazies, race volunteering, Thursday Thoughts

August Runfessions

August 28, 2015 by Michelle 17 Comments

I’ve missed the past couple of Runfession Fridays, but I’m happy to be linking up with Marcia today! Time to cleanse my sweaty soul. Who’s in?

Runfession #1 –– My running is stressing me out! While I am thrilled to be running again, both my progress and my pace are slow and I’m feeling like the calendar is my enemy – 63 days til RnR Philly.

Runfession #2 — The recent killer humidity (like 97%) has pushed me off the early morning run bandwagon and back into the gym. Everyone has their breaking point and 97% by 6 a.m. is mine!

Runfession #3 — The gym has been uber-quite lately and I must admit I miss the gym crazies.

Runfession #4 — I mentioned the other day how much I’m enjoying my new FitBit, but I have to say I’m a little horrified at my low step count on non-running days. With my hectic work schedule of late, I am clearly sitting in front of my computer far too much. Nothing like those little glowing numbers staring you in the face for some extra motivation – must.move.more.

OK – now it’s your turn. What are your runfessions?

Filed Under: gym crazies, RnRPhilly, Runfessions

May Runfessions

May 29, 2015 by Michelle 18 Comments

It’s Runfession Friday and I’m linking up with Marcia again – time to cleanse my sweaty soul. Who’s in?

Runfession #1 –– OK, this one should come as no great surprise given my knee woes – I haven’t run much this month. But, now that I’ve got the green light, I’ll be adding miles in June!

Runfession #2 — This one’s more of a food-fession: my schedule has been super hectic lately and I have been eating a lot on the fly…and not always the best choices. I haven’t stepped on the scale but I’m fairly sure a few extra lbs have crept on to the scene – no bueno.

Runfession #3 — The gym crazies flood gates are now officially open at my gym! And, while I haven’t seen Mr. Dress Shoes lately, I have to admit I’m enjoying the people watching – it’s made the time on the elliptical go by faster.

Runfession #4 — While I know I’m suppose to ramp up my running slowly, I’m having a hard time suppressing the desire to sign up for a summer race. I generally don’t love running much less racing in the heat, but I’m feeling the need to put a target out there before I get to my fall races. Crazy to add the race calendar?

I’m also linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia for their Friday link-up. It’s a “Free Friday” this week so be sure to stop and check out what everyone’s talking about!

So tell me, what’s your Runfession? Do you race in the summer?

Filed Under: gym crazies, race calendar, Runfessions

Return of the Gym Crazies

May 15, 2015 by Michelle 24 Comments

It was not too long ago that I had commented on how much I liked my new gym…and that so far there had been no gym crazy sightings. Well, I should have known it wouldn’t last…so I happily share with you another edition of Gym Crazies!

This week’s cast of characters:

First, there was Running Man – this guy was clipping along at a good pace on the treadmill behind me when all the sudden he hops off and does a slow lap around the gym floor all while leaving the treadmill running…and then he’d jump back on again! This went on for a good 30 minutes the other day…and did I mention my gym does not have an indoor track so he was literally running in and around the equipment, all while his treadmill kept going.

Then there was Dress Shoes – I kid you not, a guy got on the elliptical next to me the other day wearing khaki pants and dress shoes! There’s no explaining this one…

And, finally I give you the Grunter – this woman grunted through her treadmill run and then upped the ante on the stairmaster. And, I’m not talking the occasionally grunt…it sounded like she was literally grunting with each step! She had headphones on so I can only imagine she couldn’t hear herself, right?

I’ll be heading over to the gym in a bit to get my strength workout in – can’t wait to see who will show up today!

Source: Cartoonstock

Do you ever feel like you’re the only sane person at your gym?

Filed Under: general musings, gym crazies

Thursday Thoughts – Gym Crazies Edition

July 31, 2014 by Michelle 17 Comments

So for some reason I convinced myself that I would be well-served to run my cruise intervals on the mill this morning – maybe because I’ve been frustrated with my pacing lately…maybe the insomnia I’ve been battling lately had caught up with me and I just wasn’t thinking clearly! In any event, I headed to my gym this morning to hit the treadmill.

And, as is so often the case… I entered into the another episode of Gym Crazies. Here’s a sample of today’s cast:

First there was Sprinting Man – this guy insisted on sprinting around the indoor track with little concern for those around him. Add to that the fact that it takes 16 laps to make one mile and you can understand my wonder at how he was banking those turns without hitting a wall!

Then there was Phone Guy – this is the guy, who despite the fact that most of the treadmills were empty, chooses the one between me and another woman and then proceeded to brake out the phone. He tried to run and talk (loudly) until he lost his balance, dropped the phone and it went shooting off the back of the mill…towards the track I might add, but he missed Sprinting Man!

Then finally, there was The Greeter – this woman seemed determined to keep a furious pace on the treadmill despite holding on to the rails for dear life. And, while trying to keep this up she insisted on greeting or rather yelling hello to everyone she knew coming up the stairs – I swear she seemed to know half the gym!

Seriously?! All I can say is I’ll be looking for the full moon tonight!

Please tell me you’ve got your share of crazies at your gym.

Filed Under: 3 things, gym crazies

3 Things: Almond milk, gym and PRs

January 17, 2013 by Michelle 5 Comments

Silk Dark Chocolate Almond Milk is my new guilty pleasure. If you are a fan of chocolate milk post-run, this is a must try! Just the thought of having a glass of this dark chocolately goodness got me through a trip to the gym… and you all know how much I love my gym (insert sarcasm here!)

2.
Yes thanks to a lovely combination of snow that switched over to icy rain, I made my first appearance this year at my gym for a lunch date with the ‘mill. While I whined the whole way over there … and even briefly considered skipping my run altogether, I’m really glad I went. The gym was basically empty so there were no gym crazies to contend with – win! Training plan called for intervals, and if I have any hope of keeping my sanity on a treadmill, speed work is the way to go – so double win!

3.
I want to give a shout out to my running coach Bennett Cohen who will be hosting a great teleclass tonight called “Nail Your Personal Best Regardless of the Candles on Your Cake.” Bennett helped me shave over 5 minutes off my half marathon PR on hilly courses so I encourage you to check out this call. You can find the call details HERE

Filed Under: gym crazies, PR, running coach, Silk Almond Milk

Midday Gym Crazies

April 25, 2012 by Michelle 6 Comments

After watching the wind bend the trees in my backyard sideways I made the rare decision to go to the gym and hit the treadmill. I figured I was already feeling low in the motivation department, so better to get on the mill, set the pace and force myself to stay with it vs. battle the wind (and my complete lack of oomph) out on the road.

I don’t darken the door of my gym very much because 1) I prefer to run outside; 2) I’m not a huge fan of treadmills and 3) I often leave the gym wondering if there’s a full moon because of the odd behavior of many of my fellow gym-goers. But I figured it was an off-hour, so it should be quiet and I could just get in, run and get out. Well note to self….off hour = odder clientele!

A small sampling….

There were the bobsie twins – two guys dressed alike who seemed to move together in perfect synchronization on the elliptical. Not odd in itself you’re thinking…well their perfectly synced choreography continued as they got off the elliptical, toweled off and moved to the free weights…it was a little freaky!

There was cluster of seniors who decided to camp out around several of the treadmills to have a discussion about some friend’s recent hip replacement.

Of course, there were the obligatory grunting “gym guys” in the weights area, flexing and grunting with just a little too much … um…emphasis?

And the guy whose shorts were just a little too small who needed to do all of his stretching in full view – (Yeah I just tried my best to keep staring at ESPN on the screen in front of me!)

Then there was the woman who tapped me on my arm while I’m on the mill with my headphones on because she wanted to tell me that she thought I had great arms and wanted to know if I was working with a personal trainer. When I said I wasn’t, she then launched into a rapid-fire series of questions. Now, don’t get me wrong, on the one hand it was flattering, but on the other hand I’m thinking Really? I’m running my butt off here, dripping in sweat and you want to have a conversation?

Yeah…just another day at the gym.

Do you have gym crazies or do I need to consider a new gym?

Filed Under: gym crazies

Thursday Thoughts – aka 3 things

February 10, 2011 by Michelle 6 Comments

A few weeks back I put out there that I was debating whether or not to sign up for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Providence Half in August. Well as some of you pointed out, RnR races are a lot of fun and with one right in my backyard why miss this opportunity? So I’ve bit the bullet and registered! Now I’ve got two half marathons on my race schedule — given that I haven’t run longer than 7 miles yet, is that crazy?!
And, speaking of crazy, I’m starting to feel like a magnet for crazies at the gym….or at least bad singers! Seriously the last few times I’ve been at the gym I get the one person who wants the treadmill next to mine who feels the need to break out into song! One time might be an accident, but by the 4th time I’m starting to wonder! And it’s never the same person. Going to the gym is starting to turn into one long bad American Idol audition!
I’m going to try out Thai Muscular Therapy tomorrow. TMT is a unique combination of Traditional Thai Massage, Tui Na (Chinese Medical Massage), and Neuromuscular Therapy. One of my Pilates instructors, who also runs marathons, suggested it for my on again, off again ITB issues. I’m open to trying anything once so I figure I’ll give it a whirl!