EDIT***
Not quite a month later I’ve doubled it. I ran 2 miles today. I have never ran that far in my life. I only walked for five minutes, the rest of it was running, baby. I’m still running an 11 minute mile, but that is ok for now. I only have another mile and then I will be able to RUN a 5K. Once the distance is taken care of I can start working towards my time goal.
My gym partner,Bridgy, the amazing ran 2.5 miles and completed the entire 5K. (I had to go lift weights because of a time crunch and I am still working my ass off to get my arms to not suck so much in my dress)
Now that I have patted us on the back, I thought that I would take a moment to express befuddlement over a phenomenon I have never been able to comprehend.
The Gym Pickup.
Dude.
Seriously? Who goes to pick and hit on people at the gym? Sorry, but the last place I would want to really pay attention to the opposite sex is when I am sweaty, fugly, and grunting while I lift weights.
I don’t wear my wedding ring at the gym because it is a TANK and my fingers swell. So, I have had a few guys try to engage in flirty conversation (Not hordes, just a few.). I don’t get it.
I have friends who meet MOST of their romantic entanglements at the gym. I don’t get that, either.
I am not one of these perky little Barbies that look awesome in gym clothes. Real girl, real sweat, real fugly. Want honest photography? Here you go. Me, and my untouched self after running 2.5 miles and hefting weights right before hopping in the shower.
I’m not saying I’m a hag or anything but I just can’t see anyone wanting to pick up or flirt with a human in this state. It’s weird.
Edit1***
EHEM: For Heather, who stated in the comments: “Face it honey, you can’t take bad pictures!”
Take that for honest photography. I was hoping it wouldn’t come this.
Sigh.
Now, let’s put the little myth that Loralee cannot take bad photos to bed. I hope that wasn’t as painful for all of you as it was for me.
heather says:
face it honey, you can’t take bad pictures!
But, I am afraid now. I look horrible at the gym on the 3-5 days I go a year. I don’t know how to use all the machines and probably look a little buffoon like when I do use them. BUT, I always consoled myself that no one else was looking at me as no one else cared- they were busy with their own work-out. NOW YOU TELL ME GUYS ARE ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION?! Heaven help me now!
March 14th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Loralee Choate says:
There is hope, honey. I am the most klutzy, uncoordinated person on the planet.
And for the record: MOST of the pick ups at the gym ARE Guys checking out other Guy’s. (At least at THIS gym)So it isn’t totally horrible!
March 14th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Amber says:
I, too have taken up running, something I was obsessed with before I had kids. Running up Utah’s MOUNTAINS, no less.
These days, I’m working on that 12-minute mile whilst puffing the kids’ 50-pound stroller up the hill to my house. Someday, I aspire to run the 11 minuter….
March 14th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Loralee Choate says:
You ran up the MOUNTAINS?!
Good hell.
Before I took this up I used to think that going to my mailbox was quite a satisfactory workout.
March 14th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Kip says:
Where did your bio go? I was going to comment on it.
March 14th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Loralee Choate says:
Sorry, Kip. I just took it off. It made the post WAY too long. I will post it later on in the week (Probably).
March 14th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Occidental Girl says:
Hey! Good job on running. It’s not as easy as it sounds, or as I remember it to be.
Found you via Kerflop, by the way.
So, you’re switching to your own website? Me too! Eventually. When I figure out the techno side of things. I have a lot to learn when it comes to blogging technical thingys.
Let me know how your switch goes, if you think of it.
March 14th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Sharon says:
I’m sorry, but I still think you are pretty even at the gym…
March 14th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Loralee Choate says:
Occidental-
Any friend of Kerfloppy is a friend of mine! You’ll find friends here. Welcome, welcome!!!!
I am switching really soon. My hubs is getting most of the server stuff wrapped up this week and then the process of design takes place. I cannot wait because this page is such a piece of SUCK.
I have a great advisor, though. She’s pretty nifty with web standards so it should function beautifully. I will let you know.
Sharon-Awe. Love you, Sharon!
March 14th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Beekie says:
You are woman hear you ROAR!
Congrats Lo, I’m proud of you.
And coming from someone who has seen you blonde, pregnant, and puking all the time: You’re gorgeous, get over it. :p
March 14th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Bridge says:
Well Loralee, you and I are a pair. HAHAHA. I make you run, but when you run it makes me run. If either of us ever figured out that if one of us didn’t run then neither of us would have to.
HAHAHA.
My legs hurt.
My back hurts.
My abs hurt.
Oh, and I haven’t ran the mile in over 3 years… and that was at sea level. /sigh
Tomorrow everything will hurt.
Thank you again for inspiring me.
March 14th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Alex says:
The problem is that you’re giving off “Hit On Me” signs.
1) You wore eye makeup to the gym. I’m sorry, but that just screams “Come flirt with me - I’m easy.”
2) You wear an ipod. And, while some women wear them to actually listen to music, the majority do it so they can give off a detached-but-sexy vibe. You’re daring men to come talk with you! Either that, or there’s an “I may be a chick, but I like modern electronic gadgets” vibe. Guys eat it up when a woman lets on that she might know how to program her own DVD player, or maintain a database.
3) You’re wearing normal girl clothes, which makes it seem as if you aren’t trying. i.e. you’re not wearing matching sports bra and hoochie shorts, standing around like you wouldn’t dare break a sweat, in case it ruins your wardrobe, nails, or (GASP!) you might smell bad. The sense of a woman not trying infuriates the male sensibilities - we have to go see why, and put a stop to it, so we can hang on to what little sexual power we have left in the realm of gender relations.
March 14th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Loralee Choate says:
Beekhead-Awe. Love you. I always know I can count on you to remind me of when I tried to go blonde. Hurl.
Bridgy- You rock. We’re unstoppable.
Alex-HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. OMG. HA HA HA HA HA.
Um. It was yesterday’s mascara.
March 15th, 2007 at 12:04 am
Jill - GlossyVeneer says:
I’ve never understood the gym meat market, but observing it around me makes for entertaining days at the gym. One guy got on a treadmill next to me, cracked his knuckles loudly so I would look over at him, gave me that little “Wassup?” nod, then started the treadmill. He cranked it up to like 9.0 mph, and promptly started to trip because he couldn’t run that fast.
And I laughed in his face.
March 15th, 2007 at 1:00 am
holli says:
uh - I think both pics still look pretty damned good. I think you need to search out my unabomber pic on flickr for what bad really looks like.
that’s why I hate gyms - I see people in makeup and I think - gross, they’re clogging their poors. Plus, I’m a germaphobe and I heard semen is like, everywhere on every surface in those places.
Now that is just nasty.
On that note, I’m off to bed with a handful of candy. again.
March 15th, 2007 at 2:58 am
Loralee Choate says:
Jill- HA HA HA HA! I think I would have paid money to see that.
Holli
Sex: Yum
Sperm: Functional but EWE! (Sorry, I’m such a girl here)
I cannot think too much about the germ factor, though I often feel the need to douse myself in Lysol in public places. My increasingly-toned ass is forcing me to just.not.think.about.it.
The girls who get coiffed to go to the gym? Seriously, WHY?
March 15th, 2007 at 3:04 am
holli says:
Because they need to get all their sperm at the gym I guess?
why did I get back out of bed???
March 15th, 2007 at 4:46 am
Loralee Choate says:
OMG. HA HA HA HA
And you are obviously out of bed because you missed me. Duh!
March 15th, 2007 at 5:05 am
scribbit says:
I just got a membership to a gym and now need to start going. Sweating is never pretty but I hear it’s good for you
Hope you’re feeling better, I couldn’t leave a comment but I’m thinking of you. Had a similar thing here but haven’t ever been brave enough to blog about it.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:19 am
Beekie says:
Lo, as the closest thing you have to a daughter, I demand that you call me. If you want to talk about I’m more than happy to and if you don’t, there’s plenty of things I can distract you with.
I think I’ll try you one last time (I don’t want to get stalkerish) and then just wait for you to call me when you’re ready. But please, do call me. You know I’m here for you.
March 15th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Doug says:
You look fantastic. Are you a fat masker like me? Nobody ever believes them when I tell them how much I weigh.
Anyway, back to stamina… it’s difficult for me too. Some days I do 60 minutes on the crosstrainer, others 15. Some days I look forward to going, other days I would rather pick out my eye balls with a tweezer. But I am going tomorrow. Yes… (maybe).
March 20th, 2007 at 5:37 am