Which one of these things doesn't belong in a gym?
Okay, here's the story. Angel signed up to run three 5Ks this spring. He hasn't run since 2007, so he wanted to start training two weeks before his first race.
It is freezing cold here right now, so Angel did not think that running outdoors sounded like fun. A $30 1 month gym membership at the community center sounded like more fun, and for $15, he could add on a second family member, so Angel thought that a month of gym dates for the two of us was called for.
I am no runner. I never could have imagined that I would be going to a gym regularly, even over just the short time span of a month. Paying to exercise? So weird. But it's time spent with Angel, and exercise isn't a bad thing, so I'm in.
Only, Angel makes fun of me for wearing jeans to the gym. I've mentioned before that I don't own any athletic pants/shorts and I certainly won't buy a pair just for a month.
So, these days, Angel and I head to the gym on the mornings when he's not working. He goes straight to the treadmill and runs 4 miles, while I experiment with the elliptical and do all of the weight machines with the weights set at 5-15 lbs, which I think is perfect, because I should be doing light weights for my wrist and back pain anyway.
I feel like a bit of an imposter surrounded by people who actually have exercise pants and iPods. I'm not a gym girl, and I never will be.
But I do have athletic shoes. And I'm using them. So that's something to be grateful for. Sure, I picked them out 3 years ago because they are grey and pink and they still look as perfect as they day they were purchased...but the shoes help me look the part, I think.
For the record, it's not that I don't exercise at all. I prefer activity-type exercise over pure exercise. I'd rather play Just Dance, or, in the summer, bike. To me that's much more exciting than hanging out in a room full of rather intimidating machines and boring televisions.
This Saturday was the first 5K for Angel. It was about 30 degrees, but I bundled up and went along for moral and photographical support. This was my first time at a race of any kind! It seemed like pure chaos to me, but other people seemed to know what was going on. Here's cute Angel in his racing clothes:
He was not happy at all with his results: 20:49, which meant 191st place out of 3332 people. I mean, according to my mathematical calculations, that's still in the top 6%, which impresses me, but Angel is not impressed. Oh well, maybe you can't expect to not run for seven years and do really good on a race after two just weeks of training.
What about you? Are you a gym person or a runner or none of the above?
Okay, twenty minutes???? that is a fantastic time! i've been running consistently for 4 years and would never even me close to that! what kind of time was he wanting? sheesh, Angel!
Also... I'm not going to lie, if I saw someone wearing jeans at the gym, I might stare at them kind of funny :) I own like 876903 pairs of athletic shorts and pants! haha. I wear them all the time even when I'm not working out. They're so comfy!
I think he did great in the race too! :)
So sweet that you went along to the gym to support him as well - apart from the bikes I hate most gym equipment, so I wouldn't have done that, haha!
Away From The Blue
hahahahahahahahah! sorry rach but when i saw you on the elliptical with jeans on, i laughed so hard.
while i workout every day, i loathe the gym because of the all the douche canoes who are there being rude, hogging the equipment and making me wait for weights and just totally ruining my mojo. i also run but not road running; i prefer to run trails (so much better!).
considering he only started training 2wks before the race, that's a pretty good time. next time, he should train earlier to get his endurance up and then work on his speed.
-kathy | Vodka and Soda
I am sure your simple calculations (6%) has made him happy.
I too don't like to pay to exercise, playing some outdoor games gives the same result.
Wow. He did great! We are always our own worst critics.
Not owning pants suitable for exercise, is my biggest excuse for not jogging, and not owning shoes is my second biggest excuse ;) At least jeans stretch! But, no, I'm not going to gym in jeans, or at all ;) :)
I never run! In my mind Angel did great. My husband used to run, or so he tells me, but its been 10 years for him. (high school)
You look so cute in your exercise outfit :P I actually love going to the gym, but I take classes (like zumba--and thats just like just dance) and its fun :P
I've seriously always wondered how people wear jeans to the gym. I thought it would be like wearing wet jeans in an amusement park because you sweat while working out. Now, I personally know someone that wears jeans to the gym! lol. and tell Angel GOOD JOB! That's awesome, seriously!
Wow, I think Angel did great! 20 minutes to run anything sounds impressive to me, but super impressive for a 5K. Of course, I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to running, but at least in general human terms I think that is pretty impressive! haha
I don't do exercise facilities well either. I never know what to wear, and I loathe exercising when there are people there that I don't know. Only my husband should have to experience my asthma/out-of-shape-out-of-breath-ness. We have a facility in our apartment complex that luckily is normally empty when we go, so I can usually exercise with Tyler and wear whatever I want (be it jeans or sandals, I've done both) and not feel judged by the "real" workout-ers.
I'm told my husband used to exercise before we were married, and I'll admit I've seen him lifting weights a night or two. The other night he mentioned starting to exercise regularly & said he would like it if his wife spent some time with him as he exercises. I'm debating. I agree gyms are intimidating and I'm such a clutz that my attempts to exercise look plain ridiculous. I prefer my attempts to exercise to be out of sight- there's enough comedy on tv. :) We do go on walks though. I much prefer walks in the park.
That is a great race time!! I've been running for 4 years now and I'm not even that fast. I enjoy working out, but I prefer to do it outside rather than at a gym.
I always feel like an impostor at the gym! One of my excuses for not exercising and running...besides the fact that I despise running with a burning passion.
The jeans are pretty comical though....sorry.
well hey you look stylish at the gym ;) Yay for Angel. Rachel xo
I want to be a gym person but I don't think I ever will be- I lack the motivation!
Gyms can definitely be an intimidating place! Even though I've been going to one for years, I still feel like an impostor!
So sweet of you to support Angel with his first 5k! I'm extremely intimidated by gyms, thank goodness we have a small "at-home" gym so I don't have to face that scary place! How do you work out in jeans? I shew, I'd burn up!
I love your gym attire! Congrats to Angle that is impressive, I just walked an 8K and maybe ran 2k of it loved it. Probably would have stayed in bed if it was 30 degrees though.
Neat post :) Finding comfortable gym clothes can be hard to find.
http://abeautifulheart07.blogspot.com/
You and those jeans!
But it's terrific that you're supportive enough to stand out in the cold. I'm not good at that. Good luck to Angel on his races :)
Love that you joined him at the gym! I think it's totally worth it to invest in one workout outfit. It motivates me and lets me move around that much better! In fact,I just did a post today about Kate Hudson's new fitness apparel line called Fabletics where you can get a super nice outfit (top and bottom) for just $25! Here's my post: http://the-style-files.com/treating-fabletics-fitness-apparel-inga-legging-versital-t-review/
Good luck to you!
Valerie
www.the-style-files.com
That is a fab time!!!! I'd love to run a 5k in that, I'm training to run one in under 30 mins.
I can't believe you go to the gym in jeans, haha! I'm sure you have some shorts or something somewhere?
Corinne x
www.skinnedcartree.com
Nope, not in the slightest. Though most forms of exercise are no longer possible for me due to medical reasons, even if I was healthy as ten Olympic athletes, I wouldn't be a gym person. I feel way too self-conscious there (especially as the poster child for introverts everywhere; gyms tending to attract a lot of extroverts, I mean) and would always, always opt to exercise alone or just with my honey someplace calm and quiet.
♥ Jessica
First of all good for Angel!! I have my first 5k of the year in April. My husband and I started to go to the gym on base..why not, it's free! But then we had to wake up not even at the butt crack of dawn to get there. We did that for months sometimes falling off the treadmill, figuratively speaking. It was kind of cool at first but when you have the choice of a having to prepare your gym and work clothes the night before, get up even before the sun wakes up and a warm bed..I'll choose the bed, plus we save on gas. So I found a work out program on YouTube and that was cool and all and still is but now, I just go outside and run, first with the dog (and then I bring her home) and then without. So far, so good (even though that routine started the end of last week?). But I feel good! I'm trying to have the sticky (stick to it) mentality!
You are hilarious in your jeans, but hey, at least you had athletic shoes on! :) I am not a big fan of running. I ran my first 5k this past Oct and did not train either. Maybe ran once every 2 weeks the 2 month prior, and my time was more like 30. I would've been thrilled with 20 minutes! I also haven't ran since...oops. I did go to Zumba again today and really want to make it a regular thing!
Eva Marie Taylor
If I go to the gym, and it's rare that I do, I'm usually in Yoga pants and a t-shirt.
I don't run. I'd fall over if I ran. I do fast walk though.
Um... 20 minutes for a 5k.... he's kicking butt! That's amazing!!!!! I can't believe he came in 191st though, that was a massive race, with some really fast runners!! Geez!!! Way to go Angel!
I think you are perfectly awesome for wearing jeans to the gym and being supportive! I used to be one of those regular gym attendees for group fitness classes but as time went on and I lost time, I started running and improving my yoga practice at home. I also prefer activity type workouts but finding those locally with other people can be tough!
I also think you look very cute in your jeans!!! I am also not much of a gym person, but I do yoga a lot and I also like hiking and tennis.
Maria
Totally NOT a gym person, though I do wear yoga pants when I go : ) My husband bought me beautiful exercise shoes for my birthday earlier this year, so those have encouraged me to get out there more. Now that we're warming up in Texas, I much more inclined to walk my dog or putter around outside.
Are you kidding me!? He did great!! You should tell him that a total stranger thinks that placing 191st out of ________ is amazing. Angel- a totally random stranger thinks that you're amazing and that you are too hard on yourself. I also think that Rachel looks totally out of place in a gym! ;)
congrats to Angel on his first 5k!
Seriously! I'm so mad right now. I expected you to say he finished in 40:00+. He beat my best time (27:34) after a year of training. Ugh! He sounds just like Mr. A. He ran him last 5k in 23:20 and complained, even though he knew I was still running a 30:00+ 5k. Jerk.
I just signed up for my first 5k of the year. I'm doing The Color Run again. Which is cool because it's a fun run and I'm a bit nervous about overworking my knee (I had two back-to-back injuries last year) so I'm easing back into the game.
As for the jeans as the gym, I would expect nothing less from you. You have a knack for doing things your way. Frank Sinatra would be proud ;) I'm almost tempted to send you a pair of sweatpants though...
i run from fires, so that's about it! even when i was my fittest, i've never liked running. but i love that people have something they enjoy!
I like to work out at home so no one can see me ;-) My workouts have been kind of lame lately because I've been feeling kind of cruddy. But usually I wear a tank top and yoga pants or workout leggings (the leggings are my FAVORITE).
I am not a runner either. Sounds like he did well in the race but sometimes you are your own worst critic. I hope he keeps on going! Wearing jeans to the gym is kinda cool, at least they have stretch to them! :)
Rebecca
www.winnipegstyle.ca
Congrats to him on the race! I have never worked out in a gym in my life. Like you, I prefer activity-based exercise. Also, my job is all exercise...so there is no need to work out after actual work haha
That is so cool he was on the top 6%! I guess he puts a lot of pressure on himself, lol - either way he completed it! That's amazing! :) Do you plan to complete any marathons? Happy Hump Day Rachel! -Iva
I don't go to the gym but I do own yoga pants because they are soooooo comfortable. They are the first thing I change into when I get home and no one else will see me ;) x
I'm not a gym person either, but I love how supportive you've been :)
I'm SO not a gym person! I'm like you--I enjoy biking, walking, dancing, hiking...now, at home I'm okay with using my treadmill, and I love doing yoga each day. But in a room with lots of strangers and intimidating equipment? No thank you!
Haha, I'm not a gym girl either :)
Good for you for supporting him at the gym!! Hope all of the races go well!!
www.amemoryofus.blogspot.com
Ahah! I love your gym selfie - it's the best! And I'd say his time was pretty great for a 5K, especially with 2 weeks of training!
Carylee | morepiecesofme.com
aww, this is such a lovely post - a) you're an awesome and supportive wife b) it's almost funny that you get to look so good without working out (jealous) and b) how happy does angel look at the finish? so sweet.
You look adorable at the gym. Such a good husband and wife team that trains together. I give you guys lots of props!
I am a bit of a gym rat, but I love to exercise outdoors too! As I get older, I dont mind doing work out videos in my basement either(: susan
I can't believe the gym lets you wear jeans there! Not that I'm a gym regular or anything, but I do know the gym we used to go to had super strict attire rules. Still, what the heck- if you can, do it. Who cares?!
I'm sorry, but I'm totally laughing at the jeans in the gym. I'd probably have at least worn a pair of shorts… But then my entire wardrobe is workout clothes and I'm struggling to find decent regular clothes to wear to my first outside the house job in 9 years…
And 20:19? I'd be thrilled.
LOL! I love that you wore jeans to the gym! :) Way to keep your individuality! I'm stopping over from Sitssharefest!
I enjoy working out, running, and going to the gym. I think you could pick up some cheap exercise pants at Target or Walmart that would be more comfortable to wear. I'd think jeans would limit your mobility on the elliptical, but of course do you! Congrats to Angel...20 minutes is an amazing pace for 5K! Dropping by from SITS.
a 20 minute 5k??? that's SUPER amazing. my best time for a 5k is 29 minutes. i partially blame it on my short legs. ;p running is one of our favorite things to do at our house (as you probably already know. :) great job!!
Cable style home gyms are perfect for the person looking to save time with their weight training. You just pop the pin into the weight stack and away you go. Yeah it may save time but are you getting the results?
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