Gym Date

It’s an age-old concept, but I don’t find enough people doing it anymore…a workout date. Back in January when I had just broken up with the BF after realizing it wasn’t going in the direction I wanted it to, I met a super sweet guy at a promotion who offered the perfect distraction from my momentary despondency. Date number one was a Wizards game. After lots of chatting, it came up that we worked out at the same gym (then again…who DOESN’T work out at Gold’s these days?). So for date number two, he suggested meeting him at the gym for a little cardio workout. Yikes!! If I said no, it would appear that I didn’t work out the way I claimed (I’d been blabbing about training for a 10-k…at which point I made a mental note to actually go and sign up for one), so I hesitantly said I’d meet him there at 8. My heart was in my throat. We decided to hit the treadmills first. I started up, paranoid that I’d a) trip and fall mid-run, slap-stick style, or b) not be able to keep up. I was so busy being nervous and keeping a steady pace with him, that after 3 miles, he slowed down to a walk, and I was still jonesing for more. I realized that my nervous energy, surrounded by my fear of not being able to keep up, actually helped me rally and push myself. I was hooked. I would never say no to a gym date again from that point forward.

I did it again last night…hit the gym with nice UVA boy. When you set up the gym meeting, neither one of you can get lazy and back out. And once you’re there, you have to be in top form. Me: I ran 4 miles. If I’d gone on my own, I probably would have run 2 and called it a night. Him: Although I was watching the NBA finals for the most part, I’m sure I caught him doing a few extra, slow reps on the push-up machine for my benefit. I pretended not to be, but yes…I was looking.

The best part – when it’s all over, you’ve gotten a fantastic workout in and stimulated the imagination with each other’s physical prowess. But since you’re drenched in sweat, there’s zero pressure for the date to be anything more than it was…an excuse to workout. You can’t go back to his place or him to yours…because you both need a shower and a change of clothes.