Run Forrest Run!!

Small things can make my day. I could have had an extremely tiring day and a mention of one of my fav. books or authors can get chirpy again. Today was one such Monday. I had a rather angry, disappointed evening. The good news I was awaiting eluded me AGAIN! I was angry that nothing seems to be working no matter how hard I work.

With the mind of taking my fury out by running I walked up to the gym. I was never skinny growing up. However, I played my share of some decent sport while in school and a little in college so that kept me athletic if not a size 0. I came to this 'glorious' city and binged on food every day and suddenly one day this lazy, tired, unhealthy woman stared at me from the mirror.

I have tried very earnestly to be a regular at the gym. Somehow, after say a month, I lose focus and give in. So, in the register of my office gym I am listed as 'irregular'. That said, I have been quite regular for the past month and a half . So, after I ran my heart out, I checked my weight. The trainer telling me 'tum 2 kilo ghataya hai' was the highlight of my otherwise sad day!

This little incident brings me to the topic of my post. I have become observant of the different types of people who exist in the gym and found some rather typical ones. This is my take on them.

Exhibit 1- The Grunter!

While you are trying hard to focus amidst the blaring house music , he will make sure to declare his existence! He will first announce to whoever bothers to listen how much weight he is lifting and then pretend like he's giving birth! "1, 2, 3, aaarrgghhh, 4, 5, aaarrgh, 6, come on, 7, yeeeessssss, 8..." and you secretly imagine him dropping the weight on his chest and passing out cold!

Exhibit 2- The 'I am with you bro' fellow!

This guy is actually sweet. He may/may not care too much about his own regime but will always be there to push you. He is the kind who while you are running will walk past and tell you ''yea come one..faster faster'' , stand at your toes while you exercise and say ''3 more to go, push push''!! Watch him when he gives you advice for this 'new ab toning exercise', he will even give you a demo!

Exhibit 3- The blonde!

This species dresses rather typically. Dressed head to toe in brands, she usually carries with her an ipod and a sipper. They are tiny, petite, you can sometimes even see their bones sticking out. "I've put on so much weight, I have to reduce my flab, I've never been fat in my life''!! is their part of the story. Idiot will run like she's walking on heels and amuse the trainer by trying every equipment available!

Exhibit 4- The marathon king!

This man will be running when you enter the gym. After you huff and puff your way around and are done for the day, the man is still running! He usually runs at one solid speed with admirable stamina. His calf muscles are tight and he never seems to tire.

Exhibit 5- The serial killer!

He is the silent assasin, the ninja! He doesn't talk to anyone and is pretty much on his own most times. He rarely makes eye contact and if you are a regular after 2-3 months, will probably nod at you once when you bump into him. He doesn't care of the blaring music, the sad bollywood songs on TV, the people around. He comes in, runs like a man on the mission and leaves with his stoic silence intact!

Exhibit 6- The poor aunty!

Auntyji is a 'career woman'. Amidst all the young snoots, she wants to get her figure back and is trying desperately to start running rather than walking on the treadmill. She never gets tired of walking at the speed of ' 4 km/hr' for 1 hr! Finally after the workout she will get herself some juice, then some chaat, then a little bit of coffee, 2 slices of 'brown' bread, one small helping of maggi and tell someone on the phone 'haan main bas abhi gym karke aayi'!!

Exhibit 7- The TV addict!

This guy is here coz he doesn't have a TV back home. He will sit and peddle like he has no hurry or worry in the world at a snail's pace. His eyes are fixed on the TV and is often humming along happily to the latest Bollywood katrina kaif song!

Exhibit 8- The Hulk!

The ultimate Salman Khan fan! The song 'Jalwa jalwa' or any Akon number totally pumps him. He is the kind who eats every meal like a king. He has been building his muscles, working on his triceps and downing his protein shakes since he left school! He sometimes walks around replacing the gym instructor when he goes for a quick break. His best friend in the gym is the instructor and you often catch them discussing and exchanging vital stats!

Exhibit 9- The Bomb!

This has to be a woman! She's the one who has always been fit! Most of the above exhibits want to know her name. She walks in either with a giggly friend or by herself like she cares a rat's ar**! This chick means business, knows her weights, does her crunches with ease and glides on the treadmill grooving to the ipod.

Well, in between all these characters there is the little me thinking of the scene from 'Forrest Gump' where Tom Hanks is told ''run forrreeest run''! Working out without looking around at these characters would be so lackluster. After a tiring day, I now look forward to that one hour of entertainment in the gym!