The Track -- Part Two

So it's been over a year and a half since The Mr. and I started going to the gym and using the track.  Near the beginning I posted about "the regulars" who we saw there.  I thought it would be fun to give an update.  Here goes:

"Fred" -- (The elderly man who was the fastest walker on the track)  Such a cheerful man.  He seemed to be friends with everyone at the gym.  And because he was so friendly, it was only a matter of time before he introduced himself to us.  It turns out his real name was "Norm".  As we talked with him over the course of the next several months, we learned that he had previously had a couple of heart attacks.  One day when The Mr. was out of town, I was at the track alone, and the most unusual thing happened -- I caught up to Norm!  We chatted for a while as we walked (far slower than usual), and I noticed that Norm was dripping with sweat.  Soon after that he decided he was done for the day.  I said goodbye and watched him exit the track.  I never saw him again.  I would like to think he's okay, but the realistic side of me wonders if he passed away.

"Danielle" -- (The thirty-something awesome runner)  She hasn't been a "regular" in a long time.  After a lengthy absence she happened to show up a couple of days in a row with a new male running partner.  The Mr. and I wondered how awkward it might have been when her old male running partner (the man we assumed was her husband) showed up the same day.  It turns out it must have been pretty awkward -- we haven't seen her since.

"Mark" -- (The forty-something man who talks on his cell phone at 6:30 in the morning!)  Just yesterday when we saw him on his phone, we decided that he must be some important business executive who does a lot of business with people in Toronto who are two hours ahead of us.  Imagine our surprise when we heard him talking to children!  My opinion of him increased tenfold.

"Freda and Nadine" -- (The two older women who walk together)  It turns out that Freda's real name is "Sylvia", and Nadine's real name is "Liz".  Oddly enough, they are both married to men named "Larry".  They still walk together and often show up in the same color shirts and matching black pants.

"Grant" -- (The slow walker with one arm)  It turns out that he's one of the "Larrys".  His wife walks faster than he does, so she doesn't walk with him.  The other Larry walks faster than the two women, so he doesn't want to walk with his wife either.  I'm glad that The Mr. and I are pretty evenly matched.

And here are a few new "regulars":

"Braden" -- A twenty-something guy who loves putting on a show.  Whenever he comes onto the track, he bursts in on a dead run from the weight room panting as loudly as he can for extra effect.  He'll complete one lap around the track before running back to the weight room.  Sometimes he adds to everyone's pleasure by singing off-key at the top of his lungs while listening to his iPod.

"Stacey" -- A twenty-something girl with long, thin legs that carry her effortlessly around the track.  She carries a pair of dice in her sports bra, and brings them out every few minutes to roll.  The result of the roll determines what type of running she'll do, and for how long.  She also loves to whistle while she runs -- she told us it relaxes her.

"Mean Mike" -- A guy about our age who has become the new fastest walker since Norm left us.  He never smiles, and to be honest, I'm a little afraid of him.  I worked up the courage to say "hi" to him one day, but he never acknowledged me, so I've just been trying to stay out of his way and not do anything to tick him off.  And then one day, not too long ago, he said "hi" to us.  I was shocked!  If he keeps that up, I may have to drop the "Mean" from his name.

Well, I've rambled on far too long.  But I've got one last update:

"Brunhilda and the Cardinal" -- (The name given to The Mr. and I  by "Dallin" in the comment section of the original post)  We've increased our efforts from speed walking to a combination of running and walking, with more running than walking.  For most people who use the gym, this wouldn't be much of an accomplishment.   But for a chubby, middle-aged woman who previously would only have run if a bear was chasing her, I'm pretty happy with myself.  Of course I'd be much happier if I could actually lose some weight.

Brunhilda