Wimps and Bullies

Today I walked past a jogger.

In case you didn't quite catch that, I'll repeat it:  Today I walked past a jogger.

At the indoor track.

We were both going the same direction: he was jogging, I was walking.

And I passed him!!

I knew I was walking briskly, but I guess I didn't realize how fast I was going.  And I'm guessing the jogger didn't realize how slow he was going, because as soon as I passed him, he picked up his speed and got in front of me again.  It was only another minute or two and I had caught up to him again, to which he responded with another burst of speed to get ahead of me.  We kept that up for a few laps, and it was getting a little awkward, so I was glad when it was time for me to leave.

And speaking of weird things happening at the gym, here's another one:

A couple of weeks ago as The Mr. and I were using side-by-side weight machines, a man approached me and asked me if I could get off for a few seconds.  Thinking it was someone who worked there, needing to check the equipment, I got off for him.  He then plunked himself down and proceeded to use the equipment for himself.  What?!!

The Mr. and I looked at each other wondering what just happened.  When The Mr. informed him that I was still using the machine, the man replied, "Oh it's okay, I'll just be using it for a few minutes."  The Mr. told him again that I was still using it and the guy said, "Look, I've been going to gyms all over the world, and this is what we do."  He then turned and walked away.  I suggested to him that he should at least be using the disinfectant wipes when he's finished, but he obviously didn't care.

A few minutes later the man returned to tell us again that he knew what he was doing because "that's how they do it in gyms all around the world."  The Mr. responded by saying, "Well, that's not how we do it here."  And the guy said, "Watch your mouth!"  ?????

The Mr. later asked me if I thought that the guy had treated me like that because I was a woman.   My response was "Absolutely!  A woman who is also older and chubbier."  I'm sure he wouldn't have asked another "buff" man to get off the machine.  It was very belittling.  Keeping with past traditions, I've assigned him a name.   I will now think of him as "Nigel" -- short for "Nasty Nigel".

About a week later The Mr. and I approached the same two machines.  I was only two steps away, when "Nigel" zipped in front of me, cutting me off, and sat down at the machine.    It was as if he was watching for me to arrive so he could hurry and beat me to it.  This time I didn't say anything but just moved to another machine.

Which brings me back to my first story.  As I was walking around the track this morning, I saw Nigel seated on a stationary bike in front of the window overlooking the track.  I knew he was watching me, and it brought me great pleasure to be able to pass that jogger right in front of him.

Take that Nigel!!  I'm not such a wimp after all.

Dixie