The Treadmill Girl Story

I am going to preface this story by stating that I am a dumbass, and that this story is from the September to November, 2007 time frame.So a little background is needed: as you all know I am overweight. Some points in my life it hasn't been that bad, others, like now, it has needed some attention. Normally I don't care, but my blood pressure has been high the last two times I've been to a doctor; and I get winded climbing to the top of a single story of stairs. So, upon me graduating from grad school, getting a job, and moving to Indy I have decided to do something about it. I am lifting weights again AND I have been getting up at 5:30 AM to walk on the treadmill at my apartment complex. In case you didn't get it the first time: 5:30 IN THE MORNING!The story: So, yesterday morning I got up at 5:30 AM and stumbled to the little workout room at my apartment complex. I remember thinking to myself "I wonder if I will see anyone this morning."When I started the routine I remember thinking that it would be great to walk at 5:30 AM because I would have the room to myself. The first day my belief was smashed as this hot little brunette number came in at quarter till 6. Another day an overly cheery, middle aged, black, lesbian couple was using two of the three treadmills. (the exercise room has four elliptical , sp?, machines and three treadmills. The treadmills are side-by-side, as is typical) So I have come to expect to see the odd person(s) in the room when I am walking on the treadmill.Yesterday was nice, as I entered the room, I noticed that it was empty. Sticking to normal gym etiquette I choose the treadmill on the right end of the row. At roughly 5:50 AM I hear the door open behind me, and I think: great, now my quiet time is broken; hopefully this person won't try to talk to me. Out of the corner of my eye is see this blonde little thing jump on the treadmill at the left end of the row. After roughly 30 seconds of messing with that treadmill she jumps off it and gets on the one right next to mine.Me, being an engineer back in the day, thinks: I bet that treadmill is broken. That's funny, worked fine for me yesterday. I should probably take the time to fix it when I'm done walking. Now, at this point I'm just hoping that I can finish my walk without having to be social. For full disclosure purposes, I must admit that I would have faked being social as I was able to notice her at this point(I don't wear my glasses when I walk). Then the damnedest thing happened. This lady just started talking to me. Not just the normal "Hi," "Hi," "This weather we're having," "I know" stuff, but just flat out talking to me. It wasn't a great conversation, but not a bad one either.Well, since it is me in this situation (instead of Bond, James Bond) I screwed it up. I finished my 30 minutes walking and told the lady, "well, time to go get cleaned up for work." Did I ask her her name? Tell her that it was nice to meet her? Ask her anything? Nope, I just left. In reflection, the one positive thing that I can take away from this is that I will probably never miss another morning walk again.

Peace out,

B

P.S. I later found out that the lady's name is Nicole. For the 4 months, or so, that I was consistent about walking in the morning, we had a lot of good conversations. We made plans to get together outside of the exercise center, but I found out this lady's fatal flaw: she's a flake. Twice we made plans, twice she broke them; oh well