Training on the road / in new gyms

Just a few thoughts (returning from a recent road trip) on the atmosphere of training in gyms other than your "home" gym. Ever walk into a gym and get:

-REALLY pissy women working the front desk?... Often attractive, it seems like they are so pissed at the male of the species for continuously hitting on them (in their revealing, tight clothing - go figure) that they have lost the ability to smile or string 2 sentences together. Often, no eye contact is made.

-The stares of the guys who don't like you on their turf. These are the guys who "challenge you" as you walk by, making sure to walk in your path so you'd bump into them, if you didn't turn your shoulders. Also the fellas who won't let ya work in.

-Stares that seem to say, "You're a thug for training that hard. What's wrong with you, you delinquent? We don't allow that here."

But also:
-The down-to-earth (often an older fella) who gives you a compliment. Usually something like, "I get tired just watching you."

-A fellow Brother in Iron who introduces himself. Always cool (b/c he prob. feels the same as you, there, even though he's a regular).

And you'll still get the young guys who like to ask questions like, "How much weight is that?..." (One of my personal favorites.)

-Randy

that pissy chick works at my gym too...lol!

actually i was planning on going to a few training classes out in AZ last year and was looking forward to meeting up with someone from the boards, but I got too busy at work and had to have someone come to CNY to do the training. I hope to get out that way in June for 4-5 days though.

homonunculus said:

Just a few thoughts (returning from a recent road trip) on the atmosphere of training in gyms other than your "home" gym. Ever walk into a gym and get:

-REALLY pissy women working the front desk?... Often attractive, it seems like they are so pissed at the male of the species for continuously hitting on them (in their revealing, tight clothing - go figure) that they have lost the ability to smile or string 2 sentences together. Often, no eye contact is made.

-The stares of the guys who don't like you on their turf. These are the guys who "challenge you" as you walk by, making sure to walk in your path so you'd bump into them, if you didn't turn your shoulders. Also the fellas who won't let ya work in.

-Stares that seem to say, "You're a thug for training that hard. What's wrong with you, you delinquent? We don't allow that here."

But also:
-The down-to-earth (often an older fella) who gives you a compliment. Usually something like, "I get tired just watching you."

-A fellow Brother in Iron who introduces himself. Always cool (b/c he prob. feels the same as you, there, even though he's a regular).

And you'll still get the young guys who like to ask questions like, "How much weight is that?..." (One of my personal favorites.)

-Randy

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this happens to you because you are so big!!

Re: Re: Training on the road / in new gyms

GetnBigr said:

this happens to you because you are so big!!

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LOL. I think most of it is really b/c I train pretty damn hard. Covered up at the desk or when I'm warming up, I don't look like much at all. When I'm leaning out for a show and the sweat come off, then I look kinda <he, he> freaky. LOL

Yes, I admit it, I'm that guy who can get pretty damn loud when he lifts. I do it b/c it comes natural and I also know that it can enhance strength (I'll look up the full ref. of a paper from the late 60's by Ikai and Steinhaus on this if anyone's interested.)

To be honest, I'm loudest when I'm training at home in my studio (it kinda scares one of my dogs, but she's getting used to it, I think). I kinda do the Ronnie C thing - the whole gyms to my self, so I can babble like a manic fool. 8^)

Mark - let me know when you'll be in AZ. What city?... (PM me if you like.)

-R

Re: Re: Re: Training on the road / in new gyms

homonunculus said:

Yes, I admit it, I'm that guy who can get pretty damn loud when he lifts. I do it b/c it comes natural and I also know that it can enhance strength (I'll look up the full ref. of a paper from the late 60's by Ikai and Steinhaus on this if anyone's interested.)


-R

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So are you that guy that sounds like he's reliving some kind of prison rape when he's training?

I'm the quite guy that stares at you like you have some kind of mental defect.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Training on the road / in new gyms

saturn said:

So are you that guy that sounds like he's reliving some kind of prison rape when he's training?

I'm the quite guy that stares at you like you have some kind of mental defect.

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roflmao!!!

Randy - I pm'd ya.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Training on the road / in new gyms

saturn said:

So are you that guy that sounds like he's reliving some kind of prison rape when he's training?

I'm the quite guy that stares at you like you have some kind of mental defect.

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If its a prison rape, then I'm the one doing the raping - pure agression, man. :angry: Not the cries of agony you hear.

And yes, I do have a mental defect. LOL Its a gift that I am thankful for every time I train legs... uke:

-Randy

also add to that, when the "newbie"(maybe a young kid or even the older gentleman) lifter is on a piece of equipment and I'll ask how many sets do they have left or can we work in, 9 times out of 10 they will get up and say you can have it I'll do something eles???!?!?!?
What the hell I'm usually polite about it! I didn't think I was scarry! Mark can vouch for this too cause he'll harass me afterwards!

KR

This is a great post! Just came back from a holiday road trip and the gym I visited in Ottawa had all of the above. Hilarious that you mention it!

KidRok said:

also add to that, when the "newbie"(maybe a young kid or even the older gentleman) lifter is on a piece of equipment and I'll ask how many sets do they have left or can we work in, 9 times out of 10 they will get up and say you can have it I'll do something eles???!?!?!?
What the hell I'm usually polite about it! I didn't think I was scarry! Mark can vouch for this too cause he'll harass me afterwards!

KR

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Yep, had that happen, too, man. Even if you insist, in a very nice way, that they stay, some people just want to scamper away. I wonder sometimes if its b/c they don't really want to be working out...

Of course, more frequently, when you ask (again, very pleasantly), "How many sets to you have left here?..." and the answer is, "I just started."

It hasn't happened yet, but I'm waitin' for the day (ONE OF THESE DAYS!!! LOL!) when I pull a Steve Martin from Planes, Trains and Automobiles and say:

"If I f$*king wanted to know if you had just f$*king started, I would have f(*king asked you that f#*king question, you f#@kin idiot. Now, I'll F(#king try it again - how many F#*king sets have you got f$*king left, you f#*ktard!?!?"

:curse: LMAO!!!!

-Randy

Remo said:

This is a great post! Just came back from a holiday road trip and the gym I visited in Ottawa had all of the above. Hilarious that you mention it!

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Uncanny, eh?... People are people.

-R

homonunculus said:

"If I f$*king wanted to know if you had just f$*king started, I would have f(*king asked you that f#*king question, you f#@kin idiot. Now, I'll F(#king try it again - how many F#*king sets have you got f$*king left, you f#*ktard!?!?"
-Randy

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LMFAO!!!!!!
The kid you say that to will probably die of fear, at least faint..

Randy

How about the pansy ass personal trainers that like to come up and heckle you about the weight you're using and behind them is a 90yr old dude about to die! I guess it makes them fell better to have their clients see this, so they know they don't have anything to worry about, but spending their cash.
The rest of your shite was frickin' hilarious, cuz for some reason, I feel we have seen the same people...nudge nudge, wink, wink!

-Steel

Thank god my gym never has the PISSY woman at the front desk. I went to another here in town to try it out. Won't say which one but G**** I wish I could. That womwen there was so stupid and not friendly. It's like I'm potential new customer show some interest.