Gym Heroes

So you all know that my favorite gym past time, other than making fun of no-neck gym guys and the check-out-my-teeny-tiny-body-in-too-tight-gym-shorts-and-a-sports-bra gym chicks, is watching Heroes episodes on my I-Pod.

Thank you, Lord, for creating the I-Pod.  Amen.

Never hurts to thank the Big Guy, folks.

Anywho, I admit I'm a big, nerdy Heroes fan.  But, I've recently discovered some real-life Heroes who attend the various 24-Hour Fitness locations that I frequent.

I'm not being facetious here, I really have found some people who deserve the title of Hero, because they are freaking awesome.  Now, I don't know any of their names, so I have to give them each a pseudonym here.

First, we have the Zumba Queen.
The first time I walked into a Zumba class I was really nervous.
If  you've never seen Zumba, imagine Latin dancing....on steroids...with a little speed mixed in there for good measure.  It's awesome.
But when I first attended, I was not really sure what I was getting in to.  That's when I saw the Zumba Queen.

She's probably about 5'2", and likely weighs close to 400 pounds.  I'm not sure of course, but that would be my guess.  Everyone else in the class was either very fit, or only somewhat pudgy.  Other than the Zumba Queen, I was the only other "big girl" in the class.  I stood next to her, and I'm glad I did.  I watched her the whole time to learn the moves, and let me tell you, she was rockin' it!  She was very inspiring.

Even though I'm not able to go to the Zumba class anymore because of time constraints, I see her every once in awhile at the gym.  Tonight I saw her on the treadmill and I couldn't help but think, "You go girl!"

The Blind Leading the Way
My next gym hero is a guy that I've only seen once at the gym, but he made such an impression on me, that I look for him every time I go.

He is blind.
And when I was there, he was alone.  Doing the weight machine circuit.
It was pretty neat to see him.  He obviously knew what he was doing and was very comfortable there, because he was booking it right along. 

He's a gym hero in my book.

Stair Stepping Superman
I wasn't sure what to think when I first saw this guy.  Just like the blind guy, I've only had the privilege of seeing this guy once at the gym. That day I was feeling kinda huffy because the type of elliptical machines that I usually use were all full, so I had to move down the gym to what I consider the second-rate elliptical machines.

So, I got on, turned on my I-Pod, and in my peripheral vision saw a man nearly fall off his stair step machine in the row in front of me.  He didn't actually fall off though.  It was like he caught himself just in time, and he continued to exercise, so I thought it was just a fluke.  I returned my eyes to my episode of Heroes when I saw him do again.  This time he had my rapt, undivided attention.

I paused my show while I watched this guy go through these sporadic moments of coordination loss where he would take a few steps, and then it was like he was melting as he fell down the machine, but not completely off.  He'd be squatting on the pedals, and then would exert an incredible amount of effort to step his way back up to a standing position.  He'd adjust his pants, and continue this cycle over and over again.

I don't know exactly what was going on with this guy.  I don't know if he has Multiple Sclerosis, or some other type of neurological disease, but it was exhausting watching him work out.  He obviously was working way harder than I was, and not because he was on a pain-inducing stair stepper, and I was on a wussy elliptical.  Sweat was just pouring off this guy, and I tried not to stare, but I was simply amazed at his dedication and the incredible amount of effort he was putting into his workout.


So, with Heroes like these wandering through the gym, what excuse could I possibly have for not giving my all and trying my hardest to be the best possible me that I can be?