The JogBlog guide to not looking like a New Year Newbie
It’s that time of year every seasoned gym-goer dreads. The time of year when there are two questions whizzing round their heads:
1. Will the newbies be hogging all the machines; and
2. Will everyone think I’m a newbie too?
This morning, I had planned to go to the gym and these were the questions I had in my head so, upon opening my kit drawer, I pulled out an old pair of running tights and grabbed a t-shirt but eek, the t-shirt was a salmony-pink colour and nothing screams NEWBIE as much as pink does.
Then there was the shoe dilemma. I have two pairs of running shoes that I haven’t even tried on yet, let alone wear, but – like pink – new shoes are a no no if you don’t want to be mistaken for a newbie so I put on the purple pair I’ve recently been wearing to the gym and they even had a bit of mud on them. Result.
And yes, I know we all had to start somewhere, so I’m not really mocking (although a bit of ‘spot the newbie’ fun in the gym does help to pass the time), especially as my newbie runner kit seven years ago consisted of thick baggy tracksuit bottoms, a cotton t-shirt, a heavy hooded fleece, two normal bras worn at the same time and a pair of trainers that cost me £10 from Shoe Zone.
I needn’t have worried though, there were no newbies in the gym, just the three ‘older’ people who are usually there in the morning and I did my usual rowing machine/cross-trainer/treadmill combo without having to wait for newbies to stop hogging the machines.
Stats
Pairs of old running tights: 1
Salmony-pink t-shirts: 1
Pairs of purple trainers with a bit of mud on them: 1
Newbies in the gym: 0
Rowing machine: 20 minutes
Cross-trainer: 20 minutes
Treadmill: 20 minutes
Music
Courtney Love – Sunset Strip
Duran Duran – Electric Barberella
David Holmes – I Heard Wonders
The Black Keys – Lonely Boy
Soft Cell – Sex Dwarf
Calvin Harris – Feel So Close
Ghostpoet – I Just Don’t Know
Knifeworld – In A Foreign Way
U2 – Vertigo
Eugene McGuinness – Shotgun
The Polyphonic Spree – Running Away
The Secret Machines – Lightning Blue Eyes
I also find that it’s good to get to know a couple of the people who work at the gym, so you can strut in and look like a regular. Great for the ego, and every little bit helps! 🙂
I’m so glad to see this post because I was going through the exact same thought process yesterday! I’m a bit sheepish because I’ve just switched gyms after 2 years at the old one, and I got new running shoes for Christmas that I’m trying to break in. So lo and behold, I rocked up at the new gym yesterday looking like the biggest newbie ever. Must go and find some mud ASAP!
I am the exact same!! Last week though I bought a few new tops to refresh my running wardrobe when I am back running after having baby… and I bought bright pink… I know I wont be wearing any of the new stuff until I am back running like I was before getting pregnant… Its going to be hard enough taking it easy and running at a snais pace, without doing it in the bright pink…. maybe I should jsut wear ALL my marathon medals to prove a point…. or is that going too far ?? 🙂 C x
thanks to my hubby he’s converted the garadge into a makeshift gym with an old well used punch bag, speed ball, weights of all sizes and an interesting version of a kettle bell?!?! and a pull up bar ….can’t work out the music system though but I can wear any old rags in there ….and I do LOL!! x
Oh no I looked like a newbie this morning!?
Loving the playlist!
I spotted the newbies in my gym last night, too. One of them was walking around barefoot!
What’s wrong with being new? You were, once.
Nothing wrong with being a newbie! Hence the paragraph:
“And yes, I know we all had to start somewhere, so I’m not really mocking (although a bit of ‘spot the newbie’ fun in the gym does help to pass the time), especially as my newbie runner kit seven years ago consisted of thick baggy tracksuit bottoms, a cotton t-shirt, a heavy hooded fleece, two normal bras worn at the same time and a pair of trainers that cost me £10 from Shoe Zone.”
Why do you “dread” being mistaken for one then? Who cares?
Would you like some Prozac?
No, you keep it, it might make you less judgmental.
It’s called ‘Humour’ Tracey. Try it, it’s good for you!