Karen

As was their Sunday tradition Karen and her daughter headed to the gym for their weekly racquetball match. While her daughter favored more traditional gym wear for the game, Karen looked at the weekly match as a chance to be confused as a sister rather than a mother. Today she was dressed in her favorite Nike Move Your A purple T-shirt, short black ruffled tennis skirt and patriotic flag triangle scarf on her head. No one would call her ma'am today - it would be Miss!   The only give away to her potential "mom" status was the wrap she wore on her left calf (and the slight wrinkling of skin that she worked tirelessly to keep from worsening). Without the aforementioned wrap, she would be limping before she had even played five minutes. 

Her daughter loved to play racquetball. Karen enjoyed it too. She used to play in high school and college. Although he daughter often told her differently (probably during every game), she felt she had not lost any skill over the years. If a ball often went by her, it was so she didn't show her daughter up. Her daughter was just trash talking - she was sure of it.

Today would be a special day - Karen had been working secretly with a coach for four months to better her skills. He was coming to film the match and provide feedback on their serves and returns. Karen smiled when he arrived. The coach was Karen's height with dark skin and muscles that rippled even when he was sitting still. After greeting him and entering the court, her daughter called Karen a flirt. Karen kept count - her daughter called her a flirt 26 times during their session.

If only her daughter knew that she didn't need to flirt - this man was already hers.

Monica

Every practice I can get makes a difference - at least that is what my coach espouses on a daily - ok sometimes hourly basis.  I will not let a single ball get past me today!

The petite young woman enters the gym, long dark hair pulled back in a pony at the back of her head.  She is dressed for serious athletic business in black tank top and black running shorts. Her pink oversized athletic bag swings heavily as she bounces through the gym heading for her favorite racquetball court. 

After setting down her bag inside the court, she begins to jump around in a Rocky Top of the Stairs Triumph pose with her arms up in the air. Although she finds this a silly habit, her coach has told her if she acts like a champion she will be a champion! Just a few more jumps and she is done with such foolishness. She had always thought he wouldn't know if she didn't "Rocky Jump" but it did make her feel more powerful and it was pretty much a habit now.

It wastTime to get down to business as she removes multiple items from her pink Mary Poppins bag - headphones, water bottle, towel, phone, three soccer balls (one which is more worn than the others - obviously her favorite). A quick stretch before beginning and a moment of quiet head bowed prayer. Her father would surely have been proud of her if he could see her now. He has always been proud of her accomplishments but she knew it had been hard for him to accept that he had produced a girl rather than a rough and tumble boy.  

No time for that now!

Today she was going to beat her juggling record - she would do at least 1500 without dropping. Then she would defend like her life depended on it. The racquetball court was a perfect place for defense drills since she did not have much time to read and respond to the ball. She had been getting progressively better and her reflexes had sharpened thanks to these racquetball court practice session. She may be one of the smallest keepers in the women's soccer league but the scouts from the Thorns were coming the end of April. 

She would be ready.

Henry

Henry, or as his friend call him J.R., adjusted his ball cap as he ambled into the gym. He handed over his key fob for scanning and flopped onward.

It had been many years ago that he got his nickname of J.R. and perhaps those many years ago he did resemble Larry Hagman's famous character.  He certainly did sport a wide brimmed Stetson back then. Now, he had turned it in for a ball cap. He used to cut quite a figure, now he was more like the Kool-aide Man who used to break through walls. Even when he was young and trim, he never was the fancy dresser that J.R. was with his suits and money. Today Henry found himself outfitted in his usual gym footwear, brown flip flops. One of the trainers had once told him they weren't safe shoes. What did that young man know about safe? He had worn these shoes for years and didn't plan on changing for some guy in a blue shirt who could be his grandson. He completed his workout gear with black Lycra shorts, an oversized orange t-shirt and a bright army green long sleeve coat with a hood. He must confess, it had been cooler this morning when he left home, although now the coat was a little too warm. Rather than remove it though he would do what the young trainers were always telling their clients - he would just "power through."

As he walked through the gym, he decided today would be a treadmill day. He had been thinking all morning about what he wanted to do today. Walking on a treadmill to nowhere seemed exactly right. Henry indiscriminately selected his treadmill, pulled his hat down over his eyes and hit start. Why bother with all the fancy controls - let's just go machine. 

Andrew #1

Andrew

I can't believe I am this tired. Taking two weeks off from the gym to be with Jenna and little Anna were certainly worth it. Now I am paying the price. Both of our parents told us that we were "pleasant" and "sweet" babies so we thought Anna would be the same. Needless to say, Anna has not slept for more than an hour at a time since her arrival on March 17. After the lunch feeding and diaper change, I think Jenna could sense I needed a short break and sent me off to the gym - my home away from home. I grabbed my keys and ran for the door. Now that I think about it, Jenna may have taken my haste the wrong way - but here I am, sauntering into my favorite gym.

After smiling at Veronica and handing over my key tag to enter, I felt like a surge of satisfaction. I was back. Two weeks was not really like a long time. What is two weeks? I could feel the adrenaline and familiarity as I decided to start with a little cardio warm-up before hitting the weights. To the stairs and the cardio zone!

Have they added more stairs in the past two weeks? How is it possible that climbing these stairs is winding me? I usually sprint up these stairs - should have taken the elevator?  Maybe I should I consider this for the trip down... After sizing up all of the machines, I am thinking a gentle bike ride. That is usually my cool down so it will be a great place to start.

30 minutes... resistance 5. Nice little cardio workout to get back in the swing.

Whew - five minutes? Sigh. My right leg is aching and sweat is pouring down my face. Great day to not bring a towel, but I wanted to leave quickly before Jenna realized what she had offered. Ok. I can do 20 minutes - little less resistance?. ...Sigh... Puff ... after consideration, 15 sounds more reasonable and then I can get back to Jenna. Yes, 15 minutes should be just fine!

 I hope no one notices me as I limp down the stairs. I need to start walking at home or something - maybe we could go for a family walk this evening.