Strangers in Spandex

I've been going to "bootcamp" classes at the gym 2-4 times per week lately. Correction: I have been going to "cardio bootcamp," "basic training," and my personal favorite, "power hour" classes.

I know that the classes are legit because there's always men in there too. I've walked by the exercise room a few times during a step aerobics class or whatever, and it's all women and I immediately assume that the classes I'm going to are harder, more effective, and generally cooler. Because there are men. My name is Anna and I am a sexist.

There is one guy in particular who is at almost every class I've ever been to. He stakes out the same spot every time and puts his step on FOUR risers (that's TWICE as high as everyone else). He is always dressed in spandex shorts but he somehow makes them look really hardcore. I've actually wondered if he's coming to these classes directly from a spinning class, which would be ridiculous because Sweet Jesus who could do this many squat jumps after a spinning class?! Any time there is an option to make any given exercise harder, he's all over it, even when that entails adding some sort of ballerina jump or big arm gesture. He's not afraid of anything.

I don't know anything about this guy. I could guess at his age - grey hair but good skin, I'd guess forties - but aside from that I really have no idea who this guy is. And I'm happy to leave it that way. Not just because I generally don't like small talk that doesn't involve reality TV, but because I think there's something special about keeping my one dimensional view of him in tact.

He could be an accountant. Or a consultant. Or unemployed. He could be thrice divorced. Or married to his high school sweetheart. Or gay. He could be amazing. Or terrible. But right now, in my mind, he's just the Power Hour rockstar. Why would I mess with that?

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