I am thankful to be living on the Ridge. Despite the desperate uphill climb to get here from anywhere on campus, there is at least one reason that I am pleased: the Rec center is within a short walking distance. Granted, the path which leads to the center is loose dirt and a pretty serious downwards slope, and then there’s the struggle back up, but all in all, I think that we on the Ridge have it good compared to other campus squatters for that single reason.
Now, I’ve only visited the center two or three times, and that was only to visit the pool. But before I jet off to the swim my little heart out from the single-file turn stiles, I like to observe others in their natural work-out habitat. I suppose it’s the psychology classes that have affected me in this way. There are people sweating and expressing their manhood in the weight room, struggling with squinty eyes to lift that bar over their heads while others are encouraging to push harder. There are those who are running like lab mice on a treadmill, and I attempted to imagine how badly it would hurt if one were suddenly caught off guard, resulting in a surprised face skidding across the moving mat. There is some kind of aerobics work-out upstairs, where people eagerly sweat to the music to achieve the sought after tight buns. I wonder why I’m here, for I already nearly die every day going back and forth, from dorm to campus. Then again, I suppose I shouldn’t be dieing from an uphill climb a couple times per day, so I am thankful I don’t have to walk as far to get to the center to work out to make it easier to climb back up. Makes sense.
Before hitting the pool, it is required that I head to the locker rooms and shower off. (Just a side note: Boys, if you think you know what goes on in the girls’ locker room, I’m sorry to disappoint, but what goes on is truly not what you fantasize. There are no half-naked girls walking around, smacking each other with towels. No open showers or scandalously running around. Yes, there are indeed sweaty girls, but not the attractive sweaty- the smelly sweaty. Ew). So there I was, my goal of the night: about to plunge into the muddled abyss of chlorinated hair and sweat. I swam for about 20 minutes, yet it felt as if it was around 40, and casually walked back into the locker room. Instead of showering off, I decided that it would be practical to do that when I was back at my dorm (so I could change in comfort). However, as I was strenuously ascending the path, my legs began to feel a little itchy. No, not itchy, burning. My legs were burning off! The skin was sliding down to my ankles! Oh God, I cried out in my head, I was dieing!
I scrambled to my dorm, my hands shaking as I attempted a handful of times to plunk the key into the door. I raced to my room to grab a towel. Now it felt as though my whole body had been dipped in acid! An acid that made you itch like you’ve never itched before!
So I showered and scrubbed and rubbed. I felt relieved. Reborn. A new Caitlin, if you will. And oh so marvelously sore: My muscles ached, and it felt good! I am going to have to do this “recreational exercise” more often.
So let this be a warning to you all: if you can recall the last post that was posted by me you can recall my opposition to the shower stalls. However, make an exception in this case. Always shower après visiting the heavily chlorinated Rec Center pool. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me. Oh, and don’t forget to visit the sights along the way.
Happy Trekking,
-c