I’m not a runner, damn it!
Awhile back, my wife and I both played hooky from work. She was just back from 10 days out of town so we took the kids to school and then hung out together to talk and stuff J
After a round of “talking”, we went out for brunch. It was a spring-like day in southern Illinois so I wore shorts. Our waitress, in the course of our ordering and “how’s the food” conversations, commented on my legs, saying something like, “Well, you can afford to eat so much, being a runner and all. And look at those legs.” My wife noted that I was actually a bodybuilder. I added that I’ve never run 2 miles without stopping in my life!
It’s not the first time my natural bodybuilder legs have been confused with runners legs (hopefully they’ve all thought more sprinter than marathoner). And while I don’t have Tom Platz legs or anything (younger guys, google Tom Platz), I do have a decent set of sticks that are in proportion to my upper body.
Oh well, it’s one of the realities of being a natural bodybuilder: When you wear regular clothes, you look, well, pretty regular. Now, I’m not a fan of wearing tight clothes (as opposed to Under Armor Guy), and I’ve pretty much come to grips with the fact that I don’t look like a bodybuilder in street clothes, but sometimes everyone wants to show off, just a little.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have been “shirt off at the party” guy. The gory details are that after a few drinky-poos I was persuaded by some of my wife’s lady friends to take off my shirt (I know, a total jag move, but the firewater was talking to me). The lady friends were, shall we say, very “Oh my gawd” and got kinda touchy. Good for ego, bad for relationship. Note to self: Even if wifey says, “Sure, go ahead”, don’t take shirt off at parties.
Anyway, one of my goals in bodybuilding was to build a bod that most guys would like to have (as opposed to a freak physique). I think I’ve done that and I continue to work with my genetics to build the best body naturally possible. But I do want everyone to know one thing… “I’m not a runner, damn it!”
April 4, 2009 at 8:03 am
Bahama, thanks for that "even if the wife says ok" advice. I would have believed her and then paid dearly.
I never get confused between runners and lifters. If I saw someone with your legs wearing shorts, I would ask, "how much do you squat?" But not all people would know that.
April 4, 2009 at 8:11 am
A few months ago, as I was changing in the gym lockerroom after my workout, a PT came up & asked if I was a competitive runner. (NOTE: I’m don’t "run" or jog in my workouts……I do sprint intervals on the treadmill). I was pretty shocked & told him so, as I absolutely hate running/jogging. Ran one race in my life, a 10K back in 1991, just to see if I could finish without stopping. Other than that, I’ve never done anything with a whiff of competition with regards to running.
Still, to this 47 yr fellow just trying to keep in shape, it was a HUGE ego boost. Now, if only females would give me the same kind of boost………..LOL