Unfulfilling Workout (Open to all)

Jay Echart / Fifteen

District 1

Early mornings were Jay's preferred work out time.  He liked to get in a quick run and an hour or two at the gym before going to classes, and usually, Jay was pretty good at waking up on time to do so.  But today, he'd been...well, more than a little off.  He woke up nearly too late to get to class on time, though he did just barely squeak in, and all day he felt himself either falling asleep at his desk, or spacing off.  He didn't know why he was in such a weird mood, since he'd gotten plenty of sleep the night before, and he hadn't really done much to change his schedule the day before, either.  He should have been right on schedule, just the same as any other day.  His mood only worsened when he realized he'd have to hit the gym that afternoon after school.

The gym was so overcrowded after school.  He liked the emptiness and quiet tranquility of working out alone, in silence.  Jay wasn't the type who liked to listen to music while he trained.  But going in the afternoon meant sacrificing all of that to train in a packed, loud gym, where he'd be expected to socialize as he worked out.  He was seriously dreading it, and heaved a heavy sigh as he stepped through the large glass doors to the gym closest to his house.  He practically dragged his gym bag along behind him as he realized how stressful this workout was going to be.

"Jay!" One of his classmates, a girl who he only knew casually waved at him from a treadmill as he emerged in his workout clothes, carrying his water bottle.  "Come run with me!"

"I would, but I'm saving my legs for a neighborhood jog later this evening," he said, trying to wriggle out of being in the chatty girl's company. Her face lit up, though.

"Oh, maybe I'll join you for that!" she said, her smile bright. Jay returned the smile weakly, nodding noncommittally, before ducking his head and weaving through a group of guys having a standoff over a set of javelins. Making his way to the climbing wall, he saw a spot open and snatched it up before someone else could take it. There was a harness available, but the only kids who really used them were the young ones, who were only just learning. Jay hadn't needed a harness or a spotter in years. Chalking up his hands, he took a minute to assess the vertical course in front of him, and then dove right in.

Jay was quite the natural at the climbing wall.  He could usually scale the hardest course in a half hour, easy.  He'd climbed this particular course many times before, and even though it sported an overhang portion, it was usually no problem for him.  But today, he was just feeling off, and found himself second guessing his footholds, and his hands slipping on the pegs.  When it came time to tackle the overhang, he made it about halfway, before loosing his footing.  He was left hanging by a few handholds for a moment, as he tried to plant his feet back on the wall, but no such luck.  He had to drop, hitting the padded ground hard, and ending up on his ass.

"Shake it off!" one of the trainers called to him, and he mentally chastised himself.  He had never been told to 'shake it off' on the climbing wall before; he'd never slipped up on the overhang like that!  Part of him wanted to try again, but when he gazed up at the top of the course, it seemed almost insurmountable to him.  He felt strange.  He didn't like failing at something he knew he was good at.  Deciding to leave it for a day he was feeling better, he shook his head, and went to practice hand to hand.  He tried to psych himself up as he waited to step into the ring, but it felt like he was flipped onto his back almost immediately.

"How did the day go by and I didn't accomplish one goddamn thing, and yet I'm so sore?" he mumbled to himself, as he snatched his bag from the locker room.  That was it, he wasn't going to torture himself any longer, that was it for today.  He didn't even know if he was up for his run, which he'd been looking forward to all day.  Pushing open the glass doors and exiting into the cool, early evening air, he let out another sigh, and sank down to sit on the bottom step.  "What is wrong with me today?" he asked himself under his breath, resting his forehead in one hand.  "I feel totally useless."

He stayed like that for a while, just trying to force himself to have the will to go running.  It wasn't until he'd finally decided that a short run would be best, did he hear the doors of the gym open behind him and the footsteps of someone descending the steps.  "Oh please don't be that girl who wanted me to run with her," he prayed.  She was always too chatty in class, and he knew she'd be chatty on the run.