running for the prize

hear it in the stairwell: Outkast
I was at the gym earlier, the Hangar gym on base. Quite possibly the most posh gym ever created. And I was running on the treadmill, the one with fans and flatscreen cable television for me only to watch. Basically my legs were moving unconsciously as I was enjoying a great episode of Fresh Prince. (I know, I'm finally enjoying cable and all I can decide to watch is Will Smith?? I was watching for Carolton of course). SO I'm running along, wearing my headphones, oblivious to all surroundings and you know when you get that strangannoying feeling that someone is watching you? Yeah, I was feeling it. So I reluctantly took my eyes off the t.v. and caught the glance of the air force guy running next to me. I tried my best to give him my "I'm-nasty-sweaty-so-don't-even-think-about-hitting-on-me" look and continued with my mindless sitcom. Five minutes went by and the guy seriously wouldn't stop looking over. So I'm wondering if maybe he's feeling competitive. I speed my machine up to about 5.4. About 30 seconds later he does the same. I push the up arrow to 5.7. He follows command. This continues until both of our treadmills read around 7.2. After about two minutes of sprinting, I make eye contact and smile #1 to congratulate him #2 to see how much he's struggling and #3 to psych him out made make him think that this actually means something to me. He smiles back and the second his mouth opens to form what I'm sure would be a ridiculous comment, he loses his footing and in a millisecond he's on the floor behind both of our treadmills on his butt, legs in air. I don't look back, slow my machine to a jog and resume my next sitcom...The Cosby Show.