I Fell for Someone in My Group Fitness Class and I Don't Even Know Their Name

Every Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 AM, I go to a HIIT class. I've been going for two months. I love it. Great workout, great energy, great instructor.

But for the last six weeks, I have not been going for the workout.

I've been going for Back Left Corner.

That's what I call them in my head. Back Left Corner. Because that's where they always stand. Back row, left corner, right behind the tall guy with the headband. Like clockwork.

I don't know their name. I don't know what they do. I don't even know if they've noticed me. But I can tell you exactly what their burpee form looks like (perfect), which water bottle they use (green Hydro Flask, stickers on it), and that they always stay for the cool-down stretch even though half the class leaves early.

THE COOL-DOWN STRETCH. That's character right there.

Here's the problem with group fitness crushes: there is NO natural way to talk to someone. In a regular gym, you can at least ask about equipment or offer a spot. In a class, you show up, the instructor yells at you for 45 minutes, and then everyone disperses like startled pigeons. There's a 90-second window between "great class!" and "okay bye forever" and I have not successfully used it once.

Things I've considered:

Positioning myself closer to the back left corner (TOO OBVIOUS)
Staying after class to "stretch more" (I'VE DONE THIS FOUR TIMES AND HAVEN'T SAID A WORD)
Asking the instructor if they know Back Left Corner's name (UNHINGED)
Wearing a shirt that says "I'm single and I like burpees" (I actually searched for this on Etsy)

My friend suggested I just walk up and say hi. Groundbreaking. Revolutionary. Except my brain turns to protein powder every time I make eye contact with this person during mountain climbers.

Last Friday, something happened though. We ended up next to each other during partner drills. The instructor paired us up for medicine ball passes. FOR THREE MINUTES I was tossing a ball back and forth with Back Left Corner. We made eye contact. They smiled. I smiled. We were COMMUNICATING.

Then the drill ended and we went back to our spots and I have been replaying those three minutes on loop ever since.

I know I need to just introduce myself. I know. If you're in a similar situation, this is genuinely useful advice on approaching people at the gym without being weird about it. I've read it three times. I'm still being weird about it.

Also someone told me about DateFit — apparently it's for people who are into fitness and want to date other fitness people. Part of me wonders if Back Left Corner is on there. Part of me knows I'd combust if I matched with them.

Wish me luck for Friday. I'm going to say hi. Or I'm going to do burpees next to them in silence for the 7th week in a row. Either way, I'll update.

Group fitness crushes hit DIFFERENT. If you've been there, tell me your story. Especially if it worked out because I need hope.