March was the month.

And a work out was the plan. Because summer was close and crop tops were going to be worn.

So my friend and I signed up for the gym, in the hope that we were going to start our gym journey together. Something I have started and failed, a few too many times. But I thought, this time it’s different. I have a friend. 

Maybe I said that to convince myself but deep down, I knew. I knew that I’ve never won a battle between me and the gym. But hey, how do they say it? Fall down seven times, stand up eight? 

So we paid up, and went shopping for cute gym outfits which we were going to buy for our sessions. Then the day came. 

4th March, 2026. 

We got to the gym at around 6pm, excited and youthful, ready to execute our dream of having chiselled summer bodies. Just like the Greek statues. 

So we changed into our outfits, and went to the arena. On our way there, we saw how hard people were working…lifting weights, knowing their way around equipment, helping each other…generally just being badasses. 

And we thought, oh this will be us. We were inspired. 

But, I’m just going to say it here: That was all we got. Inspiration.

We were running on girlpower and delusion.

We occupied a little area and started stretching, then went to the treadmill and even started planning what we were going to do the next day. 

But, that was all we did. One stretch here…pause for a laugh…one stretch there…pause for a story. 

And then when we were doing our final stretch at the mats, after doing what I can call not- the- most- productive- run-on-the- treadmill, I turned to her and said, ‘We yapped out more than we worked out!’. 

And there it was, an idea, bright like the stars (a bit dramatic but I need this here for effect) was born. 

That we were going to have a ‘Gutsy Summer’ where instead of having our usual storytelling hangs at my house, we were going to have them outside. Be outside. Touch grass. Yap. 

We meet, go for a walk and yap, or a little run and yap, then end up at a cafe for some little breakfast/brunch and continue the yaps. 

Not a run club, not therapy, just movement + yapping = Yap-Out. 

So, we start this May. And I can’t wait to see how it goes.

Oh and my friend and I, that’s the first and last time we went to the gym that month. Think we can ask for a refund? 

Love, Maryann Kariuki x The Gutsy Person Club.