-Taylor Deutscher
***The writer is enrolled in Comm 240 News Reporting.***
Friends Tyler Wayman, McLouth sophomore, and Orlando Garcia, Lexington, Neb., senior, have known each other since the 2012 fall semester. But their friendship is stronger than ever since they started working out together at the Fort Hays State University Wellness Center this semester.
Wayman said that he wanted to start going to the gym, but he needed someone to motivate him. Garcia proved to be the perfect partner for the job.
“I have a friend back home who’s a personal trainer,” Garcia said. “He helped me start getting into shape, so I was like, ‘I can do that with Tyler.’”
But Garcia is no ordinary gym partner. He keeps things interesting by wearing different costumes.
The pair explained the reasoning behind the outfits.
“We went twice, and I just noticed some people giving me looks,” Wayman said. “I don’t know if they were intentionally looking at me or if it was just me being self-conscious. Then he (Garcia) dressed up, and it took the attention away from me.”
Garcia said, “I noticed he was embarrassed sometimes, and I thought, ‘I know how to fix this real quick.’”
The two wanted to keep track of their days at the gym by capturing the moments in photographs.
“We originally started taking pictures just to start a diary,” Garcia said.
As they posted the pictures to Facebook, more people started to become aware of what they were doing, but neither of the two expected their story to go viral on the internet.
A friend of the pair, Jill Herbert, Wichita sophomore, posted one of their pictures on her Tumblr,
and the story snowballed from there. The picture can be found all over the internet on sites such
as Cheezburger, Imgur and Reddit,
The two were shocked to hear that their story became so popular.
“I just wanted to work out,” Wayman said, adding that he recently joked to his mother that he can’t go out and order a burger and fries without someone recognizing him.
Garcia remained humble and said, “I’m just being a friend. Who wants to be famous for that?”
Still, as the story became bigger, a few people have commended the pair in the gum.
After a month and a half of working out, Wayman has made great progress, Garcia said.
“He’s definitely gained muscle,” Garcia said. “He won’t stop showing off his muscle. Someone’s getting confident.”
Because of legal issues, Wayman and Garcia are no longer allowed to take pictures in the Wellness Center, but they said that will not discourage them from working out with costumes.
“Basically as soon as we get out the door, we’re like, ‘Okay, picture time!’” Wayman said.
Wayman said his favorite costume so far was Garcia in a banana suit, while Garcia’s favorite was a fancy Batman outfit. Garcia never tells Wayman which costume he is going to wear ahead of time.
Since Garcia graduates in May, the two do not have much time left together, but Wayman said he will continue working out.