Overview of Armchair Anonymous: Crazy Gym II
This episode of Armchair Anonymous features four listener-submitted gym horror stories that range from embarrassing to genuinely terrifying. The common thread is that workouts can go sideways fast: a surprise class turns into a vomiting disaster, a gym buddy becomes a dangerous roommate, a friendly field day ends in double wrist fractures, and a bouldering session nearly costs someone a foot.
Story Highlights
1) The surprise 5K that ends in a mask-vomit catastrophe
Maisie, a fitness instructor in Denver, signs up for what she thinks is a strength class in an altitude-training room after teaching two spin classes and drinking a protein shake. Instead, the “class” is a timed 5K.
- She pushes hard on the treadmill in a mask.
- Around mile 2.5, she suddenly vomits into the mask, trips, and face-plants onto the treadmill.
- Vomit blasts everywhere, and the workout turns into an emergency cleanup.
- The gym staff are weirdly celebratory, treating it like a badge of honor that she worked so hard she threw up.
- She later emails the gym to ask them to better communicate special-class details.
2) A gym friend becomes a violent roommate
Alex, a college student in Florida, befriends a guy at the gym who later turns out to be one of his new roommates.
- The roommate, “Damon,” initially seems normal and helpful.
- Alex later learns Damon lied about attending the same university; he was actually at a community college.
- Damon reveals he got a girl pregnant, then spirals emotionally.
- He starts stalking the pregnant ex and becomes increasingly obsessive and aggressive.
- After allegedly going on steroids, he becomes more volatile, accusing Alex of stealing eggs, yelling slurs, and threatening him.
- Alex eventually threatens to call the cops, starts couch surfing, and later learns Damon had prior battery/domestic violence charges.
- The apartment complex eventually lets Damon leave.
3) Adult field day ends with both wrists broken
Kate from St. Pete, Florida, goes to a gym-hosted adult field day with her girlfriend Jenna.
- The day starts badly when an off-leash dog attacks their dog while they’re out walking, spilling coffee on them.
- They nearly skip the event, but go anyway.
- During relay races, Kate tries running backward, falls hard on the grass, and breaks both wrists.
- She initially tries to finish the race, then collapses and is taken to the hospital.
- Her vintage T-shirt is ruined, her wrists need surgery, and for nine days both arms are immobilized.
- She had just moved in with Jenna, who had to do everything for her during recovery.
4) A bouldering fall nearly amputates a foot
Steph from Oregon recounts a catastrophic injury from a trendy bouldering gym in Minneapolis.
- She goes for “one last try” on a route, reaches for the final hold, and falls awkwardly.
- Instead of landing safely, she comes down on her ankle with full force.
- Her foot is folded backward, with bones visible and her shoe pushed up in a grotesque position.
- Paramedics give her dissociative pain meds, and she nearly loses the foot.
- Surgeons stabilize her and save the foot without needing plates.
- She later does exposure therapy and can climb again, but says it’s never been the same.
Main Takeaways
- Gym culture can become dangerously intense: what starts as fitness or fun can become a competitive, high-pressure environment.
- Not every “workout buddy” is safe: one story shows how quickly a friendly gym acquaintance can turn into a real threat.
- Recovery can be as dramatic as the injury: multiple stories include surgery, casts, or serious rehab.
- Listeners are willing to share the truly gruesome details: this episode leans heavily into physical comedy, shock, and visceral injury storytelling.
Notable Reactions and Running Bits
- The hosts repeatedly react with disbelief, especially to the treadmill vomit and the bouldering injury.
- Monica and Dax comment on injuries, fitness culture, and the unpredictability of the body under stress.
- The episode also includes light banter about therapy, stress management, and how quickly a normal day can become a disaster.
Bottom Line
Crazy Gym II is a compilation of gym stories that escalate from awkward to horrifying. It’s equal parts funny, gross, and alarming, with each caller proving that the gym can be a place for community, self-improvement, and, occasionally, a full-blown medical emergency.