EVO FITNESS 

I met this man, who calls everyone either “Bro” or “Dog,” while writing a story about Wii Fit. To research the story, I spent a week dragging my video gaming console to health clubs and team locker rooms around Boston, listening to what the pros thought of it. Kelvin, the bro in question, was lukewarm on the games. He said they didn’t compare to a personal trainer, and a Wii couldn’t determine if I had proper form while working out. He told me to come in for a session, I accepted. Three years later, Kelvin is one of my closest friends. A few weeks after we began, he started learning about my life — all of it. I learned about his. Despite our physical differences, the fact that I’m gay and he’s straight, and we are very similar people. I appreciate everything that tap (or Kelvin, as I call him) has taught me about fitness. He’s a top-notch trainer (he’d quickly remind me here that he’s a master trainer). But just as much — if not more — I appreciate his friendship. He’s taught me things about life, not just lifting. Every week over a weight bench, we pour our hearts out. He helped me through a very difficult breakup; I did the same for him. We talk about both deep things and meaningless things.

Mike Smith