With the sting of the cold and longing for that breath of warm fresh air, thoughts turn to days spent in the young teen sweat-infused gym at RFH. Oh, the ritual of that mandatory indoor exercise.

Ahhh, memories. More like a little PTSD remembrance of the torture the class was for some — especially when stuck inside. When you’re not an athlete and, for that matter, can barely volley a ball (and I mean barely), gym class day was the day of trying to get some sort of note of excuse from your mom to get you out of the embarrassment. Forgery became a talent. Though some moms could feel the uncoordinated kids’ pain and easily relented with prompt penning.

And, it wasn’t just the lack of athletic acumen that was a problem for the clods of the old days. The gym “uniform” added humiliation to injury.

The thing looked like a onesie with space in a Stay Puff marshmallow-looking spot for a king-sized diaper — and that’s counting room for soaking it.

And through it all were the gym teachers. I really don’t know how they didn’t just break out into hysterical laughter over the whole scene.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors fitness and the days of gym suits, clods and champs with a look back at the RFH gym teachers of the 1970s and their unwitting torture and tolerance during those great indoors days.

You know them. Name them. Oh, and what was your most dreaded gym activity? Super athletes, no need to answer. We know.

— Elaine Van Develde