I do like the way in which the medium supported the narrative on this one. Working on fitness sometimes does feel a rather lot like rapidly hammering the D key for a few years to only incremental improvement. It was also inspiring the character refused to go back, despite my best efforts. I personally am more susceptible to the pernicious influence of the A key, to my great shame.
Also, I had envisioned a different promise. That took me by surprise.
Well done!