Done with they Gym!

I would like to think that I am a pretty nice person and that it usually takes a lot for me to get all worked up about something.*  I know that life is short and that is isn't worth getting upset over insignificant things or things we just cannot change.  But last night I had had enough of my gym!  I go to the local 24 Hour fitness, it's 1/2 a mile away, and often times in the summer I run there and back because the parking is just awful.  I've been a member for about 2 1/2 years and have used it pretty consistently.  It's funny, I know a ton of the members by face, I know all their quirks (you have a lot of time to people watch when your slugging out 12 mile runs on a treadmill), and you also know who are actually  there to make a difference in their lives or the ones who go there for the social aspect.

But lately it has gone down hill there.  They are pushing the personal trainer thing a bit too much.  They only have one area of mats for stretching and using things like medicine balls and stability balls, and often times you are competing for space with the personal trainers who are on the mats too, to show their clients (or in some cases, just checking their blackberries or chatting with their friends as they half-ass coach their clients) what their next move is.  Treadmills are always broken, weight machines are caput, and their just isn't enough machines in the building for the amount of people they let in during the evening so you can wait for a good 10-20 mins for a treadmill or machine. 

I know your asking, "Don't you have a treadmill at home Katie?"  Why, yes I do!  But I go through these phases where I can't stand the gym, or I can't stand my home treadmill, or gosh, should I say it?   I can't stand going outside and hitting the pavement on the same routes again!  Plus, I don't exactly have the weight lifting equipment at home.  A few hand weights, a yoga mat, and one of those big stability balls does not a home gym make.  My husband also uses the gym quite often, at least 4-5 times a week.  My treadmill doesn't like him, and he really loves to use the stationary bikes and weight machines - neither of which we have.

So after my nine miler last night, the hubbs wanted me to lift some weights and do some ab work with him.  We headed over to the gym at around 5:30 and what a mistake that was!  They have moved the whole gym around to accommodate the personal training sessions they are pushing.  Because, as you know, January is the month for all of those NY resolution makers who have vowed to get in shape and just have to do it with a personal trainer!  They took away the stretching mats, moved out quite a few stationary bikes and moved the ab machines over to where the stretching mats used to be.  WTF was all I could say?  They didn't consult me on this?  What were they thinking!  I blew a gasket!  I was sooo mad!  I know!  Crazy to get all worked up at a gym changing things around!  But I am not good with change in the first place, and they changed it to suck even more!   

I have been quite jealous of Aron's home gym since she first posted about it a couple of months ago, and now that she just posted about it again, I have really been thinking about doing it at our house.  We have four bedrooms, one of which houses my treadmill and a tv.  There is enough room for our own little home gym.  When I walked in yesterday when the gym was packed and all moved around I was done!  I canceled my membership on the spot and vowed to get a new treadmill this week, a weight machine and stationary bike  and fix that room up.  I think this was the swift kick in the butt we needed.  We spend $70 a month on that membership - I can think of a TON of other ways to spend $70!

So while I kind-of blew a gasket right their in 24 hour fitness (BTW, I don't think anyone noticed, it was so busy I just blended in with all the other crazies in the building) I think it was what we needed.  Ari just nodded his head in agreement and got on Craig's List last night looking for equipment.  He has always complained about that $70 automatic debit out of our account each month even though he used the gym quite frequently.  I am a bit sad that I won't get to run with my priest Fr. Jon for a while, and sad I won't get to see all of my usual gym rats that have kept me VERY entertained for 2 1/2 years, but I am more worried about what I am going to do when my home gym is buggin me or it's raining, or it's cold out.  I am sure if I remind myself I'm not spending $70 a month at that crap hole will be enough to get me to jump on my own treadmill at home.

So that was the long and short of it - I dumped my gym and am moving on.  Thanks 24 Hour Fitness for the last 2 1/2 years.  I was never that happy there in the first place, but it served it's purpose when it needed to.  I'm heading home early today for my long run - 14 miles to be exact - since I can't chance not being able to do it this weekend due to the lack of information my hubbs is still withholding.  Funny, it's driving my mom nuts, too!  Ari drops Lilly off everyday at my 'rents for doggy day care and he gets drilled every.single.morning. about where he is taking me.  I told him she is probably worried you're gonna take me out to the middle of no where and chop me into a million pieces! (I kid, I kid!) He laughed and said, "Oh no!  You guessed it, we're going fishing in the delta!"**  Oh, he is a very, very bad man!

Happy Thursday pees and Happy Running!
*I am a redhead after all. I may be nice, but I am an Irish redhead who does have a temper and does have my moments :)
**Very poor joke on his part - if you're from the Bay Area you probably got the joke.  Very, very bad (but I laughed - he is sooo funny!)