Gyms

This year, like last year, started with a month rest from climbing. I have been going to the gym instead, using free passes offered by colleagues or pretending to have an interest in joining exclusive City health clubs.

My experience this month reminded me a little of what gyms are all about...

I paid my first visit to Fitness First near work, literally under Liverpool Street station. This place is not a nice place. Its users, on the day of my visit, were even less nice than the place itself. Few women trying to make an impression on some, let's just say, non-men looking men more interested in contemplating their own shaved and oiled bodies in the mirror. These male humanoids were seemingly lifting tons while I was at some point even considering whether to put any load on my machine. Climbers are only strong relatively to their weight and in that place this was more evident than ever. Nevertheless I had my good couple of hours’ workout, but never again. Not at Fitnesse First.

I paid my second visit to LA Fitness on London Wall. This gym looked very nice on their website. It has everything one may expect from a City gym. The population was definitely better than what I found at Fitness First. The manager made it clear though that most of them will not make it to February. Leaving only the humanoids, I thought. It's the New Year resolution period he explained. I see. However, the swimming pool was a huge disappointment and the steam room made up for it only partially. People were fundamentally not swimming, just floating and getting by. Not for me.

Third visit was at Virgin Active. Their Moorgate branch, I have to admit, it's pretty cool. The workout area is huge. Nevertheless I had to wait for every machine. The place was crammed! New Year resolution period, I know, I know... On top of that, Virgin Active seems to be more popular than other gyms. The swimming pool was better than at LA Fitness, still not large enough, but at least people were swimming!

Fourth and last visit was at Citypoint. This health club, the term gym is not appropriate for this place, is over the top. It's aimed at executives and bankers who cannot actually take a break from work. In fact, the changing rooms are full of screens continuously broadcasting financial news. The average user, on the day of my visit, was in his late 40's with the odd young man or woman whose intention was not to actually work out, but to sweat a little and chat a lot. I can think of a few friends that sometimes use the same approach at the Westway. Everything at Citypoint is high tech. Weight machines count your repetitions and time your rests, showing the lot on a digital display. Everything at Citypoint is computerized and programmable, but I doubt anyone other than the personal trainers know how to do it. I was totally blown off by the place. The swimming pool features the Ozone treatment, meaning no chlorine is used. I never thought this made any difference, but I was wrong. Try it to believe it. All in all I spent almost three hours at Citypoint, my longest workout ever.

It's been an interesting month. I am definitely not a gym person. I can't believe I spent three years of my life going to the gym hopping like the average Chelsea girl. I'm glad I rediscovered rock climbing...

I have to admit, I actually broke my own rules twice over the last month. I climbed a bit last Sunday and even pushed a little two days ago. But I knew I would not resist, so I did plan one week snowboarding starting tomorrow where I will have no temptations other than a lot of good food...

Time to pack now...

Ciao!

Nic