Friday, December 31, 2010

My Gym is Being Taken Over by "Resolutionists"

I posted this last year around the same time and thought it would be nice for all of my new readers to see as well.  Enjoy!


The New Year's "Resolutionists" ....

This was posted on the BeginnerTriathlete.com website by marmadaddy and I thought you fellow gym rats would appreciate it:

As happens every year around this time, over the next few days we should start to see posts from people making observations about their gyms, particularly how crowded they are with new people.
A couple of years back I posted the following in response to some of those observations. It has become something of a tradition that I re-post it in order to add a little perspective to what will surely be stressful and inconvenient in the coming weeks for many of us. 
We're endurance athletes. We train all year not only outside, but also at the gym and the pool. We can expect some serious crowding in both places for the next few weeks. It happens every year. Suddenly we have to add 30 minutes to our scheduled gym time because of the "resolutionists".
There are no parking places. When you do manage to find one and get to the locker room 10 minutes behind schedule, there aren't any lockers available and the door is blocked by someone trying to remember the way to the weight room. 
In there, the machines you need to use are all occupied by people in new track suits pushing too much weight with truly horrible form. The bubbler is blocked by someone who is trying hard not to look totally out of their element. You can't get in the pool because it's jammed with people using pull buoys on their arms and kickboards as flotation devices. Half the lanes have people with no goggles and baggy swim trunks down to their knees who can't swim an entire lap.
The whole freakin' place is filled with...with...beginners.
It's one of my favorite sights. I've never been in a place more full of hope than a gym during the first week of January. It's a place full of people giving action to their dreams. People who for that day are making an effort to be fit, to improve themselves, to live a
better quality of life. The effort and courage it takes them to get there that morning is huge. It certainly exceeds what it takes me. I know where everything is. I know the pool etiquette. I know what my workout is going to be and how to use the machines. I'm not the least bit embarrassed to take my shirt off in the locker room. This is routine for me. These new people will be showing a lot of courage and determination by going to the gym in the next few weeks and
they'll deserve my respect. They'll get it.
It wasn't that long ago that I was one of them. During the next few weeks I'll be making an effort to help some of these people feel a little less uncomfortable. Maybe make eye contact with some of them, be ready to give a nod or say hello. Once we're halfway into
February, the crowds will be gone. Parking will be easy. Machines will be available again. The wait at the pool will go away. We know this. We're endurance athletes. We know the reward that comes from sticking through the hard parts.
And from helping others through them.
-----Mike

25 comments:

  1. Yes. I hate when this happens!! It dwindles by February or March!! Gotta Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Is this a repost of a repost? Nice.

    Happy New Year, carrot!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chad, actually it is a repost of a repost from a post. Say that 3x fast!

    Oh, after this last week of work and training my brain has been officially shut off until Jan 4th. Even a repost was difficult!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ha! I'm an eternal optimist and I always hope even some of the "resolutionists" will turn into life-long gym goers.

    Note: I'm working at my gym on the first. I am sure I will be a busy girl.

    Cute post!

    ReplyDelete
  5. My thought is wait three weeks... by then, most people who made resolutions and aren't going to keep them will have quit. Horrible to say, but so true! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Some people will stay and develop a habit. I was one of those people a while back.

    Like the new header!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good luck to em! I hope they buy every expensive gadget known to man to stimulate the fitness economy and drive down prices of the expensive toys over the long term. They can do this for 3 weeks.

    Then they better get out of my lane in the pool!!!!!....else I will be practicing my "defensive barrel roll maneuver" muahhaahahahahHAHAHAHAH!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I wish they would all stick it out! I was one of the ones that "made it" one year but still fell off eventually. I don't do the gym thing anymore but miss seeing the "less fit" make it happen!

    Eventually we all find what works for us!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ugh. I absolutely hate January at the gym! And since I'm injured and am forced to be at the gym more, it's that much more dreadful this year!

    Happy new year Jeff! It's been fun following you in 2010.

    ReplyDelete
  10. it is the worst at mine....it will last about 2 weeks, top...then back to normal

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is one more reason why I never train in a gym and plan to keep it that way!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I loved this Jeff!

    Happy New Year! Stay safe:)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I don't work out at a gym, but always notice more people out for a run on the streets in January. Hooray for newbies, I hope they find a love for swimming/biking/running/whatever. Happy New Year, Jeff!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. So funny. When I saw the title of the post I thought of that article from BT...and then I came here and you had it right here already. Smarty pants! :)

    You, Annie, Ernie, and Bailey have a Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Happy New Year Jeff and peace in the new year!

    ReplyDelete
  16. It was already a zoo today!!! and that def IS a great thing:)

    more importantly....will there be ice at Heinz Field tomorrow?!?!? watching the HBO leadup show 24/7 has been solid I wish it wasnt gonna be so warm

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    D

    ReplyDelete
  17. This makes me smile. And like the author and 2x reposter I too will welcome them and help them out. Show them a machine and you develop a gym mate who will inspire and motivate you as well.

    Great post Jeff. Here is to you, Annie, Ernie and Bailey on a great 2011.

    ReplyDelete
  18. How true. Patience, Patience, Patience.

    HNY!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi! My first visit here...

    Great post, I love the description of the new swimmers... using pool buoys on their arms, haha.

    I'm doing Rev3 Cedar Point too!

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love it! I posted about this last year in regards to the pool. We call them resolutioner's there and it lasted a good two months last year. I've found that the more "toys" (fins, pull buoy, kick board) I keep on the pool deck, the less likely someone will be to ask to share a lane.

    Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ah, yes, the resolutionists. I welcome them with open arms. I figure, anyone who wants to get their health back and need some special day to do it? Go ahead.

    At my local Y, I'd say we have about a 3% retention rate for resolutioners. Resolutionists. Resolution-People. You know what I mean.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Unfortunately, this year I'm going to look like one of 'them'. yikes.

    ReplyDelete