Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound where things are in a constant state of change. As I mentioned in the last article, I was forced to join the new gym at the hospital and I had my concerns. One of my concerns was the fear of overcrowding, but so far it has not been too bad. One reason for this, I am guessing, is that I can get to the gym before the 5 p.m. clock crowd arrives. However, there are still some concerns. I like to use the barbells…I think they give me more flexibility and I can easily change weights up or down as I go through a series of reps. Other members like to do the same but they feel they have to exercise right in front of the barbell rack so you cannot get a set of barbells or return a set without the fear of getting whacked in the head.
Then there is the track. I like to warm up with some laps before I start on the weights and I also like to do laps between sets to help get rid of the that “awesome burn” I get from lifting all those weights (True! Well sort of’ Anyway), I do like to keep my heart rate up between sets. It is a nice rubberize track but on some days it is more like dodge ball. The gym is not that big, so a lot of equipment is right up next to the track, so members have to be in the track to use the equipment. Then of course there are some that think the track is just another area to lift weights and they believe you…the jogger…are in their way versus the other way around. Also you have those that actually use the track; most have their ear buds in and some even use their I Phones at the same time, so they are wandering all over the track like drunken sailors. They are oblivious to me coming up behind them so I have to make a quick dart around them to make sure there is no collision. One night they even had a spinning class on the track because they had double booked their cardio classes and they only have one room.
Then last but not least..you have the wrong way walkers/joggers. To even out the wear on the track they have signs that tell you which direction you are supposed to go around on the track depending on the day of the week. Many choose to ignore that sign, so along with all the other distractions you have to avoid head-on collisions. Certainly keeps you alert and focused!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
If it weren’t for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn’t get any exercise at all.” – Joey Adams (Funny but all too sadly true).
I think I feel a “burn” coming on, so I better head on over to the gym. As always be good, do good, play safe and remember exercising in a gym is supposed to be a non-contact activity.
JR
