Ditto here. Kids galore. Good for families with youngsters, but not the current me. 
At the private clubs (Pro, Bellevue…) there are separate lockers for families and adults only lockers. Also, there are no under 16 areas…
We have a lot of choices in my area, everything from grunge gyms to crossfit to YMCAs to standalone yoga places to middle-of-the-road places to super-fancy gyms that seem more like country clubs. If I put “gym” into google maps, it shows at least 20 places within 5 miles of my house. It seems like a lot…
I belong to one of the fancier Boston Sports Clubs, and I think it is a lot at $85/month. It’s a couple buildings away from where I work so it’s very convenient, and I can use all the other BSCs as well.
That’s my biggest complaint - kids - and it sounds so terrible to say. There are rules but they aren’t enforced, so you’ve got mom walking on the treadmill, talking on her cell phone, while junior “uses” one of the two best treadmills in the place (best simulation of a true hill workout). Locker rooms are a free for all - I’d love an adults only locker room. That’s it - I’m moving to Seattle.
You’ll have to get a job at MSFT to get a membership subsidy! Those places are $$$$$$. There is an initiation fee that is absolutely outrageous. Like several thousands of dollars.
Maybe D could get a job there and I could live with her - wonder if there’s a family membership option? Hmmm…my retirement plan is coming together!
The Lifetime here that opened in October pushes the whole-family fitness thing. $110/mo for me, $70 addl if S2 joins. There are lots of pos aible add-ons. DH opposes me joining, as the fine print enables them to hit your CC for whatever you’ve spent, unlike cardiac rehab, which is $80 per month with no contract. If I’m gone on vacation, I just pay $10 by the visit.
MOWC and Sabaray cost me $50 for the Hoka Sandals recommendation. Comfy!
I am really liking them! I got them with Roadrunnersports discount.
I live within 15 minutes of three LifeTime Fitness facilities. All are well maintained and beautiful. As founding members of the original Eagan, MN facility our fees covered the entire family until the girls aged out at 21. When we first bought all of the clubs were at the same level and you could go to any of them at any time. Apparently that business model didn’t last as now there are memberships that are good for only certain levels and certain clubs. There was a law suit many years ago that involved founding members that eliminated selling your membership and also being able to use any club anywhere in the country, including those with tennis, which LifeTime wanted to charge more for. We are extremely lucky that we still have the low cost original membership. Best bargain around and we would never let it lapse. I don’t use the pool much anymore and I’m not much of group fitness person but H likes the racquetball, basketball and the cardio area. We both need to use the weight area more.
One big plus if DD gets a permanent offer is they have an amazing gym right in the building (for employees only). Otherwise the Equinox and NY Health Club options are very expensive.
Once I start my married life with my marathon man, I can use the gym in the basement of his building, which will be nice. I skip too many days when it’s yucky outside (sometimes I run anyway, more often not). It would be good to have a treadmill option (plus all the other machines that work out my arms).
I am enjoying my sandals as I type. I had a really good ten miles this morning with negative splits - hasn’t happened in a long time. HR was controlled, good pace, just a good run which I badly needed. I’ve been lacking in the confidence department and this really helped. I decided to take the day off so am headed to a mat class this morning, then will do all of the usual weekend chores. D has a busy weekend planned for us - I’m sure there will be lots of eating involved!
There’s a LifeFitness being built about 15 minutes from my house and its palatial. It will be very interesting to see how it differentiates and prices itself compared to a very large and long established LA Fitness less than a mile away and in the same industrial/commercial park. Traffic patterns make the equally visible and accessible from major highways.
I’m very lucky. The gym I belong to is open 24/7, there’s never a wait to use cardio or weight equipment, has both indoor and outdoor facilities for when the weather’s nice, and travel time never interferes with my workout schedule. The only downside is that one of the co-owners is very demanding. She makes me vacuum, dust and mop the gym as a condition of my membership, but sometimes she’s very accommodating too and has dinner waiting for me when I’m done working out. 
Happy Easter and continued Passover weekend to everyone. Sneak in a few jelly beans or chocolate eggs.
Let’s have an educate abasket moment…what does “negative splits” mean? Does that mean with each mile you progressively increased your speed from the last mile?? I know about mile splits - but haven’t really associated “negative” with them. You know me, just put on the shoes and run…
Our Health Club run by the area hospital costs $110 a month for my wife and I. Kids no longer on plan although that’s one of the reasons we joined as my daughter’s friends were members.
At first I thought it was too plush. Really nice locker room area. But I find it really nice now- unlimited towels (they probably lose money on me for this perk), individual showers, sauna and steam in locker room, toiletries etc.
Full range of cardio equip, weights, TRX, classes etc. full size bball court, lap pool, warm pool and whirlpool.
I use spinning classes and have started Pilates although I don’t understand why they charge for Pilates group classes? Spinning, Yoga, etc are free? I don’t use the yoga here. Too social and instructor isn’t at the same level of the yoga studio in town.
My only real complaint is the running track-12 laps to a mile. Can’t go too fast or you’ll torque your knees off.
Are the Pilates mat classes or equipment, Ohio? I don’t think you should be paying for mat classes unless the instructor has some pretty impressive credentials. Our gym includes Pilates mat but their classes are inferior to the studio I frequent. If you want to do equipment training, you pay extra at the gym.
@abasket, I use the term negative splits to mean each interval (in this case mile) gets progressively faster, just as you thought. I want to finish strong at my upcoming half so am trying to be better at pacing myself early on and getting faster with each mile.
^^Haha - yes same for me on our indoor track - music is a must to not drive myself crazy running around it 36 times to get 3 miles! However, I never have to worry about being/going too fast! Ours has three lanes - walking, jogging, running - just need people to obey those lanes. Generally there aren’t more than a couple people on it at a time.
So interesting that really, in many towns/areas gyms of all sorts are plentiful - from the local Y to hospital based to big box and boutique specialty studios. Yet our country is really plentiful in overweight out of shape people. Sort of like healthy food, have to wonder how affordable joining a gym is for much of middle class or less.
I don’t think lack of gym access is the problem.
The term “negative splits” generally means that the second half of the run is faster than the first half. When I drop every mile I call it “descending” or “faster every mile” (the scientific term). It is a real victory if you run the 2nd half of a marathon faster than the first. I think I’ve done that all of once.
Great run, sabaray. I hope your run is a good omen for my 15K tomorrow, which will be warm.
Is Portland (OR) unusual in having public recreational/gym facilities? I really like our community center, with its pool, classes, machines, basketball court, ping pong tables… and meals on wheels even delivers there. The cost is very low. Classes do cost extra, but it’s minimal and scholarships are available (if you’re getting Medicaid, swim lessons are free, for example).
Access - availability isn’t a problem, but for many cost is. Even a lower cost $100 a month plan is tough for many to cough up. Of course there is always the low cost option of just using the outside for recreation and exercise - so yes, clearly access to a gym is not the only roadblock, motivation is an enormous factor.