You can’t see it well, but there is a strip of white light on the building. That is an LA Fitness sign.
So my son had an extra practice this week, which meant Gym time!!! I decided to go try one of Baltimore’s other offerings. First off this place was a royal pain in the butt to find. It’s not that the signage isn’t good, that part is excellent. In fact, parking was even easy to find, as there wee big signs saying what garage to park in (although it is a pay garage, but LA Fitness does validate.) I found the building ok. When I walked around the building with the LA Fitness signs, it was an old empty mall. By empty, I mean every single store on the first floor fo the building is empty. Sadly, I dropped the ball on getting pictures of the outside again, although this time it was because I had no idea what building to go in! Lots of big empty stores didn’t help!
Looking in the windows, this is what EVERY store looked lie.
Finally, in my walking around the outside of the building in the cold rainy mist, found what looked like an office entrance with security guards. Those lovely ladies were kind enough to send me to the second floor, where some lovely General Dynamics employees brought me to the gym! This was a lot of work just to get in shape! Once I was there, I spoke to the lady at the desk. She was very short in her responses, and far more interested in returning to what ever task she was working on – then customer service. I did finally find out where the locker room was, and was able to get on a treadmill. Their treadmills were worth the wait! Each treadmill, which seemed brand spanking-new, was in incredible shape and ha its own TV! I hopped on, and plugged my headphones in and began to look for something to watch. plugging along at 7.1 miles per hour (I only had time for 3 miles, so I justified it by increasing the speed… by .1) And watched family guy! Ok seriously, that show is pretty bad. I probably would have loved it in my lower 20s, but now? not so much… But it was great entertainment while running!
My knees have been bothering me a bit (I desperately need new shoes), so but didn’t bother me as a I ran. I completed it with no issues, and headed back to pick up my son. As I was headed toward the desk, I saw someone validate parking (YAY! Saved Money!!!). Being an idiot, i did have to ask for help. The original desk clerk ignored me, but the other lady was incredible. Came over showed me how to use it, and that it needed to be stamped 8 or so times, because there was no ink!
See the TVS? you pick your own channel!
So, Back to the car… And an attempt to figure out how the heck to get out. Seriously. Normally you have a little meter you stick the card in, pay (if needed) and go. I couldn’t find one.. The only exit I found on the first floor, required a badge, like i use at work. When I finally figured out how to get out (I followed someone), it turns out the card-thingy isn’t active and you just drive out.
sigh.
So the Gym itself.. It was super clean and nice, 5 stars on that! I didn’t look at the weight room (I think it was on a different floor), but I did look at the locker room (Super clean), and the cardio/stretching areas – and they were superb. You can see in the picture how nice!
I am very likely to return!
oh yeah, 3 mile run – 25:30 or so.
I run, because I am a runner. Having realized that I have always "been a runner" - even when I went years with out running, I am learning how it has integrated itself in all aspects of my life. When I started running in highschool, my perspective on life changed. Funny that I didn't realize how much it had affected it until just recently.
Once and Future Runner 
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