So those of you that read my normal blog already know about my latest gym saga. Cindy, who teaches a few classes there, was told Friday that the gym would be closing very shortly, evicted for not paying rent.  This came as a surprise to everyone.  Over the weekend I stopped in at the gym just to verify.  I was told by staff that the doors were supposed to be locked on Monday and she handed out information about how to cancel your membership.  I was not happy at all as all of my other options for getting my workout in over the lunch hour pretty much suck.

So despite being assured the gym would be closed today I changed and went to Retro.  My plan was to verify it was closed and if so drive over to shitty Planet Fitness to see what my options would be there.  So I park and as I am walking towards the building I see a Fox 4 News SUV parked in the lot, weird.  I also see the lights are on and gym patrons entering and exiting the place normally.  What the hell…

So I get inside and see a normal Monday scene.  The manager is behind the desk and I ask him what is going on, I was told by  staff the gym was closing the doors Monday.  He nervously laughed and turned a bit red in the face.  He said nope the gym isn’t closing but it is going to be “transitioning” from a privately owned franchise to a Retro Fitness corporate owned location.  Evidently some sort of last minute deal was struck so the landlord wouldn’t change the locks.  I was still not convinced and reiterated my question, asking if I come back tomorrow the gym will be open?  The manager said yes absolutely so either he is lying to my face or there actually has been a last minute hail mary to save the place.

I found out from a gym buddy that Fox 4 was called by one of the employees because in addition to the no warning impending shutdown, the gym was bouncing employee checks as well recently.  They also have not produced any checks for the most recent pay period.  I don’t really care how they manage to keep the place open.  According to the manager, becoming a corporate owned location is going to pump a lot of money in to address some glaring issues.  If that is indeed the case, that’s awesome.  If this all was one final smokescreen and the gym does actually go down the tubes I will not be a happy camper, at all.

They gym aggravation helped fuel me to another strong decline bench press performance, including 135lbs x 20 on the cool down.  If I went to Planet Fitness that progress would cease since they no longer have any barbell related benches in the place.

Today’s Workout

5 minutes cardio/stretching

Decline barbell bench press – 135lbs x 10, 185lbs x 5, 205lbs x 3, 225lbs x 1, 240lbs x 1, 225lbs x 4, 205lbs x 7, 185lbs x 10, 135lbs x 20, 135lbs x 10