It’s the first last Friday of 2023, which means it’s time to head over toMarcia’s Healthy Slice for runfessions. If your year hasn’t started off the way you wanted it to, this is your chance to cleanse your souls soles and get a fresh start for February.
You also may be joining the Fit Five Friday Link-Up with Darlene, Michelle, Renée, Jenn, and Zenaida.
Gym Rat Runfessions
Now that I am spending more time in hotel gyms and my office fitness center, I have some gym rat runfessions to share.
One amenity the hotel gym I used in Florida in December did not need was the very loud holiday music that played over the sound system. It was one thing to hear while passing through the lobby, but another to have to listen to the entire time I was in the gym.
I runfess that one morning when I had the place to myself I snooped around for the controls. I got lucky and found a switch in the corridor to the restrooms that let me turn it off. The silence was blissful.
Along the same lines, I runfess that the first thing I do when I get to my office gym is turn off most of the lights. I’m used to working out in my dimly lit basement gym and prefer not to have bright lights in my eyes when I’m on the floor doing my strength workouts.
I find it somewhat appalling that all the lights are left on overnight anyway,
Usually the next person to come in turns on all the lights—at least I don’t fight them over it.
I runfess that I am spending an inordinate amount of time stressing over the gym situation for next week’s conference in Califormia. Even though the conference has a fitness theme and we are staying at a “resort” hotel, I could not find a single thing about their gym on their website!
The photo touting cornhole did not inspire confidence!
I found a few posts on Trip Advisor suggesting there was at least a small gym, and finally remembered to call during their normal business hours. The woman who answered said they had a gym, but couldn’t tell me what type of equipment they had. I runfess I did book a massage at their spa, during a conference session of little relevance to my work. 😉
What are your first runfessions of 2023?
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
I am wondering if you now enjoy using the Peloton bike at your office? I remember you did not like it when you first tried it years ago? Even a mediocre hotel gym should have enough equipment to do your Peloton classes. You will be fine! Always yes on the resort spa!
I didn’t buy one because it didn’t fit me right. That doesn’t bother me for 20-30 min rides once a week but I’m not sure it would be good on a regular basis. I do love the interface though!
I almost had to use the hotel treadmill when I was in NYC. Phew I was able to run outdoors.
I applaud you!!
I love running in NYC! I’ve chosen the hotel tread there in bad weather though.
I’m not a gym-goer (other than for my PT sessions), but your massage sounds like a great alternative:-) I usually do body weight exercises ;in my room) when in a hotel setting, and I can usually find a stairway if all else fails. Like Deborah said, there’s a lot of workouts on the Peloton app, gym or no gym.
Oh, I do like the Peloton bodyweight classes for hotel room workouts. I think they can be harder than classes with weights!
Yes, it would be odd if your hotel had no gym. But that did happen to me, when my son and I drove to Texas last year. One of the hotels we stayed in had NO GYM, which was baffling, and I ended having to run along the side of a highway and around the parking lot of Catfish Express. Grr. But, I’m pretty sure the place you’re staying will be a bit nicer than that hotel, so their gym will probably be just fine.
You’re lucky- it seems like you have your office gym to yourself most of the time. That would be nice!
I don’t expect every hotel to have a gym, but if you have a golf course and a pool and a spa, I would think your website would at least mention a gym unless there’s a reason not to!
I had to chuckle at your reference to the cornhole photo. Hopefully, the hotel gym will have the basics. I’m glad you booked yourself a massage – enjoy it!
My expectations are low, so maybe I will be pleasantly surprised!
I hope that you are satisfied at the gym! I’m actually used to fairly bright lighting where I work out. Glad you could turn off the holiday music, too — that would surely have annoyed the heck out of me.
I won’t even tell you how much time I spent recently trying to figure out somewhere to stop on a trip so I can stretch my legs. Way too much time, that’s all I can say!
I would be looking for places to run in California! I’m not a gym person, as you know. I would have been miserable with the holiday music too! But I like the bright lights, lol
I guess if all else fails I can run around the golf course?
I runfess that January has been awful, and I just want to run away. It’s really the best option.
I hope the upcoming gym is adequate. That can be so stressful.
I hope things get better for you very soon!
Ha, the irony if your hotel didn’t have a gym!
I never thought about turning off the lights in a gym, but it does sound nice, especially if there are mirrors.
Talking of which, neither of my workout locations (home and the Crossfit box) has a full-length mirror. Sometimes, it would be nice to check on your form!
I would struggle to do strength workouts without a mirror! I do need enough light to see my reflection. 😉
I love that your turned the lights off! I hate glaring overhead lights too, much prefer natural light, as long as its not totally dark when you’re in there!
Good for you for planning ahead with the hotel gym. Weird that they wouldn’t mention this when its a fitness themed conference!
Hopefully you get there, and they have the best gym (and the woman you spoke to was new on the job and didn’t know!) But be prepared for some alternate workouts just in case!