When the New York Times covers it, it's old news

I was pleasantly surprised this morning to see an article in the New York Times about gym models: what works, what doesn't, and why. It's no wonder it's not an easy question; only 15 percent of Americans belong to gyms. No wonder we are an obese nation!

Go Heavy or Go Home.

My favorite workout in Portland is the Saturday workout at Recreate.  The warm up and the skill are always changing - but the workout is always includes a partner.  It's also a doozy. 100 box jumps, 100 ring rows, lots of running and lots of rowing. It's a non-stop 30 minute grind.
You can imagine my surprise this weekend when this little sprite of a woman that I'd never seen before finished first. 

Don't get me wrong - it's not unheard of for someone already in shape to show up at Recreate - it's just not very common. So when this lady started doing harder-than-proscribed box jumps, I wanted to hip check her. 

Turns out her (unclear if he's her boyfriend, husband, brother or gay companion) partner manages a crossfit gym in Seattle. It also turns out that when they left my partner and me in the dust, both he and she were using lighter weights than we were.

I guess this embodies why the Saturday workout is so great.  I worked as hard as I could, as fast as I could, for as long as I could. We finished with the first quarter of the class - it is always satisfying to be able to lay down when others are still working - but ultimately I wasn't competing with anyone but myself. Sure, I could have gone faster if I'd used a 30lb medball rather than a 40lb medball.

But then my competition would have been letting me win.

300. Like how they got in shape for the movie. Really.

Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness.

One of the things I love about Recreate is the way they try new things and continue to mix things up.  This morning, after a short mobility and stretch warm up, Melissa explained the workout.

It's a partner workout.

Okay, that's good. Always good to have someone to motivate me.

It's not timed.

Huh? Isn't everything for time?

It's 300 reps each.

You're trying to kill me, right?

It's how that guy from the 300 got those crazy abs.

Weren't those airbrushed? They looked airbrushed.

And so my partner and I set off to do 30 pullups, 30 push ups, 30 ring rows, 30 pistols (on each side), 30 deck rolls, 30 body saws, 30 burpees, 30 sprinters lunges, 30 cossack lunges and 30 of something I've never done before called a V up. 

It should have been timed, we only got through 6 of the ten stations. But I'm pretty sure I am going to be sore tomorrow. Oy.

You'd think I'd have an answer by now

I have been looking for a gym. In a city I don't yet live in. I have enlisted the help of some really great trainers and fitness junkies that I know and trust. This is my journey.