Clubindustry

It really is true that your best work happens outside of the office.

Case in point: a recent run at my local track. A long-time, self-diagnosed workoutaholic, I was spending a beautiful Saturday morning running a few laps in preparation for an upcoming 10K race. After running a few miles on the cushioned track in solitude, a group of 12 decked out in head-to-toe camouflage fatigues joined my “ranks” (military pun intended). After quickly surveying the scene to make sure no official military action or invasion was taking place in Kansas (silly, I know), I finally clued in to what this diverse group of ages and races was doing: their physical readiness tests or PRTs.

After covering military fitness for the magazine for more than two years, I like to consider myself fairly knowledgeable about each branch‘s requirements and programs. However, I‘d never had the opportunity to see an actual fitness test up close and personal (and without government clearance!). It was serendipitous to say the least.

So, the troops lined up at the starting line for their 2-mile run. And, once their sergeant yelled “Go!” they were off. Some faster than others. A couple of the younger and obviously in-shape guys sprinted off and easily finished the run in under 15 minutes. (I decided to time them after they lapped me, not once but twice.) However, some of the older, heavier soldiers took a bit longer. In fact, after just a lap or two they started walking. I imagine that because some of them were older, they probably had higher ranks in the military and were pretty distinguished. Yet, here they were…at the high school track…unable to run even half a mile.

I have spoken with countless military fitness professionals whose sole job is to prepare soldiers, airmen, etc. for this exact thing. They‘ve always said it isn‘t easy–you can only motivate and train someone to a certain extent; eventually the client has to take charge of their fitness. While in a normal health club a person might just fail to renew their membership, a servicemember doesn‘t really have that luxury. They either make the cut, go on probation or get kicked out entirely. (Granted, I have no idea what the past PRT history of these runners is and if this was their first or final attempt to pass the PRT, so the direness of this particular test is still up in the air. However, for added drama, let‘s assume it‘s the walkers‘/runners‘ final chance.)

Here comes the warm fuzzy: Instead of the finishers quietly stretching or watching the last three guys and gals hurrying against time to the best of their ability out on the track, about five of them went out to the other side of the track and ran alongside the winded runners/walkers shouting words of encouragement as they paced them.

This outwardly team-oriented cheerleader behavior really struck me. I have to be honest; it warmed my heart. And sure enough, all three of those in danger of failing picked up their pace and crossed the finish line within their age and gender adjusted time. Once each one did, the team shouted and cheered.

Imagine how the health of the average American might change if every deconditioned layperson got this sort of attention and response when it comes to exercise. My time on the track showed me that everyone needs a cheerleader every now and again–even the military. –Jennipher

Arnold Schwarzenegger must be reading our blog.

Last week, I tried to needle the California governor in his once-chiseled ribs about the Golden State‘s not having a law that protects women-only fitness clubs. I thought it was ironic that a state whose governor is a former Mr. Universe would not go out of its way to better serve its citizens in terms of health and fitness.

But give the Governator props for this: A bill was recently introduced in the California Assembly that would give businesses there a tax credit equal to 10 percent on the amount they spend to improve the fitness of their employees. This, apparently, is a reflection of a goal set by Schwarzenegger in January to extend health insurance coverage to California‘s 6.5 million uninsured residents as well as bring down treatment costs through disease prevention. If the bill passes through the Assembly and Senate, it goes to Schwarzenegger‘s desk. I‘m betting he‘ll sign it.

Whether or not Schwarzenegger reads our blog–and I‘m betting on the NOT side this time–I‘d still like to have him come to the IHRSA show in San Francisco later this month. The drive from Sacramento is not even two hours, and I‘m betting he wouldn‘t have to get behind the wheel. -Stuart

We found out Thursday that we‘re up for a Maggie Award, one of the highest honors in the magazine business. I‘d like to thank all the little people for making this possible. Really, it‘s an honor to be nominated, as long as we win.

The top news story in our March issue focuses on the challenges that some women-only clubs have faced in the state of California regarding gender discrimination. The story includes plenty of viewpoints as well as the challenges that some other clubs have faced. (A million dollars goes to the first person that comes across the word “transvestite” in the story.)

It‘s ironic that a state where the governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger - at one time the model of fitness in America - would have trouble making people (especially women) feel comfortable about improving their health. If Ah-nold were my governor, I‘d expect my state to do everything it could to promote the health and well-being of every citizen.

I couldn‘t reach Phillip Kottle, the man who filed separate complaints against two women-only clubs, for the story. Nor could I reach Shannon Hartnett, the owner of the Body Central club in Santa Rosa, CA, that was one of Kottle‘s targets. My thanks to the good people at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat for their background information and for covering this case so closely. It‘s always nice to count on good, strong newspaper people.

Because Body Central closed its doors, you have to wonder if Hartnett was simply ready to move on after owning the club for 10 years. From what I‘ve read, she was looking to sell the club anyway.

This was not the first time Hartnett had been embroiled in controversy. A one-time weightlifter, Hartnett received a two-year suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in 2005 after testing positive for steroids. Hartnett had been training in Omaha, NE, with plans to compete in a powerlifting championship earlier this month.

That competition in Columbus, OH, was part of what is called the Arnold Sports Festival, named after Arnold Schwarzenegger. Go figure. -Stuart

We got the March issue out on Tuesday, so it should be arriving at your club and here on this Web site in a couple of weeks.

This was my maiden voyage into the production of a magazine. I had written for a magazine before and I‘ve read parts of other magazines before, but I had never before seen the completion of a monthly issue from start to finish.

I would put the magazine publishing process somewhere between working on a newspaper and working on a book. To put it in fitness layman‘s terms, if a newspaper is like a sprint and a book is like a marathon, then a magazine is more like a 5K or a 10K. I have never entered a sprint, a marathon or a 5K or 10K, but that‘s the best analogy I can come up with at this time.

The good thing about this process was we didn‘t have any all-nighters. That was in large part to the hard work of everybody in production, especially Jen Shaver, Jen Ray and my boss, Pam Kufahl. Today is Pam‘s birthday, by the way, and she decided to take the day off. We celebrated yesterday by giving her a bunch of unhealthy food, which is still on her desk. I‘ve already raided her stash this morning and maybe later today I can rummage around the rest of her office to see where she hides the really good stuff.

My contribution to the foray of goodies was a box of Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnuts. I didn‘t tell anybody in the office this, but I also bought a couple of whole wheat Krispy Kremes, which may be the best invention since Tylenol put both daytime and nighttime cold medicine in the same box.

I wouldn‘t advise your club members to start pounding down the doughnuts, but if they do indulge, tell them to go whole wheat. After all, they‘re only 180 calories each. Actually, you really have to take that with a grain of sugar, because that‘s just 20 fewer calories than the original glazed doughnuts, and the fat content is still sky high (17 percent of the daily value, according to the nutritional facts on the Krispy Kreme Web site).

That should give your members all the more incentive to work out even harder. Right? -Stuart

I had a chance this morning to interview Jim Gerber, owner of Western Athletic Clubs, for our April Executive Insights department. He let me in on some news that just occurred yesterday. The company announced last year that it was building a new club in Carlsbad that will probably be called the Pacific Sports Resort. Now, Gerber has purchased an additional six acres next to that site for a hotel and banquet/meeting facilities. Gerber says that Carlsbad has a dense population in a light industrial area comprised of golf manufacturers and ski manufacturers. As a result, there are a lot of demands for meeting space, and Gerber has decided that this new facility will help meet that demand. The club, which won‘t be completed for another two years, will be 100,000 square feet and will include tennis, swimming, dining and everything else that the Western Athletic Club‘s typical resort model provides.

You‘ll have a chance to read what else Gerber had to say when our April issue mails in about a month.

I plan to visit one of the WAC clubs when I’m in San Francisco later this month for the IHRSA show. I’ll share details about that visit with you then. -Pam