Written by Coach Andy
Important note to start: I really like gyms. I've been going to the gym since I was in high school. I think they are a great place for people to go and get fit, get strong and socialise but…
The last gym membership I had I only went there for the swimming pool and it was outdoor, didn't have lights and was solar heated (read as freezing in winter). Lets just say I wasn't getting value for my money.
Gym memberships at the moment range from $15 a week to $65 a week and anywhere in between. This does not include a program or trainer. Personal trainers start at $30 for 30 minutes and the sky is the limit for what they can charge.
So why are we prepared to give up this money? What are we hoping to get from this?
Health, strength, a “better” body or maybe social reasons.
We respond to external accountability. The vast majority of people are more likely to do something if someone or something else is holding them to it. That’s why the fact that we have a gym membership is often enough reason for us to go to the gym. We don’t want to waste the money we are paying. We feel obliged to it.
Where this fails many people and what gyms rely on is that this obligation alone is not going to get you results. Ultimately we can stop going and no one is going to mind except ourselves. So we keep paying but stop going. The gym gets free money.
The social aspect is also key. This is core to our wellbeing as humans. Initially it doesn’t even have to be direct social contact with anyone. Just by going to the same place as other people we get to interact with them and do something “with” them. We share a smile (or grunt). Unfortunately the novelty of all the new people wears off after a while. Then unless we have a personal trainer, a goal or gym buddies we simply stop going.
Queue the personal trainer. It's social, it's personal and you're accountable. Leaving your PT is like breaking up with someone. You need a good excuse or you will probably just stay with them. I know plenty of people who have just stopped trying with their PT and their PT is just taking the money. Again, not unlike some relationships.
Gyms have created a business that feeds off our needs for connection and an external driver. We sign up to a gym to grow physically mentally and socially but once we’re in the value becomes very questionable.. For many the gym simply stops giving you results.
So what’s my point!?
Well it’s simple really when you’re on a running coaches blog; come running with RunCo. We provide accountability, social contact and personal interaction and Its outdoor training. Plus one of the best things about running is that if we want to we can pick an event to work towards. We get a purpose or goal
We’ll help you achieve your goals whether they are to get healthier, get stronger, change your body or just to connect with other people.
We will help you take these positive steps as a normal part of your life. It can just be a thing you do.
#outdoors #social #interaction #accountability #fit #healthy #company #training #stength #run #running #mentalhealth #feelgood #race #runco #goal #purpose
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