What’s up, all of you WU fitness buffs. This is Sal and Nick, and we’re hoping that you guys are still following your New Year’s resolutions. While ours was to simply continue to write great articles, I’m sure many of you had the sudden urge to “get into shape,” a resolution that always seems to arrive after we’ve had our holiday feasts.
While campus publications like to think we have a pretty good athletic complex (the place you were at for your freshman convocation, in case you haven’t been back since), many people are quick to find fault with that mirrored room, down in the labyrinthine basement.
Of course, we’re talking about our weight room. While this place may be a little worn down, many people choose to make it their second home. For those who prefer a little style and comfort with their workout, they’re heading over to Bally’s, over behind Crazy Bowls by the West Campus.
Since we know you have precious time until your motivation to get in shape runs out, we’ve decided to analyze the two places in order to let you figure out which may be the best for you to sculpt that perfect body. Nick will be vying for the weight room, while Sal will be supporting Bally’s. May the strongest (literally) man win.
Staying loyal to the AC
Nick Sreshta
One of my first memories of coming to visit here was running over to the athletic complex to play some basketball. I was undoubtedly impressed by the rec gym, which had three side-by-side courts for hoops.
You can imagine my surprise when, after expecting the same quality out of the weight room, I found a place smaller than I expected. In fact, I was pretty sure that other universities had linen closets bigger than this weight room. Thank goodness I’m not a guy who takes his first impression seriously.
So what if the place isn’t that big.hey, its not like there’s a line to get in here. Who cares if some of the machines are so old that they were used as medieval torture devices.they still can get the job done. Regardless of the conditions down there, it still would not be enough to get me to drive over to Bally’s and pay money so that I may sit on space-age machines which seem to be able to monitor every bodily function. And, I’m not the only one who feels that way.
When fishing for opinions from the regulars of the Washington University weight room, almost everyone said, “Hey, it’s close and it’s free.”
There’s nothing much you can argue with that. Most people also felt that it doesn’t matter where you work out as long as you’re using the right techniques. And the bottom line is that Bally’s will never be handing out no-cost memberships.
As for my personal opinion, I think the weight room has a certain charm that I would miss by going to another gym. First of all, you’ll mostly be around students (and even some professors. Offer them a spot).
Secondly, there aren’t the temptations that may arise when visiting commercial places like Bally’s (the health food/protein shakes, and the pricey “gift shop”).
Finally, you have a chance to save a few bucks and spend it on the things which caused your lack of fitness in the first place. OK, maybe that last reason is not the best, but if you’re looking for to maintain that school spirit at place which can get the job done for free, head over to the AC.
contact Nick at [email protected]
Bally’s brings the goods
by Sal Taliercio
Academics, academics, academics..the only way to truly explain the exodus away from the Washington University’s Athletic Center fitness departments.
Bally’s Total Fitness, well situated on Forsyth across from the Ritz Carlton and behind West Campus, offers a much better deal than anything such an academically oriented school as ours can. If you have ever been to the weight room or fitness center you would agree. The weight room is packed, underground, always very dusty, and offers little in the way of modern fitness. There are few weight benches, little contemporary equipment, and nothing in the way of fitness education.
I was suckered into visiting the weight room as a freshman and was in awe of the incredible deficiencies. My tiny high school had better equipment and even a full time fitness expert. That is obviously unnecessary here at WU. Just look at how fit the average freshman looks around this time of year (wink-wink). Bear’s Den and “the Mart” have truly done their work.
Now that we thankfully are erecting more academic buildings, it seems our mediocre Athletic Center will be overlooked again and fall still further behind.
I, a reasonably well-informed sports reporter, encourage students to head over to Bally’s and get a real workout with top equipment. Bally’s is at the forefront of fitness technology and support. I guess that eventually their equipment will become old but that’s just fine, it will sit proud in the WU weight room.
The only drawback Bally’s has is the fee, but once we all start looking like Vin Diesel and not Homer Simpson, paying daddy’s dollars will not seem like as much of a chore. Those who have made the crucial switch are usually ecstatic and rarely go back.
Students are sick of seeing their 35K spent on new unnecessary buildings and overqualified, underachieving TA’s. We must fend for ourselves while the administration ignores this school’s biggest concern: the athletic environment and community.
contact Sal at [email protected]