A new commitment
Due to increasing back pain over the summer I was finally forced to do the inevitable, join a gym (advise from an osteopath and a masseur). There’s many different options in Aalborg and since I have no experience whatsoever with equipment, facilities etc. I decided to go for the cheapest. UniFitness is a relatively new gym owned by the university and it is therefore reserved for student as well as employees and employers of the university. It’s only 90 dkr a month – half of any other place in town.
Because of the price, this place is obviously attractive for students who aren’t the wealthiest. And it is indeed very popular. But apparently the university doesn’t at all meet the demand. The spaces are limited and to get in, interested had to meet up at the office personally this morning 8:30 am. A hopelessly old fashion way of signing up to something these days, I think. Hopeless or not, I had to obey the system, drive to Aalborg and get up early, earlier than I thought. Yesterday I spoke to a mate who signed up last year, and he said that I’d have to be there long before 8.30 to get in. I figured 6:45 would be all right.
So.. Got up 5:45 am. Put some early Smashing Pumpkins in my ears and drove through heavy rain on my bike. I made 6:45 and there were about 15 in front of me – complete silence when I got there obviously because nobody knew each other.Nothing wrong about that, it was just a bit weird : ). So I threw my jacket on floor and sat on it up against a wall for nearly two hours, listening to some This will destroy you and eventually Karl Pilkington. It wasn’t the worst queue I’ve been in, but it was boring and painful to sit there on the floor struggling to get comfortable. After an hour no position was comfortable.
Anyway, I got a spot and right now I’m glad I did it. Good choice to meet early – I’m not sure everyone of the 150, still queued up when I left, got a spot. Last year only 50 of about 200 got in. Crazy popularity which the university clearly should take advantage of. But maybe there’s some problems with a state-subsidized gym competing with privately owned gyms. I assume it’s state-subsidized.. And technically the privately owned support the state-subsidized financially through taxes – unfair. Talking over my head now so I’ll just stop.
I hope it’s going to be good and I actually look forward to trying it. My plan is to go at least twice a week. Hopefully I can keep that up.
