I spent two hours at the gym Wednesday. I didn't want to spend two hours there. In fact, I never want to spend two hours at the gym; I don't like to work out that long. And I didn't work out that long on Wednesday. Of those two hours, about 30 minutes were spent waiting in the Student Recreation Center's weight room line, which was roped off like a Scottsdale club and guarded by students who make post office employees seem excited to be at work. The rest of the time I was waiting for a machine, squeezing in a set or waiting for my own machine after a sleeveless, sweaty once-a-weeker slithered in there when I went to grab a drink of water.
Ah, yes, for diligent gym-goers it is that time of year again. With New Year's resolutions fresh in mind and the midsemester stress of classes yet to set in, students of all fitness stripes head en masse to the Rec Center, which means that if you show up any time after 4 p.m., expect to spend your day like I did - in line, or trying for several hours to swipe a bench or a Stairmaster.
The funny thing about this scene is that it repeats itself year after year on college campuses across the country: There are big crowds at the beginning of each semester and just before spring break and modest crowds the rest of the year.
Mark Zakrzewski, assistant director for fitness at the Rec Center, confirmed this observation. He noted that while the gym is busy throughout the year, lines form more frequently at the beginning of each semester. He also said that the number of students at the Rec Center's pool increases in the weeks leading up to spring break.
Two factors seem to account for these trends in gym populations. At the beginning of each semester, students have more time to work out, while the approaching swimsuit season may motivate students to do so prior to spring break. If fresh motivation and extra time get people into the gym, busier schedules and fewer motivators might keep them out.
However, the "I just don't have time to work out" excuse is difficult to buy. This summer, I read an article in Runner's World magazine that settled that issue for me. It was an interview in which President Bush explained how he makes time to exercise every day. In fact, four of the last five presidents were avid runners while in the White House.
That got me thinking: The demands of the presidency probably never subside. So as a practical matter, Bush - or any other president, for that matter - does not actually have time to work out. But for one hour a day, the president puts his run ahead of the demands of his office, ahead of the demands of his family and ahead of all the other things going on in his life. The point is this: If the president of the U.S. has time to work out, so do you. No one really has extra time to work out, but people who work out regularly make the time to do so.
Moreover, if the idea of long days at the beach is enough to motivate many to head to the Rec Center, then the wealth of research on the adverse effects of an inactive lifestyle should surely keep people motivated. The American Obesity Association estimates that over 50 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese, conditions linked to more than 30 medical problems, including diabetes, heart disease, birth defects and a variety of cancers. Add to this the positive effects of exercise - greater health, more energy, clearer thinking, a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing - and it should be more than enough motivation to hit the gym.
So, while it is frustrating to stand in line at the gym, it is even more frustrating to know that half the people there will not be back in three weeks. If we could set aside the stress of our schoolwork, our relationships and our jobs for a few hours each week, the result would be healthier, happier and more focused lives. I'll stand in line for that.
Jonathan Riches is a second-year law student. He can be reached at letters@wilcat.arizona.edu.