Can you guess the most populated place in Fort Worth on a Saturday afternoon? (Besides the depths of traffic Hades known around these parts as the Chisholm Trail Parkway construction zones, mind you.) If you answered Costco, you are correct. Yes, it's shopping-cart mayhem at its best — I totally agree. But in this case, the pain is worth it. (Of course, you could swing by Costco Monday–Friday, but for those of us who can't quite squeeze in a weekday visit, the weekend is our only option.)
My reason for giving Costco some blogging love is this: its $349 two-year 24-Hour Fitness membership, which roughs out to $15 a month. Fifteen dollars a month! Guys, this is huge. Now, if you’re looking for something a more fancy-schmancy, like a spa-type gym with all sorts of posh perks, then this membership probably isn’t for you. Don’t get me wrong — 24 is a good gym with a great setup and offers everything you need to get — and stay — in shape. If you’re a class junkie like me, you’ll get your fix; the schedule is varied and convenient; the classes are challenging and appropriate for most fitness levels; and the instructors are top-notch. If you’re more of a workout do-it-yourselfer, 24 has a full suite of machines and related equipment to fit your fancy. Either way — or all ways — Costco is helping make what used to be considered a “luxury item” (aka, a gym membership) into something that most anyone (even freelance writers and others on the, ahem, lower end of the income spectrum) can afford. Seriously, $349 for a two-year gym membership truly is a steal. I highly recommend checking into it.
And speaking of stuff I recommend, I want to take a sec to share what I did this past weekend: I volunteered at Ironman Texas in The Woodlands. My beau and I went there to watch our sweet Fort Worth friend Jeff swim, bike and run a total of 140.6 miles — in the brutally humid Houston heat, no less. But instead of sitting on the sidelines, we volunteered at an aid station on the run course, where we handed out hydration to marathoners — some pros, others joes … and all absolutely amazing and motivating to watch. Witnessing these competitors pushing their bodies to the limit while doing our part to help them reach their ultimate goal (crossing the finish line) was beyond rewarding. If you ever get a chance to volunteer at an Ironman or any such event, I highly recommend it.
