What it's like to gym on reopening day
TLDR: The gym was sanitized, but still seems risky for air transmission of COVID and I would not recommend going if you are uncomfortable being around people not wearing masks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVnCPBB-ZYHBs9vbxFO2UOf9WWZ6Sr3Oqvu4tp4LCAoEIYBeG7BNAhyphenhyphenimTSvgiqgbQa8pW52RNCL8G7X46U-EH2XcqH4hiVQy02-FjAG7kbh9Cq5LKevTRjx2UrGT8u1ussden6pFShLw/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+6+16+04+PM.jpg)
I have been a 24 Hour Fitness member since 2012, and I've bought the Costco member 2 year super sport pass for $599 3 times. My main gym is the Downtown Sacramento Super Sport. It reopened today- but 24 has been pretty good at sending updates, i.e. when it closed in March, and how they were planning on reopening:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk58N8EyFrwaKy4ob2yQYq3iKrMHtScc3jzmbocl1FFfMPezmAh9yqr9IRRdiUFba_wgygfo9VSARImSxqgK_XU3fYSOlAiYyVEBNyKWtpRus3cgzIYxoG3ygySxfGusufjdF3aCHssCZ5/s640/Photo+Jun+22%252C+8+47+00+PM.png)
I reserved a workout time on the 24GO app the day before:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZkg9a1AUFNegPmpldnLpTRBT4eqdwNF3MK-qypXzbD-DSATDTId2Kg3A4Nqnl1U6sgj9Xb5WU6Ko03TYhIsC6R7lLqqC9mGrubknPAnZ69Hkm-WIdDnjwPmJ2RvlBOpel13-OXvmpjHY/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+6+10+06+PM.png)
I arrived around 6:05, and could not get in because the club was closed for cleaning. The club manager informed me that they start cleaning at 6 and it takes 25 minutes. That reassured me re: sanitation as 20 or so people walked out without wearing masks. I also saw the manager cleaning the door.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzK9Iq1XQKW0vHW-Q-Ae2ht8UokdEh5jXYwjh1dHHKVlRhdex0m-6eHymZrEyUE_G_HazriUgGz8XGhTkvRyeKgL4URkOb4ppGFpxAIXAxXPk9_-k-u9pMxHSOvnNT4io7UBVgl0PEiSwK/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+8+47+56+PM.jpg)
(screenshot of 24's safety video)
People were crowding around the entrance, and not lining up according to blue tape outside which was annoying. Also maybe 3 out of 30 people were wearing masks.
Check-in was a mess. They have touchless check-in, and two employees were frantically checking the phone screens of the horde trying to get in.
Regardless, I was the 4th person in the gym, so I was comfortable using most of the machines and they all looked wiped down. The layout was basically the same pre-COVID, with slightly more distance between some machines.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMBVamHtyPhh8PGAHl1T1VvxWqKtQ60YrlWxqfjuWcsxq63-M7o__inJkVb0MqukASkpCu6f_uOZdozoe7vE6g9l0SMOc61I4v5HI9R-MwNNiels1M1PkQMNujAJDi8jy-rOp0ChO31lw/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+6+24+50+PM.jpg)
There was tape and signs encouraging social distancing, and every other treadmill was closed off.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrefK_wWhBtA8ZeKImx_RPFSiDhXhlu8lEWl6nI8hCnZRu2X6gcc4l-yaibjkPcCB7sK3Qohy-eA3XYTTvnJfKLl-aeRZ8W7bv18Qz4Fb1f9gnx3zhthL34gAb7xuI-Wj_MNrTQ81oQHX/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+8+48+19+PM.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39yKCr56SolBEjE2CWi3a_SlwhJE_Uy-UG_luwyPg4PR3s0Ased6PTrWdb4rgjlFBSyc6dD0wIP_hk7_J3u6iy_FKn5A2uGu1-e2JjimpsuPFtsN6B6CumXxTbzmCCxu9iedHOc-mmWtm/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+8+49+08+PM.jpg)
(more screenshots of 24's safety video)
The gym was about 60-75% full, so it seems that they are limiting the number of people in.
I guess the gym experience was better than the usual gym experience since it wasn't as crowded, but some people annoyingly spent more time on certain machines, and I didn't get to do one exercise that was suggested on my fitbod app.
I brought a mask but used it only at check in, which 95% of people didn't even do. Maybe 3 people in the entire gym kept a mask as they worked out, and they were older. My concern is that some of the Sac 24 members are the type to frequent bars, which may also be a COVID risk. But I do feel that the equipment is clean, and that 24 can't really force people to wear masks.
I was somewhat set aback by the lack of masks, but I guess if you're willing to exercise in the gym, you are willing to assume the risks of being in a public place, akin to shopping in a store that does not require masks. There is definitely demand for people to use their gym membership - just don't be surprised by the lack of masks and a crowd at check-in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVnCPBB-ZYHBs9vbxFO2UOf9WWZ6Sr3Oqvu4tp4LCAoEIYBeG7BNAhyphenhyphenimTSvgiqgbQa8pW52RNCL8G7X46U-EH2XcqH4hiVQy02-FjAG7kbh9Cq5LKevTRjx2UrGT8u1ussden6pFShLw/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+6+16+04+PM.jpg)
I have been a 24 Hour Fitness member since 2012, and I've bought the Costco member 2 year super sport pass for $599 3 times. My main gym is the Downtown Sacramento Super Sport. It reopened today- but 24 has been pretty good at sending updates, i.e. when it closed in March, and how they were planning on reopening:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk58N8EyFrwaKy4ob2yQYq3iKrMHtScc3jzmbocl1FFfMPezmAh9yqr9IRRdiUFba_wgygfo9VSARImSxqgK_XU3fYSOlAiYyVEBNyKWtpRus3cgzIYxoG3ygySxfGusufjdF3aCHssCZ5/s640/Photo+Jun+22%252C+8+47+00+PM.png)
I reserved a workout time on the 24GO app the day before:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZkg9a1AUFNegPmpldnLpTRBT4eqdwNF3MK-qypXzbD-DSATDTId2Kg3A4Nqnl1U6sgj9Xb5WU6Ko03TYhIsC6R7lLqqC9mGrubknPAnZ69Hkm-WIdDnjwPmJ2RvlBOpel13-OXvmpjHY/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+6+10+06+PM.png)
I arrived around 6:05, and could not get in because the club was closed for cleaning. The club manager informed me that they start cleaning at 6 and it takes 25 minutes. That reassured me re: sanitation as 20 or so people walked out without wearing masks. I also saw the manager cleaning the door.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzK9Iq1XQKW0vHW-Q-Ae2ht8UokdEh5jXYwjh1dHHKVlRhdex0m-6eHymZrEyUE_G_HazriUgGz8XGhTkvRyeKgL4URkOb4ppGFpxAIXAxXPk9_-k-u9pMxHSOvnNT4io7UBVgl0PEiSwK/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+8+47+56+PM.jpg)
(screenshot of 24's safety video)
People were crowding around the entrance, and not lining up according to blue tape outside which was annoying. Also maybe 3 out of 30 people were wearing masks.
Check-in was a mess. They have touchless check-in, and two employees were frantically checking the phone screens of the horde trying to get in.
Regardless, I was the 4th person in the gym, so I was comfortable using most of the machines and they all looked wiped down. The layout was basically the same pre-COVID, with slightly more distance between some machines.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMBVamHtyPhh8PGAHl1T1VvxWqKtQ60YrlWxqfjuWcsxq63-M7o__inJkVb0MqukASkpCu6f_uOZdozoe7vE6g9l0SMOc61I4v5HI9R-MwNNiels1M1PkQMNujAJDi8jy-rOp0ChO31lw/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+6+24+50+PM.jpg)
There was tape and signs encouraging social distancing, and every other treadmill was closed off.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrefK_wWhBtA8ZeKImx_RPFSiDhXhlu8lEWl6nI8hCnZRu2X6gcc4l-yaibjkPcCB7sK3Qohy-eA3XYTTvnJfKLl-aeRZ8W7bv18Qz4Fb1f9gnx3zhthL34gAb7xuI-Wj_MNrTQ81oQHX/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+8+48+19+PM.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39yKCr56SolBEjE2CWi3a_SlwhJE_Uy-UG_luwyPg4PR3s0Ased6PTrWdb4rgjlFBSyc6dD0wIP_hk7_J3u6iy_FKn5A2uGu1-e2JjimpsuPFtsN6B6CumXxTbzmCCxu9iedHOc-mmWtm/s320/Photo+Jun+22%252C+8+49+08+PM.jpg)
(more screenshots of 24's safety video)
The gym was about 60-75% full, so it seems that they are limiting the number of people in.
I guess the gym experience was better than the usual gym experience since it wasn't as crowded, but some people annoyingly spent more time on certain machines, and I didn't get to do one exercise that was suggested on my fitbod app.
I brought a mask but used it only at check in, which 95% of people didn't even do. Maybe 3 people in the entire gym kept a mask as they worked out, and they were older. My concern is that some of the Sac 24 members are the type to frequent bars, which may also be a COVID risk. But I do feel that the equipment is clean, and that 24 can't really force people to wear masks.
I was somewhat set aback by the lack of masks, but I guess if you're willing to exercise in the gym, you are willing to assume the risks of being in a public place, akin to shopping in a store that does not require masks. There is definitely demand for people to use their gym membership - just don't be surprised by the lack of masks and a crowd at check-in.
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