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I work out at a Cardinal Fitness here in Chicago, a smallish one story place with most of the necessary equipment but only one of each for most things, like the power rack. Anyway, there's this 40-something guy thats always in there, doing his powerlifting stuff with bands, squat suits and wraps; It's definitely out of place and not only does he get looks, but he's a big yeller and grunter so he's definitely stared at a lot considering the people you get in a Cardinal Fitness. His shtick never bothered me.....until today.
Like I said, there's only one power rack, and I get to the gym at 6:00 and he's in the rack. No worries, I have pulldowns, seated rows, DB rows and upright rows before I get to my rack Deads, so something like 30-40 minutes. Anyway, it gets to 6:45 and I ask him when he'll be done, and he says "I still gotta do front squats, so maybe 30 minutes." I was like WTF, but I didn't say anything and decided to go with regular deads for that workout. I finished my workout, chatted with some guys and then hit the locker room for a bit and when I came back out it was 6:45 and dude's still in the rack, and I had to say something. I mean, shit..... ~2 hrs in the rack when there's thirty people there lifting and only one rack? Major dick move IMO. So I told him "ya know, 2 hrs in the rack is a bit excessive." He goes, "well I pay me fees so I can do whatever you want." For starters, fees are 20/month and I dunno what that has to do with anything. But then.......
He says to me, "Papi, you wouldn't be doing anything anyway." As if to say I'm too weak to warrant time in the rack. Here's the deal: This fake-ass powerlifter was maxing out at 405 on the squat, WITH A SUIT, WRAPS AND A BELT, doing one set every ten minutes. Fuck, I can squat low-mid 300's beltless, suitless and with no wraps. And this dude is 40 yrs old; I'm just 24 and have been in lifting game for ~3 years and I'm not a BB or PL. So I just laughed and called him a "fake ass powerlifter" and left it at that. I would feel bad for a guy thats been in the game as long as he has and still needs to use gear to put up a respectable squat, but the guy's a massive prick. I've never made a comment in three years at that gym but I'm not gonna wait for 2 hrs to use a piece of equipment and not say anything about it. But the deal here is that none of this makes a difference, it's just common courtesy to not take up the single rack in a gym for hours on end when there's other people waiting. He knew I was waiting, as I asked him an hour earlier how long he's got left. Some guys are just assholes.
Like I said, there's only one power rack, and I get to the gym at 6:00 and he's in the rack. No worries, I have pulldowns, seated rows, DB rows and upright rows before I get to my rack Deads, so something like 30-40 minutes. Anyway, it gets to 6:45 and I ask him when he'll be done, and he says "I still gotta do front squats, so maybe 30 minutes." I was like WTF, but I didn't say anything and decided to go with regular deads for that workout. I finished my workout, chatted with some guys and then hit the locker room for a bit and when I came back out it was 6:45 and dude's still in the rack, and I had to say something. I mean, shit..... ~2 hrs in the rack when there's thirty people there lifting and only one rack? Major dick move IMO. So I told him "ya know, 2 hrs in the rack is a bit excessive." He goes, "well I pay me fees so I can do whatever you want." For starters, fees are 20/month and I dunno what that has to do with anything. But then.......
He says to me, "Papi, you wouldn't be doing anything anyway." As if to say I'm too weak to warrant time in the rack. Here's the deal: This fake-ass powerlifter was maxing out at 405 on the squat, WITH A SUIT, WRAPS AND A BELT, doing one set every ten minutes. Fuck, I can squat low-mid 300's beltless, suitless and with no wraps. And this dude is 40 yrs old; I'm just 24 and have been in lifting game for ~3 years and I'm not a BB or PL. So I just laughed and called him a "fake ass powerlifter" and left it at that. I would feel bad for a guy thats been in the game as long as he has and still needs to use gear to put up a respectable squat, but the guy's a massive prick. I've never made a comment in three years at that gym but I'm not gonna wait for 2 hrs to use a piece of equipment and not say anything about it. But the deal here is that none of this makes a difference, it's just common courtesy to not take up the single rack in a gym for hours on end when there's other people waiting. He knew I was waiting, as I asked him an hour earlier how long he's got left. Some guys are just assholes.
but for 20 bucks a month no wonder they take so long to fix shit that's ridiculous membership rates.
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