to work-out?

a brief history: after i decided that, despite the nearly free access to my alma maters gym facilities, i needed a gym closer to home. i began going to healthworks on the boston/brookline line some years ago and actually enjoyed the experience. i had a personal trainer, amanda, and made some great strides. unfortunately, even brookline is a bit far from my home and my logic was such that, if it took so much effort just to get to the gym, why not just save my money and use the physical exertion of the trek as my workout? ha.

after healthworks, i took a long sabbatical from gyms and worked out at home or by using my bike to do local trails; running outside; or similarly. nice, but not too consistent on my behalf. i usually got bored.

within the past year, i started going to sports club/la since a lot of my friends go there and i usually was able to get free access passes :) well, i must say that that is by far one of my favourite gyms ever... unfortunately, it is a bit too expensive for this frugal girl and further, there are only so many free access passes to get. bye-bye, la.

last year, i started with a womens kung fu group and found my calling. kung fu training is SUCH a great workout, not only building ones endurance but character and discipline. unfortunately, the very very modest/nominal fee lost out to the fact that the sifu and i just didnt get along. you must get along with your sifu!

so this year, i found a dojo/training centre in chinatown and put on the burn. seriously people, if you are looking to make any improvements in your health in a short period, kung fu training will give it to you! but, alas, things 'came up' and had to postpone my training for 2.5 months.

it is now time to go back to training but i feel that for 120$ month, i really need to go every day or else i am losing out and wasting my money. i really love the sifus over there (and they love me, too!) but heck, thats a lot of dough.

im looking for suggestions. road races/half marathons are coming up at the turn of spring and i want to work on my fitness. i love fung fu but i really dont love the costs. anyone know of a gym with great instruction at a lower cost? i heard the ymca has such lessons, or is it just karate?

where do you go to train? work-out? anyone interested in running regularly here in boston? i could even do cambridge. where is your gym and what are the rates?


cheers