By the Numbers

I went to the gym that is nearest to work yesterday for a short tour and see about signing up – it is included in the Microsoft benefits package.  When I had to park miles away (ok not really) instead of near the front door at PVAC, I should have had a feeling I was not in Kansas anyway.  When I walked in and saw the on-site flower shop, cafes, sports store and the massive front desk, it started to settle in.  When I got someone to help me with the tour and start to take me around he said that it “was the largest health club facility in the U.S.”.

“Really?” I said. “How many members do you have?”

He said, “30,000″.

Jaw dropped.  After I kept seeing all these people with ProClub shirts, I asked him, “So, how many employees do you have?”

“800″.

800?  Really?  One gym has 800 people that are employed?  The numbers are kind of staggering.

Something like 4 INDOOR pools, 6 INDOOR tennis courts.  Etc.

15 million square feet he said.

The room where they had treadmills and ellipicals and bikes, etc was almost the size of a football field.  And that was just one of them.

Then he showed me the duplicate room (er field) and it was dark.  They have one light room and one dark room.  Very cool.

And separate locker rooms for adults (no kids).  Separate cafes for adults.  Separate pools for adults.  Definitely good to keep them separated.

After a long tour including roman baths and too many training rooms to count and classes beyond one’s imagination, I decided to join.  Some things are so easy at the company, so automated, the very best that technology has to offer.  And some things are so hidden, at least to me.  After searching for the sign-up site without success, Connie found it for me in about 5 minutes and it was a done deal.  Signed-up and a welcome mail and I’m in.  Member 30,001.

Now, if there was only some magic transporter that could get me from home or the office to the ProClub in seconds, do my workouts for me, and do the Jetsons like shower and change routine automatically, it would all be good.

Or, I could get in the car, go to the gym, workout, shower and get back in the car like normal people, that might work too.

Maybe I’ll pack my gym bag for the first time in several weeks tomorrow …