Sunday, August 10, 2008
Life, Health + Fitness

Fitness gets fancy

Want to get spoiled while you get your sweat on? Check out the Pace Club on Peachtree

By Colleen Oakley

I’ve never been one to need the finer things in life—name-brand bags, sparkly bling, cars with rims. But in our fair city of Atlanta, I think I’m in the minority in that respect. That’s why it should come as no surprise that there is a gym that caters to that type of discerning client—the Buckhead elite who want to sweat in style.

The Pace Club is a European-style boutique gym (read: lots of white and modern lines) that offers workout machines, free weights and personal training. I signed up for a session at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, and when I got there, the place was empty except for me and my trainer, Brad.
“Our rush is early in the morning between 6 and 8,” Brad said, “and then after work as well.” But by “rush” he means 12 people—max.

“All of our clients schedule appointments to work out, so the gym is never crowded and we never have people waiting for equipment,” he explained. But that’s just the beginning of the perks of membership.

Brad gave me a comfy gray Pace Club T-shirt to change into—I was officially “in” with the cool kids—and we started the workout by warming up on a treadmill (a super high-tech treadmill, of course, with a built-in TV).

Then Brad—who could double as a model with his blond hair, perfect teeth and tan skin (I swear I’m going to give out “hottest Atlanta trainer” awards one day)—took me through a circuit-training workout where we did 30-second intervals of lunges, abs, resistance band arm work, running in place, jump squats and push-ups. He went easy on me because I told him I was working out again that night, but I still was breathing hard, sweating profusely, and went through a bottle and a half of water during his “light” routine.

With the star treatment I received—personal attention in an empty gym, free, delish snacks and a great new T-shirt—I have one minor complaint. I took a shower in the spacious European locker room, and they didn’t have any towels! Brad apologized and promised they would work that out. I’m sure it’s not a big deal for members who know that they don’t have towels, but I was unprepared. However, I was impressed with the selection of fancy spa-quality shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotions and toners. I smelled yummy when I left.

So while I’ve never considered myself a high-maintenance kind of gal, I have to admit—after all the individual attention I got working out at the Pace Club, visiting my mass-market gym the next day was a bit of a letdown. I guess you really do get what you pay for. SP
Colleen Oakley is a freelance writer in Atlanta and the former editor of Women’s Health & Fitness magazine. Got a fitness challenge for her? E-mail her at colleen@sundaypaper.com.