With the sun out and summer in full swing, beaches in Eastern North Carolina expect to see plenty of tourists. Many people work out in the spring to get their bodies ready to show off for the season, but begin ignoring the gym as soon as the weather is more desirable.
“You used to see more people coming to the gyms in January, but that changed,” World Gym manager April Exum said. “More people come out in March, April and May to get themselves ready for summer.”
The relatively close distance to the water also play a role for most gyms in Kinston declining in client attendance. Many beaches are less than two hours from the city limits, including those in Emerald Isle and Wilmington. As a result, the sight of nearly empty gyms is routine in Kinston and Lenoir County.
“I think because we live so close to the coast, I feel like a lot of my clients are out at the beaches enjoying themselves,” Exum said. “With the new water park at the Woodmen Community Center being built as well, people are going to enjoy the outside as much as they can. I mean, would you rather be outside or inside when the sun is out?”
The Woodmen Community Center has been one of the rare places that has seen an attendance spike in Kinston with the recently-opened Lions Water Adventure Park playing a vital role. Since the park’s opening on May 27, there have been over 450 new memberships accounted for.
“We have a lot of things other gyms don’t,” assistant director Earl Keith said. “We have two basketball courts, three volleyball courts, equipment with Internet and cable, a therapeutic pool and a 25-yard, eight-lane swimming pool.”
That variety was enticing to 18-year old JaQuon Brownridge, who picked up his membership to Woodmen last week.
“There’s more equipment, good scenery and it’s easier to work out when you don’t have distractions,” Brownridge said. “There aren’t too many places where you can get into the pool and still use the gym.”
Brownridge isn’t the only person in the gym regularly. Caleb Ard, 23, spends at least five days a week working out at Woodmen.
“This is my place to release tension and stress,” Ard said. “I’m just working on my health and strength.”
Working out isn’t just for younger folks as 69-year old Ron Metts spends at least two days a week in Gold’s Gym.
“I’m just finding a way to stay in halfway decent shape,” Metts said. “I used to work out more when I was younger to increase strength and flexibility, but now I do it for my health. I feel like you’re meant to use your body like you use your brain.”
Michael Robinson, 26, spends his time working out at Fit 4 Life, one of two 24-hour gyms in Kinston.
“I spend five or six days a week in here,” Robinson said. “I do it for personal development.”
Fit 4 Life owner Amanda Harris has seen attendance drop a bit, but said herself and the trainers do their best to convince clients to stay throughout the year instead of doing seasonal working out.
“The summer is vacation time and people want to be in shape for that,” Harris said. “We try to keep them in year-round so they don’t have to wait until the last minute.”
Even though the summer session has been pretty slow at World Gym as well, Exum expects to see a rush by the time September rolls around.
“There will definitely be more people in the gym right after Labor Day,” Exum said.
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.