Hilo, Hawaii
Gyms are reopening, as are churches, bars and more, but the majority of people polled say they are not ready. One old man I watched on the news said “No politician can decide when it’s safe for us to re-socialize - only we get to do that.” That’s how most people seem to feel.
I live on Hawaii Island, where there are zero Covid 19 cases. None. People here have been very cooperative with the various mask-wearing, hand-washing, social distancing regimens, which I am sure is the reason for the lack of corona virus spread.
My gym has been open for two weeks now, and every day I think this will be the day I will venture over there to see what’s what. One problem for me is my gym’s shortened hours. Pre-epidemic I went to the gym between 9 and 10 p.m. because there were so few people who worked out at that hour, allowing me free access to weights and benches coveted by so many others at earlier hours. Now the gym closes at 10 p.m. rather than midnight, and with the pent-up demand I assume the place will be crowded.
For decades before the pandemic I took precautions at the gym most others did not. I always wore workout gloves. I never touched my face with bare hands. I washed my hands vigorously before leaving the gym. I always covered the bench surfaces with a clean towel. Most people did none of those things. For 15 years I never had a cold or the flu or was ill in any way except for one 3-day sniffle in 2007. I attributed my good health to careful gym hygiene.
Another issue recently has been working out in the park with a mask on made heavy breathing hot and unpleasant. At the gym I work out much harder than that, so I’m assuming my normal gym workout will prove challenging.
However, the only way to know is to go, so I will post my experience when I finally bite the bullet.
