April 25, 2024 | OPINION | By Clay Arnold
As a lifter, I had high hopes for the Adam F. Press Fitness Center at Colorado College. I even expected it to be the highlight of my college experience. However, what I encountered was a far cry from my expectations.
In this article, I’ll shed light on how the CC gym, despite its mission statement to support strength and fitness, is actually operating in a manner which hinders progress and frustrates those who are passionate about lifting.
Let’s start with the basics: the CC gym boasts an impressive 60 cardio machines, yet only five squat racks. If the cardio machines were consistently in use, this disparity might not raise eyebrows. But a simple observation paints a different picture. On average, less than one-eighth, or a mere 12.5%, of these machines are occupied during peak hours. While the abundance of cardio equipment may serve to enhance the gym’s appearance for prospective students and parents, or perhaps can be attributed to earmarked funds, it’s clear that this comes at the cost of serving the needs of students dedicated to strength training.
Given the skewed ratio of cardio machines to strength equipment, perhaps it should not be surprising that the gym’s policies and equipment choices seem to neglect the needs of strength-oriented lifters. This sets the stage for a series of disappointing decisions that have left the strength training community at CC feeling underserved and frustrated. For example, the benches at our gym are nothing short of abominable. They are too narrow, slippery and high, making them difficult to use for both advanced lifters and individuals with larger body sizes.
Some might argue that this is due to budget constraints, but that notion is quickly dispelled when considering that the gym has repeatedly declined a free donation of a competition-standard FB-5000 bench over the past two years. This bench would have come at zero cost while significantly improving the safety and functionality of the gym. The absurdity of this decision is further highlighted by the fact that there is currently a bench in the fitness center that is missing a vital screw, causing the entire bench to rattle when in use.
It’s baffling to think that the administration would rather have a faulty piece of equipment on the floor than to accept a donation that would provide students with a safe, high-quality bench. This is just one example of how the CC gym is falling short in its commitment to its patrons, and unfortunately, it’s not the last.
Now, it’s time to address the issue that finally motivated me to write this article—the gym’s draconian limitations on non-bumper plate usage.
For years, patrons of the CC Gym have been shackled by the mandate to only use bumper plates when performing deadlifts, hex bar deadlifts and other related exercises. The bumper plate policy creates an insurmountable barrier, making it impossible to load weights greater than 500 pounds on a standard barbell, and even lower on a hex bar, with a maximum capacity of just 320 pounds when using bumper plates—a figure that the average or standard lifter will surpass on the hex bar in fewer than two years of dedicated training. This sends a discouraging message to those who are striving to improve. It appears that the gym has a preset limit on the amount of gains they are comfortable with.
The bumper plate policy’s second and perhaps more frustrating consequence is that it makes incremental loading virtually impossible. The primary tenet of strength training is to gradually increase the weight on the bar, typically in small increments.
At the CC gym, this fundamental principle is unceremoniously tossed aside, as the bumper plates which are allowed to be used for deadlifts and similar exercises only come in denominations of 10 pounds or higher. As a result, one is forced to make jumps of at least 20 pounds at a time, which is simply infeasible for those looking to make sustainable progress.
Imagine you’re a novice lifter, progressing at an outstanding 5% per week. Last week you deadlifted 100 pounds. You would like to keep up with your progress, but the only jump you can make is an absurd 20% increase to 120 lbs. Why? Because the small 2.5 and 5 lb plates, located just three feet away from your deadlift platform, are supposedly incapable of withstanding the impact of regular use. This arbitrary restriction hinders your ability to make consistent, incremental progress in your strength training journey.
A gym that fails to provide the necessary equipment for a proper strength progression is failing at its most basic function. The gym administration claims that the Troy Urethane Encased Olympic Grip Plates (GO-045UL) are not intended to be dropped, stating that dropping these plates, even the small ones that don’t touch the ground, can cause damage and void the warranty. However, it’s important to note that these Troy plates are officially listed as weightlifting plates, a sport that exclusively involves dropping weights. It seems dubious that plates designed for weightlifting would have such restrictions.
Furthermore, the warranty in question, despite mentioning four times that Troy dumbbells should not be dropped, never states that their plates cannot be dropped. The gym’s stance on this matter appears to be based on a misinterpretation of the warranty, leading to unnecessary restrictions that hinder the progress and experience of dedicated lifters.
What’s most aggravating about this situation is that the solution is incredibly simple and cost-effective. The price to fix this problem and provide lifters with the necessary plates for incremental loading is as low as $30—a mere fraction the cost of a single cardio machine or the gym’s recently acquired novelty items. It’s a small investment that would make a world of difference for those who are serious about their strength training. However, the gym administration has stated that it has no intention of revising the bumper plate policy or acquiring these small plates.
Is it too much to ask for a small investment in those who invest so much of themselves in their training? As a powerlifter and the president of the CC Powerlifting Club, I feel compelled to voice our concerns and share our perspective on this matter. Our club members are not merely a group of meatheads complaining about the gym; we are a passionate community of students who are deeply committed to pursuing our strength goals and fostering a supportive fitness environment on campus. The overwhelming support for this message from our members underscores the importance of addressing these issues.
In the end, this isn’t about a few disgruntled lifters making noise. It’s about holding our institution accountable to its promises and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue their fitness goals, no matter their preferred modality. CC students, if you believe in a gym that supports strength training, make your voice heard. Together, we can create a better fitness community at CC. The future of our gym is in our hands.