Get out of the Library, Head to Jesse Owens North
As long as I can remember I have been an active individual, whether it is competitive sports, running, or lifting. This quality made it essential for me to find a gym that I could look forward to several times a week, upon my arrival in Columbus. Ohio State offers all you could ask for in terms of recreational facilities with the RPAC, ARC, Jesse Owens South and Jesse Owens North (and those are just the ones I know). With that said, it was still important for me to find a gym that felt “right.”
After spending several weeks working out in the RPAC and ARC, I was more than content. The facilities far exceeded my expectations. Specifically, the state-of-the-art RPAC has something for everybody—seriously, everybody. However, during my first trip to the Jesse Owens North (JON) I knew it would be the gym that “stuck.”
The JON certainly doesn’t offer the amenities of the RPAC but it has a great deal of character. It has an “old-school” gym with a loyal following. For example, the place really heats up in the summer and early fall because it has no AC, creating a sweltering environment for gym-goers. Also the group of regulars at the JON is a good size that allows you to become familiar with one another. It is not uncommon to run into fellow SMF and Fisher students getting in a quick workout between classes or group meetings; Conveniently, the JON is located a mere 100 yards from Gerlach Hall.
Although there have been several stretches of time in which school hindered my ability to go to the gym, I have been thrilled with the opportunities The Ohio State University has afforded in terms of remaining active. After all, you can't spend the entire year in the library reading about the CAPM and Black-Scholes models.