Urban Gym - FAQ

Q. I was thinking about joining, can I come and watch a session?
A. Better still, come and join in a regular session with our FREE trial option.  Go to our TRY FOR FREE page for more details.

 

Q. I'm not sure about doing exercises in public - is it embarassing?
A. On the contrary. Nearly all our activities need a bit of space, so although some of our routes might cross a busy pavement now and again, we use sneaky Rat Runs and cut-throughs to get between tucked-away activity locations, away from the rush-hour mayhem. Within minutes you'll feel at ease with the other group members, and can focus on having a good workout.

 

Q. Are you planning to bring Urban Gym to my city?
A. We'll be bringing the Urban Gym to cities across the UK. If you'd like to find out where, keep an eye on our Locations section for new Sessions, Hubs, and Cities coming soon.
 

Q. What facilities are available at the Start/Finish Locations?
A. All our Hubs have public toilets nearby, with varying open hours. However, our city centres locations have loads of places to meet up beforehand, and eat, drink and be merry afterwards. Transport is a cinche from each Hub too.

 

Q. Can I leave my bag anywhere?
A. No. Everything you bring with you to the start, you'll have to keep with you throughout. Leave your work clothes at the office and just bring the bare essentials to the session OR if you want your work stuff gear with you, bring them in a rucksack and carry it as a training aid!

 

Q. What if the weather’s bad?
A. According to our participants, "challenging" weather produces the most rewarding sessions! The city provides regular shelter from the worst that Mother Nature can throw at us, so we adjust our activiy locations to keep things fun. Naturally you should dress appropriately (artificial fibres keep are better for when it’s wet and windy), and we recommend bringing a windproof/anorak to put on after the session to keep warm.

 

Q. Do I need to wear "hi-visibility" clothing?
A. Not very. The sessions are designed to be inclusive for all levels of fitness, so we won't be going too quickly from A to B. The idea is to move you as a group between activity stations, not to lose you all in traffic!

 

Q. How fast will we be running?
A. Not very. The sessions are designed to be inclusive for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, so we won't be going too quickly from A to B. The idea is to move you as a group between activity stations, not to lose you all in traffic!

 

Q. What if I really want to push it hard during the session?
A. We want you to get the best workout possible and enjoy the unique setting of the City too. Your instructor will allow participants to work at their own pace and will challenge those who want it with extra exercises, reps and speed and endurance work as you go. Rest assured, you will not be short changed on effort if that’s what you want. But if you are nervous about your fitness and just want to go easy for a while, don’t worry – the sessions are specifically designed for all levels and definitely not just for the super fit.

 

Q. When should I eat before an Urban Gym session?
A. It’s unwise to exercise on either a totally full, or empty stomach. We recommend a healthy breakfast and lunch, but if you lunch early or miss a meal, eat a high energy, low-fat snack during the afternoon, and bring a cereal bar, fruit or an energy drink to the session. An Urban Gym session can burn 1000 calories, so don’t be afraid to fuel up!

 

Q. Is this like a circuit training class?
A. Kind of. There are similarities with circuit training as we use sets of varied exercises and move between exercise stations. However the Urban Gym is unique in utilising the features of the urban outdoors to deliver an all-over body workout. Is it circuit training? Kind of. But all of our circuits are about 3km long, and are bristling with the exercise opportunities that give them their own characters.

 

Q. So is it like a boot camp?
A. Not really. The Urban Gym thrives in its urban adventure roots and takes its inspiration from the city-at-large, versus more "military" training regimes.

 

Q. What if I am already a member of a Gym or attend other fitness sessions?
A. No problem. We're not anti-Gym, and encourage members of health-clubs, sporting clubs or any other fitness initiatives to take part in our classes too. We have a range of training block options for short, medium and long term memberships, and our Ratpack card which lets you attend sessions only when it suits you.

 

Dip in and out as you see fit, train hard with us for a set period or mix and match. The Urban Gym is a new approach to fitness, but it’s not the only approach – use our workouts as part of a varied training plan or use them exclusively AS a varied workout plan. Your call.

 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email us at: info@ratraceurbangym.com