24 Hour Fitness on Colorado Blvd. in Good Ole Old town Pasadena

Just like most people, It's tough when you're on a tight schedule and trying to get in a good workout.  What's more troublesome is when you visit a health club that you're not familiar with.  This brings me to my most recent visit to 24 Hour Fitness in Pasadena.  I was between appointments, passing through the Pasadena area and a workout at this location seemed to be a perfect fit...so I thought. 


Our report begins before I even enter the building.  This 24 Hour Fitness location seemed to be located in an office building off Colorado Blvd.  As I drove down the side street, I located the entrance to the club, but didn't see a designated parking area.  Confused, I thought maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough.   I circled the building again with no success.  Extremely frustrated at 24 Hour's lack of efficiency, I decided to ask a passer by leaving the gym if there was parking.  The gentleman kindly offered me assistance and I quote, "At the end of the street, you want to make a left.  After you make a right you'll see that parking structure up there, make a right into it.  The gym will validate the ticket for for you".  The parking facility wasn't  that far of a walk from the 24 hour entrance, but I was dumbfounded that there was no indication anywhere that this parking structure was for 24 hour fitness...strike one.


As I enter the building, I walk down a flight of stairs toward the front desk.  The polite attractive blond at the counter offered me directions toward the locker room;  I thought to myself maybe this won't be so bad, at least the staff seemed nice (refer back to this assumption later in this review).  As she gives me directions down a hall, down another flight of stairs, down another hall, I was already confused.  For anyone that has been to Vegas before,  I felt like I was getting directions to my set of elevators that lead to my room at the Mirage Hotel and Casino.  The locker room is clean, a plus finally.  I drop my belongings and I am ready to begin my workout.


As I begin to navigate my way through this windowless dungeon of fitness, I finally find my way through the tunnel system that can best be aesthetically compared to the underground walkway between 42nd and 34st stations in the New York subway system, Strike 2.  Phew, will I ever get through this day?


I enter a weight room area that was completely disorganized, it would intimidate most less acquainted fitness enthusiasts.  I stop to organize my play list and am about to make a game plan, I am interrupted by "A Master Trainer" as what his shirt says.  This not very well-spoken staff member rudely informs me that I am in the trainer area and I can not be there because they and I quote, "keep important stuff in here".  Well, my experience just keeps getting better I facetiously tell myself.  At this point I am running short on time so I navigate toward the treadmills to at least get some cardio in.  Well, I find an elliptical that was not the newest to say the least and get somewhat of a decent workout in for the day.  Strike 3, 4 and.....


I have been disappointed before, but this is the creme of the crop of letdowns.  In my opinion, save yourself  the annoyances and frustration.  You're better off running the streets of Colorado Blvd instead, you'll save yourself some money, breathe fresh air and at least you wont be underground.  That's just this Fitness guys opinion, I know I won't be going back....until next time.