January Member of the Month: Charlie McCarthey
Charlie McCarthey has been a member at The Chatham Club for roughly the last 10 years. Before that, he was originally a member back in 1989 predominately for squash. Now, he joins many different group exercise classes as well as incorporating plenty of cardio and mobility work into his fitness routine.
What brought you to The Chatham club?
I returned to The Chatham Club for a second time because of the exceptional quality of the trainers and the high level of instruction provided by both them and the group fitness staff. I enjoy a wide variety of workouts, and The Chatham Club offers the classes and equipment I need to accomplish all of my fitness goals in one place. Having tried several other gyms between my first and second memberships, I found that none could match the Club’s combination of high-quality programming, well-maintained equipment, and a comfortable, uncrowded environment.
What accomplishments/changes have you made since joining The Chatham Club?
I’ve always worked out my entire life, but I’ve become a lot more dedicated since joining the club. I like to do a lot of my own research when it comes to proper form and execution of exercises. Being at The Chatham Club has allowed me to implement a lot of what I learned on my own in different ways and has helped me become much more consistent when it comes to exercise.
What do you like about the club?
I like the trainers, some of them have even become good friends. I like that the equipment is modern and that the club is clean. I also really enjoy the members at the club. I’ve been in this community for over 30 years, and in the last 10 years I’ve been able to make some new, really good friendships while being at the club.
What do you like about the classes that the club offers?
I like the variety. I like to use all muscle groups and understand everything I can about the exercises I’m doing. I also like to try new things, and the classes at the club allow me to do that.
What are your favorite exercises?
Burpees, and anything involving jumping.
What are your least favorite exercises?
The monkey bars outside. It’s more of a mental block than anything else, but that’s the one thing that’s always been tough to overcome.
What do you like to do outside of the club? I have a very large, native wildflower garden. I grow a lot of different things in the garden and spend a lot of time there. I like to give a lot of flowers away to friends, as well. I also like to cook and have become a good cook over the years.
Do you have any upcoming goals that you’re currently focusing on?
Last year, I started implementing more stretching/flexibility/mobility work into my training. Earlier this year, I had to go physical therapy for the first time, so I want to keep exploring new ways to make sure I’m staying healthy and pain free. I recently just got back to running in the last few weeks after taking close to 9 months off due to injury. Hopefully I can get back to running consistently and staying pain free while doing it.