The Fit List

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This is the time of year to take stock of your life, and in many cases that means trying to get more exercise. And for all the places to work out in Springfield, there's still a lot of calorie-burning to do (go to Golden Corral on a given night and you'll see what we mean). Let GO help you decide which type of workout joint is right for you. If our mission for 2007 is to get rock-hard abs, it might as well be your mission, too.

Hidden Gyms

Okay, so maybe they're not hidden, but there's a good chance you didn't know these four places existed-or that they offer as many sweat-inducing options as they do.

"Ready? Set? Dodgeball!"

Several years ago the Springfield-Greene County Parks Department invested in the north side, building the Doling Family Center on Talmage Street (a few blocks east of Grant Avenue, north of Kearney Street). The Doling Family Center is not only a glistening all-purpose building (it also houses the Northview Senior Center) but one of the most innovative fitness fun spots in town.

Beginning later this month, Doling will offer competitive dodgeball leagues for kids and adults. Health and fitness supervisor Eric Johnson says the league will be complete with referees, soft (but throwable) balls and strictly enforced rules. It's a surprising thumbing of the nose at modern hand-wringing over the supposed violence of the sport. Whoever said Vince Vaughn never did anything for society?

Besides the dodgeball (and other competitive leagues like volleyball and basketball), Doling is planning a new aquatics center much like the one at the Chesterfield Family Center. You might want to join at this diamond in the rough before everyone figures out it's one of the best deals in town.
HOURS: Mon.-Fri., 5 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat. 7 a.m.- 8 p.m; Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sweatin' at an oldie

Much like the old-school hospital that shares its name, the Cox North Fitness Center is a smaller, low-frills facility that is more intimate than the Meyer Center, its palatial sibling on the Medical Mile. This three-story facility has a tiny running track, a spacious group fitness room and a whirlpool with a beautiful view of the roof (they've considered slapping a poster of Hawaii on the window says director Tony Stokes).

The most interesting part of Cox North is that it's a 24-hour facility; staff is only on duty during business hours, but a swipe card will get you in otherwise. This is a great option for Center City or Commercial Street types who keep odd hours, or for Drury students sick of the school gym and that one guy who always...seems...to...be... there. To find the Cox North Fitness Center, go up the first stone staircase on Jefferson, just north of Lynn Street across from Drury's fraternity quad.
HOURS: 24/7

Get a workday workout

The other health-care empire in town, St. John's, also has two Springfield fitness centers, the newest and most insiderish of which is on the hospital's main campus: St. John's Fitness Center-Sports Medicine. It doesn't have the spacious workout area or the posh laundry service of the flagship gym on Walnut Lawn, but it does have a pool and whirlpool available at no extra charge-if you're willing to walk a couple of blocks to the Hammons Heart institute. The Sports Medicine fitness center was opened last August, primarily as an incentive for St. John's employees; but with a full class schedule, central Springfield location and a fraction of the visitors of many gyms, it might just be the best-kept workout secret in Springfield. The only downfall: It's not open on weekends. But who wants to work out on the weekend anyway? That's what we call "Cheeto Time."
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Feel the burn! (Not like that)

You don't have to attend James River Assembly to work out at the state-of-the-art The River Fitness Center in Ozark-hell (whoops, heck) you don't even have to be Christian, though it'll certainly help when Third Day comes blasting through the speakers (the music is blend of Christian and "secular" tunes).

The River was funded by members of the JRA congregation, so anyone who attends the mega church receives a small membership discount (about $5 a month). And don't worry about evangelizing being in the gym's policy-director Chris Foth says The River isn't trying to recruit (as if James River needs it anyway), but simply provide an alternative to the "meat markets" many other clubs throw out there. "If you want to meet someone, this probably isn't the place you'll want to come to," Foth says. Perks include organized (and mostly ministry-based) basketball and volleyball leagues, a soon-to-arrive shake bar and tae kwon do classes. The Ozark location-in a bit of irony, it's across from Lambert's-is a bit of a drag if you don't live in Christian County, but 10 minutes on the highway shouldn't be a deterrent if your goal is to avoid getting hit on.
HOURS: Mon.-Fri., 5 a.m.-10 p.m.(close at 6 Wednesday); Sat. 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Sun.