Anytime Fitness Programme

Below is an email from Jim Yoder about the new Anytime Fitness program for JP students based at WHOI.

WHOI's Academic Programs Office is offering JP students subsidized access to Anytime Fitness (AF) on Main Street in Falmouth. The AF program is only for JP students who are based at WHOI, i.e. JP students who are based at MIT are ineligible since you have regular access to the MIT facility.

The program at Anytime Fitness will start on 3 June, 2013. We are offering 2 options.

1. Option 1 is for a full year membership. Those interested in this option will pay our office $150, and our office will pay the full annual fee directly to AF. It may be possible to eventually reduce the student (and WHOI) share should MIT agree to contribute, but that is unlikely in the near future. If you are interested in Option 1, please bring a check for $150 made out to WHOI to Christine Charette in WHOI's Academic Programs Office by 30 May. WHOI will then pay for your annual membership (and the initiation fee for JP students who have not previously used AF) for those who have their check to Christine by 30 May.
2. The second option is for a 3-month membership starting on 3 June, 2013,for students who are based at WHOI, including those who will only be based at WHOI for the summer. For this option, students will pay $50, and our office will pay the full 3-month fee. If you are interested in this 3-month option, please bring a check for $50 made out to WHOI to Christine Charette by 30 May. WHOI will then pay for your 3-month membership (and the initiation fee for JP students who have not previously used AF) who have their check to Christine by 30 May.

These are the only 2 AF options we are offering at this time. Our office will not reimburse for any other fitness or related program or for memberships at AF currently in effect. Should you sign up under one of the offers described above, AF may reimburse you on a pro-rated basis for an existing AF membership that extends beyond June 3, 2013. That's between AF and you. We are planning, however, to make the same offers available again in early September, and then again around the first of next year. So for $50 you can try out the AF facility for 3 months starting on 3 June, and if you like it, you will have the option to purchase an annual membership for $150 again in September. Note that we will try to accommodate new JP students coming in this summer as best we can, since most will not arrive before 3 June.

A nice feature of an AF membership is that they will "freeze" your membership, and then add the time onto your membership, if you need to be away from Falmouth for an extended period of time, e.g. for field work. You need to work this out on your own with AF. I'm told that there are 2100 AF sites around the country, and that your membership is valid at any of them.

Another feature of AF is that a member can access the facility 24/7, although staff members are not on duty in the evening. AF has some security precautions on site, but one obviously has to be careful and use common sense, e.g. attend with a partner, if using the AF facility late at night.

Bike Paths & Fitness Trails

Cape Cod biking maps are available at any of the local bikeshops, and some are available online at http://www.massbike.org/bikeways/bikecape.htm. The mountain biking near WHOI is some of the best in Massachusetts. The terrain is varied from moderate to very technical with many challenging hills. The trails can be accessed from the intersection of route 28 and route 151. The trail system is extensive and almost all single track. Some generous local riders maintain and cut new trails to minimize overuse and erosion and to improving riding conditions. There’s no place to get water once you get on the trails so an extra water bottle and a snack are a good idea.

Shining Sea Bike Path

About 11 mi. From North Falmouth (near Rte. 151.) to Woods Hole (Steamship Authority parking lot) along an old rail line. More information, including a map at http://members.aol.com/falbike/bike/bike/. Parking available at Woods Hole Rd. and Mill Rd.

Cape Cod Canal Bike Path

Either side of the Cape Cod Canal. Bathrooms in Sandwich. 

Cape Cod Rail Trail

25 mi. paved bike path between South Dennis and Wellfleet. A map is available online at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/print/ccrt.pdf . You can park in Harwich off Rte. 6, Kettle Ponds, access to Nickerson State Park. Beautiful biking in early fall after Labor Day.

Road Cycling Routes

The Cape features fantastic road cycling, on streets with relatively low traffic and few (if any) traffic lights. Mapmyride.com is a fantastic resource.

WHOI Fitness Trail

1.5 mi. On WHOI property. Starts next to softball field behind Clark and loops through the woods connecting Quissett and the Oyster Pond apartments. Twenty stations for a full body workout. Trail map at http://www.whoi.edu/generalinfo/internal/fittrail. Check yourself for ticks afterwards, though, because the trail is not mowed regularly!

Running and Other Races

A number of races are held locally, including the world-class Falmouth Road Race. Those interested in training for any races below should consider attending Falmouth Track Club workouts, where you'll meet many like-minded runners from WHOI and the rest of the community. http://www.coolrunning.com lists most local events and entry information. Longer races include the Hyannis and New Bedford marathons and half marathons.

Falmouth Track Club

Workouts every Wednesday nigh, year round, 5:30pm. Location varies. Contact Jim Preisig, jpreisig@whoi.edu or http://www.falmouthtrackclub.org

Coffee O 5-miler

Coffee Obsession and the Falmouth Track Club sponsor a (free!) 5-miler every Friday at 5:30 pm starting from the Town Hall Square in Falmouth.

Seagull Six Spring Classic

A misleading 5.8 mile race around Woods Hole, open to all applicants, on the first weekend of April.

Falmouth Road Race

A world-class 7.2 mile run from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights. The oldest road race in U.S. History! Open to time-qualified runners and Falmouth residents. Or, run it with Team WHOI and fundraise for the institution! Held in August, applications open 1 May. In case you were wondering what the big red and blue numbers on the street were, they're the mile markers for this race.  http://www.falmouthroadrace.com

Falmouth Main Street Mile

1.0 mile race held in September, open to all applicants.

Cape Cod Marathon

26.2 miles throughout Woods Hole, Falmouth and the surrounding area. Individual and 5-leg relay teams. Open to all applicants, held in October. http://www.capecodmarathon.com

Falmouth in the Fall Road Race

Local race over the 7.2 mile Falmouth Road Race course. Open to all applicants, held in November. http://www.falmouthinthefall.org

Chase the Patriot

4.2 miles of cross-country running through Beebe Woods, Patriot's Day weekend.

Turkey Trot

4.2 miles of cross-country running through Beebe Woods, Thanksgiving Day.

Falmouth and Hyannis Sprint Triathlons

Check out http://www.newenglandtritour.com for a triathlon series between Falmouth and Hyannis.

Health Clubs and Pools

Falmouth Sports Center

33 Highfield Dr., Falmouth; 508-548-7433. Hours: Mon-Fri 6:00-21:00, Sat/Sun 8:00-17:00. The FSC houses tennis courts, racquetball courts and a sizable health club with exercise equipment, Nautilus machines, universal gym equipment and free weights. The locker rooms have saunas, steam rooms, and showers, but the waiting list for the lockers themselves is long. Tennis and gym memberships are separate. Tennis league play and instruction is available. Racquetball courts run $6 per hour per person for gym members and $12 per hour per person for non- members. Checks or cash only, no credit cards accepted. Memberships can be started at any time. They offer discounted rates for WHOI employees.

Sandwich High School

365 Quaker Meeting House Rd., East Sandwich; 508-888-5300, http://www.scslearn.org/swim.htm. The Sandwich High School has a community lap pool and it’s about a half-hour drive from Woods Hole. There are lap swim times every day except Sunday in the early morning, midday, and in the evening. Individual and family memberships are available, or pay $5 per visit. Complete rates are posted on the website. To get there, take Rt. 28 to the Bourne Rotary, take Rt. 6A to Sandwich, get on Rt. 6 towards Provincetown, take Exit 3 (Quaker Meetinghouse Rd.), turn left, and the high school is the first building on the left. The pool is at the end of the hall to the left of the main doors.

Atria

336 Gifford St., Falmouth; 508-540-1600. Located at Atria senior center. $5 a pop. It’s not full length, but it’s better than a kidney bean and not as far as Sandwich High School.

Shoreway Acres

59 Shore St., Falmouth; 508-540-3000. Swimming in the winter when they have no guests. In and outdoor kidney shaped pools not suitable for laps.

Balanced Health and Fitness

634 N Falmouth Hwy., Falmouth; 508-563- 1100. Website: http://www.balancedhealthfitness.com

Gym Club

133 E. Falmouth Hwy, 508-540-8896; This is the old Balanced Health and Fitness on Rte. 28, it is a branch of the one in Centerville. http://www.gymexpressfalmouth.com

Cape Cod Swim Club

14 Ellis Ln., Pocasset; 508-564-5690. Competitive training and learn to swim lessons from age 6. Full length pool. If you’re just interested in swimming laps, take the master swim class, or look elsewhere.

Holiday Inn

291 Jones Rd, Falmouth; 508-540-2000. $8 per visit; You need to go to the front desk and check in and pay and then turn in your key card when you’re done with the pool.

Dance / Fitness Classes

New England Ballet Theatre

800 Falmouth Road, Mashpee MA. Dance classes (mostly ballet + zumba). The instructor, Courtney Hingston, is really nice and teaches really rigorous, fun classes. There are classes all year round, most days of the week. http://www.newenglandballet.net/

Heels Over Head

7 Joy Street, Mashpee MA. Aerial yoga (i.e., yoga on silks) classes. Really fun. Sign up online; drop in rate is $15. http://www.heelsoverheadyoga.com/