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The Best New Place to Squeeze in a Workout: The Airport

A new company is making exercise en-route a possibility

Marie Salcido

Delays, layovers, missed connections—we’ve all been stuck sitting at the airport gate with little else to do but read, snack, and revisit the airport news shop. The truly ambitious might do laps around the terminal, but actually getting a workout in?

ROAM is making it possible, equipping airports across the country with state-of-the-art fitness centers so you can get your sweat on while playing the waiting game.

The first past-security airport gym opened in Baltimore International Airport in February, and plans have now been secured for San Francisco International Airport as well as San Diego International Airport in the coming year, with more than a dozen locations to follow.

What began as a warehouse prototype in Bend, Oregon has taken off as the first full-service airport gym in the country. Check in at the front desk, or reserve online ahead of time, for a $25 day pass, which gives you access to cardio machines, free weights, and TRX, along with floor space for yoga.

Don’t want to shuffle through your luggage for your running shoes and gym shorts? You can borrow workout gear from Lululemon and Brooks, free of charge. And flying sweaty is a non-issue, thanks to the private showers, stocked with clean towels and Malin+Goetz toiletries, plus large lockers that easily fit your carry-on and can even charge your laptop while you work out. Display boards throughout the gym keep track of flight departures, and each shower room has Amazon’s Alexa to stream your music and update you on flight schedules so you’re running on-time.

ROAM co-founder Ty Manegold says they also soon plan to introduce a grab-and-go healthy meal service from Feed You Fit, with options like lean beef chili and a Southwestern quinoa chicken bowl, along with their current selection of on-the-go snacks, so you don’t have to settle for the terminal food court.