I have always been a runner. Running is in my DNA. When the motivation wanes around swimming, biking, strength training or the latest group fitness fad, I always return to my roots: I run.

After the Chicago Marathon this past fall, I made the decision to pull back from high mileage, serious training and goal races in an effort to focus on starting a family and run for fun. As I started lowering weekly mileage and abandoned structured speed workouts, I was feeling adrift. As everyone around me was planning 2015 goal races and talking about big running goals, I was tucking my big running goals into a mental folder titled “2016.” I was floating along trying to figure out my {fitness} purpose.

Then, along came an email that has changed everything for me.

At the beginning of December, a woman reached out to me to let me know that something called ClassPass was coming to Atlanta (get $25 off when you use this link). She, too, was a runner and had recently quit her high paying job to follow her true passion and love of fitness to work for ClassPass … and she wanted to know if I would like to see what it was all about and help spread the word if I liked it.

I soon learned that ClassPass is a monthly membership to the best boutique fitness classes. Essentially, you pay $79 to 99 per month (it’s $79 per month in Atlanta but costs can vary by city) and you have unlimited access to more fitness studios and specialty workout facilities than you could ever imagine across your city – cycling, pilates, yoga, strength training, dance, martial arts and more. It’s like paying one gym membership fee but being able to go to hundreds of studios. Awesome, right?

The ClassPass team offered me one free month to try it out and see what I thought. I was excited about this innovative new concept, but I had no idea how much it would change my life. That sounds dramatic, I know, but ClassPass has absolutely revitalized me in so many ways. The minute my free month concluded, I signed on the dotted line to continue getting automatically billed monthly for my membership … and I haven’t looked back.

Since December 30, 2014, I have taken 26 classes via ClassPass. By the end of this week, that number will be 30. I have met new people and reconnected with friends. I have supported local fitness businesses I never knew existed. I have used muscles that were dormant when running was my only focus. I have pushed and challenged myself in new ways.

I feel renewed. I feel stronger.

8 benefits I’ve discovered from my ClassPass experience

1. ClassPass has helped me rediscover my fitness purpose. Although I’m not training for a marathon this year and don’t have any PRs I’m chasing for the first time since 2010, I’ve found new ways to challenge and motivate myself. I’ve started taking competitive spin classes again through Flywheel and Torq Cycle that allow me to push myself and compete with my own performance and those around me. I’ve been taking regular strength training classes that are helping me get stronger (whereas when running was the main focus, strength training often suffered). Pair all of these things with my 3 to 4 days of running … and guess what? My running is getting stronger despite fewer structured workouts and high mileage. *Happy happy, joy joy.*

2. ClassPass is making me a morning person. It’s no secret that I’ve hit the snooze button about one too many times in my life. I have been known to choose an extra hour of sleep over that glorious hour of exercise that sets the rest of your day up for success. Thanks to ClassPass and the scheduling function that’s required to reserve and book classes, I intentionally schedule the majority of my classes in the early morning before the day begins. It’s like treating your workouts as you would any other business meeting or appointment. And, because I’m seeing friends more often at these classes, we schedule more morning running sessions together on the days we’re not going to classes. Win. Win.

3. ClassPass has increased my motivation by adding variety. One of the coolest things about ClassPass is all the new and different workouts and studios you have access to try included in your monthly fee. From changing the environment of studios and instructors to trying completely new workouts, the variety adds a bit of excitement … especially every time you try a new workout and don’t quite know what to expect. There are a few studios I haven’t tried that really pack the variety punch, such as aerial yoga using the silk ropes like the people in Cirque du Soliel, one of those pole-dancing fitness studios and Tae-kwon-do. While I like to stick to cycling, yoga, strength training and barre classes, I love that I have these options and can have some fun with friends trying them, too.

4. ClassPass is giving me a new social outlet. Several of my friends also have ClassPass memberships, and it has been such a great way to connect with them more. My good training pal Elizabeth and I not only run together, but we also see each other at least 2 to 3 times a week thanks to ClassPass. We email and text to arrange our ClassPass classes together and synch up our workout schedules. Planning your schedule of classes for the week is so much fun!

5. ClassPass empowers me to make time for things {yoga} I used to push down the priority list. Part of being a successful endurance athlete who remains injury-free is taking care of your body. Stretching and restorative yoga is such an important part of that. Never have I realized that more than the past month and a half with ClassPass. I have been taking restorative yoga classes 2 to 4 times per week since joining. Guess how many times I took restorative yoga before that? About 2-4 times per year.

I was having some IT band friction that started in December and was starting to get worse. With proper recovery time between workouts, a few massages and lots of restorative yoga, it has simply gone away on its own. All the deep stretching of my hips has been a critical factor. Restorative yoga is something runners can do nearly every day, and I often do this on my rest days. I never wanted to pay for this or make time for it before because it doesn’t feel like a “real workout,” but now that it’s part of my ClassPass membership, I schedule it in all the time. There are numerous studios that offer it on my ClassPass list. This has perhaps been the biggest transformation for me. I’m not only making time to care for my body, but I’m also making time to be in my own head and let go more – to be still and patient and not going a mile a minute. That part is often the hardest piece.

6. ClassPass saves me money. Lots of it. One of the most amazing parts about ClassPass is how cost effective it is for your budget, particularly if you’re using it to its full advantage. For instance, every month I go to 3 Flywheel classes (through ClassPass). The cost of 3 individual Flywheel classes would be $84 if you paid the studio directly. Every month I go to 3 classes at Exhale Spa (through ClassPass). A 5-pack of classes there is $150. Do you see where I’m going with this? If you take full advantage of your $79-$99 ClassPass membership, you are getting a major steal! Additionally, ClassPass is driving a lot of traffic into smaller, family/individually-owned studios that are now profiting from the influx of students and word of mouth marketing. It has been amazing to learn about and support new local fitness businesses.

7. ClassPass makes me more accountable to myself. When you reserve a ClassPass class online or through their smart phone app, you have to pay $20 if you cancel within 24 hours of the class. There are many early mornings I might have skipped if I didn’t have that fee. It really helps keep me accountable for the morning workouts and fitting things in.

8. ClassPass makes exercising fun. The experience and classes have revitalized me. I just love “going to class.” Mr. rUnladylike is joining this month and we’ll get to do some classes together (the ones that aren’t female-centric). I can’t wait!

So, how does ClassPass work?

• Use this link to visit their Web site, find ClassPass in your city and get $25 off your first month. If you don’t see your city listed, keep checking back as they are continuing to add new cities.

• Sign up for a monthly membership. Your credit card will be charged automatically every month for $79 to $99 depending on your city or if you choose multiple cities.
• Once you’re a member, you can log-in online and download their smart phone app (the app is awesome!) and search and book classes. You can search by studio, by workout type, by date and by neighborhood.
• While your membership is unlimited, you can only go to the same studio 3 times in the same month. Once your month starts over again, you can return to that studio 3 more times. Because there are so many classes you can go to, this hasn’t been a problem for me. For instance, there are 3 competitive cycling studios on ClassPass here in Atlanta. When I’ve exceeded my classes at Flywheel, I then go to the others. The same holds true for yoga, strength training, barre classes and more.
• The other really cool thing is that if you frequently travel for work or pleasure, you can get a membership that allows you to book classes in all of the cities where ClassPass is located. Genius! ClassPass is currently offered in these cities:

Atlanta
Austin
Baltimore
Boston
Charlotte
Chicago
Columbus
Dallas
Denver
Houston
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Miami
Minneapolis
Nashville
New York
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Portland
Raleigh
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
St. Louis
Tampa
Washington, D.C.

Things to know before you buy

• Most of the studios offer up their entire class schedule, but there are a few that limit the spots. Be sure to book early for classes you know you want. Most classes open up on Sunday evening for the week ahead, and most you can only book one week in advance. There is only one class I was unable to get into so far because it was already full.
• You can put your membership on hold and only get charged $19 per month if you are going to be traveling or know you can’t use your membership for a month. If you cancel completely and rejoin, you have to pay a $79 re-intiation fee. There is no fee to join the first time.

I will share more about the individual studios I’ve been trying, including those with both a local and national presence. For now, I’m off to go book some more classes for the week. Today is an arms and abs strength training class and tomorrow is restorative yoga!

I have always been a runner. Running is in my DNA. Now I’ve got a little ClassPass swirling around in the double helix too. And all of it will keep me running strong.

Have you tried ClassPass yet? Share your ClassPass review here! If you live in a city where it’s offered, will you join me? If not, what is the coolest fitness class you’ve ever been to?