Interview with Fit‘nRun Founder, Karen Ready.

In a rare quiet moment, sitting on the back deck catching the sea breeze and enjoying the last rays of the day, Karen Ready passionately describes her newest business venture.

Why open a fitness center for women?

Because. I am a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt and a business woman. Women everywhere are constantly seeking to achieve a balance in this hectic business of life. And, we want to end each day with the hope that we somehow made it better. Our lives get so busy doing what we think are all the necessary incidentals that we lose sight of the urgency to keep ourselves fit and healthy. I believe launching Fit ‘n Run, a 30-minute circuit and fitness center for women, will help us put things in perspective, without adding too much time to an already busy schedule.

Are you worried about this being just the latest craze in fitness centers?

Not at all. I have enjoyed spinning classes and joined as many gyms as the next person. Like everyone else, I got bored with the workout and complacent about going to the gym, mostly because of the time involved in just getting there. Since the birth of my three-year old son, life got a little more demanding; and I had “no time to drive 30 minutes, work out for an hour and drive back.” You know that phrase, because whether it’s children, work, family or other obligations, time is a precious commodity for us all.

So, my purpose in opening Fit‘nRun in Harwich is to provide women on the Cape with an accessible, efficient and anything-but-boring workout center. Trust me. You can get fit, using our 30-minute circuit, three days a week (30/3FIT) or change it up with our treadmills, elliptical, free weights and planned BodyFIT classes in strengthening, yoga and more, in a comfortable and supportive environment. We’ll help women develop an interesting, easy-to-maintain, customized fitness program for a balanced, healthy lifestyle. After all, it’s all about the quality of your life and those around you, and getting more out of your workout, so you can get more out of life.

So what you’re describing is a boutique fitness center, right?

Yes, but only in the sense that its specialty is women’s health and fitness with the personal touches you’d expect from a local business. My husband Dave, a Chatham Fireman and paramedic, and I live in the community and understand the unique Cape culture that attracts thousands of visitors every year from around the globe. We are your neighbors, watching out for each other. Our center will not have cookie-cutter, one-size fits all fitness programs, because it just doesn’t work that way, nor do I believe my customers want or expect that.

We also want to educate our members. We’ll be offering HealthFIT seminars taught by experts, so members and non-members can make informed decisions and healthy choices. We provide the tools and you choose a style that fits your life.

Whether you visit, rent or live on the Cape, every time you stop in at Fit‘nRun you’ll benefit from either a healthy workout, a brief respite from your day, a cheerful encounter on a cloudy day, or a smile that will make you smile back – and always a Cape Cod basketful of benefits.

What would you say epitomizes a Cape Woman?

That’s an interesting question. I’m not exactly sure. But, I’d like to think it’s a person who gives back to her community. Supporting the community through organizations like the Champ House, Dave and I have been actively involved with helping local groups. Recently, a popular strength training class, sponsored by the town of Harwich, had to vacate the space they occupied. I’m happy to announce that Kathy Gulotta, who taught the program, has agreed to come to Fit‘nRun to keep that valued program going for her students and introduce our members to her beneficial fitness class. Above all, we will strive to offer reasonable rates at our fitness center, keeping in mind a local yearly income level that is based on the Cape's seasonal economy. To me, it’s being that kind of neighbor that makes living on the Cape so special.

What do you see as the future of fitness and when will the Cape tunnel be finished?

(Laughter) No tunnel planned yet. Speaking of tunnel vision, though . . . I encourage everyone to take a moment, stop by and check out our facilities when we open in October 2005. Tell us if you like what you see and what else you’d want at Fit‘nRun or complete our quick survey today on http://www.fitnrun.com. What I see is encouragement and support from a truly Cape business run for Cape women by Cape women. What a concept! Stay Tuned.