TJ's Gym - Mill Valley

TJ's Gym - Mill Valley

While heading up to San Rafael for work, for hopefully the last week in awhile, I decided to drop in at TJ's Gym Mill Valley for a workout.  I've been to the original San Rafael location in the past and also the Novato one (when it was a TJ's Gym).  TJ's Gym Mill Valley was along the way and I knew it wouldn't be a disappointment 

I did the 3pm class a few Tuesday's ago with Shanna.  This is what we did:

• Warm Up: 10 minutes: 1min Airdyne/Row/Jump Rope, 10 Shoulder Passes, 10 Walking Lunges, 10 Pike to Push Ups, 10 whatever you want
• Strength:
• 4 sets, alternating, 2min rest between sets:
• DB Bench Press: 4x4-6
• Pendlay Row:4x4-6
• 1-arm Farmer's Carry: 4x30m/arm
• Workout: Every 2 minutes, complete:
• 10 Box Jumps, step down 24"/20"
• 10 Clapping Push Ups
• 100m Run
• *If the sets take longer than 90s, the reps should be reduced 

 

Some things I really liked here:

• Home to famous CrossFit Games competitor, Marcus Filly!  He co-owns TJ's Gym Mill Valley with TJ.
• Their all about the individual based on your goals!... from coaching to programming to gym equipment.  Their blog contains daily workouts for All Levels/Wrench/Travel and is released weekly.  I like to check their blog for the travel WOD when I want to do something bodyweight.
• Along these lines, you can do you own programming, even during class time.  Remember, it's all about you and your goals.
• Three locations in Marin: San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Corte Madera... and one membership for all!  I've said this before, but the ability to scale and not compromise on quality is pretty amazing.
• Similar sized to the San Rafael location, except more rectangular.  Easy to find, lots of usable space, parking, and light.
• Consistent with the other locations, great people and great vibe!  I met everyone in the class and it was great to do the class with everyone I met.
• Variety of equipment, at the Mill Valley location, you'll find: jerk blocks, platforms, matador, mats, farmer's carry bars, airdynes, ski erg, fractional plates, ropes, parallettes, benches, area to do bar muscle ups, reverse hyper, atlas stones, etc.
• Super clean bathrooms
• $25 drop in fee, or make a friend.  Check out their visitor policy.

Some things that could use improvement:

• Formatted WOD blog so it's easier to read.  Potentially bold the days (easier to find) and put the workouts in a table (reduce scrolling).  If you go to the blog now, it's currently all listed in a column, one after the other in the same text.
• Started a kilo plates collection, but is not quite finished (missing the fractional plates).  

Some pictures:

2. Entrance

3. Right half

4. Left half

5. pull up structure on the right

6. many airdynes

7. another view of the pull up structure, and entrance

8. pull up structure on the left

9. side

10. platforms!

This is the third TJ's gym I visited in Marin county (well I guess technically second now since for some reason the Novato location is no longer a TJ's Gym).  I believe the only one I'm missing now is Corte Madera.  The Mill Valley location reminded me a lot of the San Rafael location.  It was similar in layout, except a bit more rectangular and no outdoor gym.  Also, there's a farmer's market next door!  Anyway, I'm still impressed by the gym's ability to scale the gym and not compromise on quality and the CrossFit community vibe.  Looking forward to coming back :)

Related Posts: TJ's Gym - San Rafael | TJ's Gym - Novato / CrossFit Novato (old)
Nearby Gyms: Tamalpais CrossFit/San Rafael Barbell (San Rafael) | Corey's Gym/North Bay CrossFit (San Rafael) | West Bay CrossFit (San Rafael) | Five Points CrossFit (Corte Madera) | Pacheco Valley CrossFit (Novato)