By José Martinez | SDUN Reporter

San Diego gym-goers might have noticed that lines for the treadmill have been little longer than usual in the past several days.

The arrival of a new year brings resolutions – and resolutions bring multitudes of fitness-minded people to their local gyms. Regardless of how those well-intentioned goals pan out, it’s a blessing to gyms, health clubs and fitness centers.

While Hillcrest 24 Hour Fitness employees declined to comment, patrons of the gym said they have noticed bigger crowds.

“It’s been packed,” said Erin Murphy, who recently recovered from an injury and began a membership with 24 Hour Fitness during the first weekend of 2012. Jenna Leon Guerrero, another patron who’s held a membership for two years, echoed Murphy. “It’s definitely been more packed,” she said.

Gyms and fitness centers have come to rely on the resolution crowds each January, a month during which memberships spike and, at many gyms, double. As the year progresses, though, attendance tapers off, usually by March – but memberships don’t.

Danielle Schuh is the owner of North Park Fitness, and said that every January and February, her gym gets a lot busier, both with new memberships and personal training subscriptions; but that doesn’t last long.

“It’ll go on for a couple months, and it’ll taper off until the summer starts to approach,” she said, “Then it’ll hit again, because everyone wants their beach bodies.”

However, Schuh said she rarely sees the majority of her members. “I’d say there’s a good 60 percent of members who will maybe see the inside of this gym once or twice a year. It’s unbelievable.”

Owner David Ventura estimates that Undisputed, a North Park gym that specializes in mixed martial arts-based fitness, has between 750-800 members. He said membership at his venue has remained fairly steady.

“With a good marketing plan and proper planning, you can overcome the obstacles of slow Decembers and New Year’s resolutions and summer vacationers,” he said.