Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                             LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC.
                          (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FCA, LTD.)
                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED)

1.       PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.

This Plan shall be known as the "LIFE TIME FITNESS, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan"
and is hereinafter referred to as the "Plan." The purpose of the Plan is to aid
in maintaining and developing personnel capable of assuring the future success
of LIFE TIME FITNESS, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), to offer
such personnel additional incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the
success of the business, and to afford them an opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest in the Company through stock options as provided herein.
Options granted under this Plan may be either incentive stock options
("Incentive Stock Options") within the meaning of section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or options which do not qualify
as Incentive Stock Options.

2.       STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

Subject to the provisions of section 12 the shares of stock to be subject to
options under the Plan shall be shares of the Company's authorized Common Stock,
$.02 par value. Such shares may be either authorized but unissued shares, or
issued shares which have been reacquired by the Company. Subject to the
adjustment as provided in section 12 the maximum number of shares on which
options may be exercised under this Plan shall be 3,100,000 shares. If an option
under the Plan expires, or for any reason is terminated or unexercised with
respect to any shares, such shares shall again be available for options
thereafter granted during the term of the Plan.

3.       ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

         (a)      The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of
                  the Company or the Compensation Committee of the Board of
                  Directors of the Company, which shall consist solely of two or
                  more "Non-Employee Directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3
                  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company expects
                  to have the Plan administered in accordance with the
                  requirements for the award of "qualified performance-based
                  compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
                  Code, if applicable. The members of such committee shall be
                  appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board of
                  Directors. The group administering the Plan shall be referred
                  to herein as the "Committee."

         (b)      The Committee shall have plenary authority in its discretion,
                  but subject to the express provisions of this Plan to:

                  (i)      determine the purchase price of the common shares
                           covered by each option;

                                       1

<PAGE>

                  (ii)     determine the employees to whom and the time or times
                           at which such options shall be granted and the number
                           of shares to be subject to each option;

                  (iii)    determine the terms and provisions of each option
                           agreement under this Plan (which agreements need not
                           be identical), including the designation of those
                           options intended to be Incentive Stock Options;

                  (iv)     determine the terms and conditions for the vesting
                           and exercise of each option;

                  (v)      accelerate the time at which all or any part of an
                           option may be exercised;

                  (vi)     amend or modify the terms of any option with the
                           consent of the optionee;

                  (vii)    interpret the Plan;

                  (viii)   prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
                           relating to the Plan; and

                  (ix)     make all other determinations necessary or advisable
                           for the administration of the Plan, subject to the
                           exclusive authority of the Board of Directors under
                           section 13 to amend or terminate the Plan.

                  The Committee's determinations on the foregoing matters,
                  unless otherwise disapproved by the Board of Directors of the
                  Company, shall be final and conclusive.

         (c)      The Committee shall select one of its members as its Chairman
                  and shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it may
                  determine. A majority of its members shall constitute a
                  quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by
                  not less than a majority of its members. Any decision or
                  determination that is set forth in a written document and
                  signed by all of the members of the Committee shall be fully
                  effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a
                  meeting duly called and held. The granting of an option
                  pursuant to the Plan shall be effective only if a written
                  agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered by and
                  on behalf of the Company and the person to whom such option is
                  granted. The Committee may appoint a Secretary and may make
                  such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as
                  it shall deem advisable.

4.       ELIGIBILITY.

Incentive Stock Options may only be granted under this Plan to any full or
part-time employee (which term as used herein includes, but is not limited to,
officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company and of its present
and future subsidiary corporations (herein called "subsidiaries"). Options which
do not qualify as Incentive Stock Options may be granted to full or part-time
employees of the Company or one of its subsidiaries, to consultants or
independent contractors providing valuable services to the Company or one of its
subsidiaries who are not

                                       2

<PAGE>

also employees thereof and to members of the Board of Directors of the Company.
In determining the persons to whom options shall be granted and the number of
shares subject to each option, the Committee may take into account the nature of
services rendered by such persons, their present and potential contributions to
the success of the Company and such other factors as the Committee in its
discretion shall deem relevant. A person who has been granted an option under
the Plan may be granted an additional option or options under the Plan if the
Committee shall so determine; provided, however, that to the extent the
aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the Incentive Stock Option
is granted) of the stock with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by an employee during any calendar year (under
all plans described in section 422 of the Code of his employer corporation and
its parent and subsidiary corporations described in section 424(e) or 424(f) of
the Code) exceeds $100,000, such options shall be treated as options which do
not qualify as Incentive Stock Options.

5.       PRICE.

The option price for all Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be
determined by the Committee but shall not be less than 100% of the fair market
value of shares of the Company's Common Stock at the date of granting of such
option. Except with respect to options granted to Non-Employee Directors, the
option price for options granted under the Plan, which do not qualify as
Incentive Stock Options shall also be determined by the Committee. For purposes
of the preceding sentence and for all other valuation purposes under the Plan,
the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock shall be as reasonably
determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than:

         (a)      the closing price of the stock as reported for composite
                  transactions, if the Company's Common Stock is then traded on
                  a national securities exchange;

         (b)      the last sale price if the Company's Common Stock is then
                  quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System; or

         (c)      the average of the closing representative bid and asked prices
                  of the Company's Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ on the
                  date as of which fair market value is being determined.

If on the date of grant of any option granted under the Plan, the Common Stock
of the Company is not publicly traded, the Committee shall make a good faith
attempt to satisfy the option price requirement of this section 5 and in
connection therewith shall take such action as it deems necessary or advisable.

6.       TERM.

Each option and all rights and obligations thereunder shall, subject to the
provisions of section 9, expire on the date determined by the Committee and
specified in the option agreement. The Committee shall be under no duty to
provide terms of like duration for options granted under the Plan, but the term
of an Incentive Stock Option may not extend more than ten (10) years from the
date of granting of such option and the term of options granted under the Plan
which do not

                                       3

<PAGE>

qualify as Incentive Stock Options may not extend more than fifteen (15) years
from the date of granting of such option.

7.       EXERCISE OF OPTION.

         (a)      The Committee shall have full and complete authority to
                  determine, subject to section 9, whether the option will be
                  exercisable in full at any time or from time to time during
                  the term of the option, or to provide for the exercise thereof
                  in such installments, upon the occurrence of such events and
                  at such times during the term of the option as the Committee
                  may determine.

         (b)      The exercise of any option granted hereunder shall only be
                  effective at such time that the sale of shares of Common Stock
                  pursuant to such exercise will not violate any state or
                  federal securities or other laws.

         (c)      An optionee electing to exercise an option shall give written
                  notice to the Company of such election and of the number of
                  shares subject to such exercise. The full purchase price of
                  such shares shall be tendered with such notice of exercise.
                  Payment shall be made to the Company either in cash (including
                  check, bank draft or money order), or, at the discretion of
                  the Committee, by delivering

                  (i)      certificates for shares of the Company's Common Stock
                           already owned by the optionee having a fair market
                           value equal to the full purchase price of the shares,
                           or

                  (ii)     a combination of cash and such shares, or

                  (iii)    by delivering the optionee's full recourse promissory
                           note, which shall provide for interest at a rate not
                           less than the minimum rate required to avoid
                           imputation of interest, original issue discount or a
                           below-market-rate loan pursuant to sections 483, 1274
                           or 7872 of the Code or any successor provisions
                           thereto,

                  The fair market value of such shares shall be determined as
                  provided in section 5. Until such person has been issued a
                  certificate or certificates for the shares subject to such
                  exercise, he shall possess no rights as a stockholder with
                  respect to such shares.

8.       ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS.

The Committee shall have full and complete authority to determine whether all or
any part of the shares of Common Stock of the Company acquired upon exercise of
any of the options granted under the Plan shall be subject to restrictions on
the transferability thereof or any other restrictions affecting in any manner
the optionee's rights with respect thereto, but any such restriction shall be
contained in the agreement relating to such options.

The exercise of all any part of the Option shall be effective at such time as
the sale of the Common Stock pursuant to such exercise will not violate any
federal or state laws.

                                       4

<PAGE>

9.       EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR DEATH.

         (a)      In the event that an optionee shall cease to be employed by
                  the Company or its subsidiaries, if any, (or shall cease to be
                  a Director of the Company) for any reason other than his gross
                  and willful misconduct or his death or disability as set forth
                  in section 9(c), such optionee shall have the right to
                  exercise the option at any time within three months after such
                  termination of employment (or following the date of
                  termination of directorship) to the extent of the full number
                  of shares he was entitled to purchase under the option on the
                  date of termination, subject to the condition that no option
                  shall be exercisable after the expiration of the term of the
                  option.

         (b)      In the event that an optionee shall cease to be employed by
                  the Company or its subsidiaries, if any, (or shall cease to be
                  a Director of the Company) by reason of his gross and willful
                  misconduct during the course of his employment (or during the
                  course of his directorship), including but not limited to
                  wrongful appropriation of funds or the commission of a gross
                  misdemeanor or felony, the option shall be terminated as of
                  the date of the misconduct.

         (c)      If the optionee shall die while in the employ of the Company
                  or a subsidiary, if any, (or during the course of his
                  directorship) or within three months after termination of
                  employment (or following the date of termination of) for any
                  reason other than gross and willful misconduct, or the
                  optionee's employment (or directorship) is terminated because
                  optionee has become disabled (within the meaning of Code
                  section 22(e)(3)) while in the employ of the Company or a
                  subsidiary, if any, (or during the course of his directorship)
                  and such optionee shall not have fully exercised the option,
                  such option may be exercised at any time within twelve months
                  after such optionee's death or the date of such disability by
                  the optionee or the personal representatives of the optionee,
                  as applicable, or by any person or persons to whom the option
                  is transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and
                  distribution, to the extent of the full number of shares he
                  was entitled to purchase under the option on the date of death
                  (or termination of employment or directorship, if earlier) and
                  subject to the condition that no option shall be exercisable
                  after the expiration of the term of the option.

10.      TEN-PERCENT SHAREHOLDER RULE.

Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, if, at the time an option is
otherwise to be granted pursuant to the Plan, the optionee owns directly or
indirectly (within the meaning of section 424(d) of the Code) shares of Common
Stock of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or
subsidiary corporations (within the meaning of section 424(e) or 424(f) of the
Code), if any, then any Incentive Stock Option to be granted to such optionee
pursuant to the Plan shall satisfy the requirements of section 422(c)(7) of the
Code, the option price shall be not less than 110% of the fair market value of
the Common Stock of the Company determined as described herein, and such option
by its terms shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years
from the date such option is granted.

                                       5

<PAGE>

11.      NON-TRANSFERABILITY.

No option granted under the Plan shall be transferable by an optionee, otherwise
than by will or the laws of descent or distribution as provided in section 9(c).
During the lifetime of an optionee the option shall be exercisable only by such
optionee.

12.      DILUTION OR OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.

If there shall be any change in the shares of the Company's Common Stock through
merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend (of
whatever amount), stock split or other change in the corporate structure,
appropriate adjustments in the Plan and outstanding options shall be made by the
Committee. In the event of any such changes, adjustments shall include, where
appropriate, changes in the aggregate number of shares subject to the Plan, the
number of shares and the price per share subject to outstanding options, in
order to prevent dilution or enlargement of option rights.

13.      AMENDMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE OF PLAN.

The Board of Directors may amend or discontinue the Plan at any time. However,
no amendment of the Plan shall, without shareholder approval:

         (a)      increase the maximum number of shares under the Plan as
                  provided in section 2;

         (b)      decrease the minimum option price provided in section 5;

         (c)      extend the maximum option term under section 6; or

         (d)      materially modify the eligibility requirements for
                  participation in the Plan.

The Board of Directors shall not alter or impair any option theretofore granted
under the plan without the consent of the holder of the option.

14.      INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING & TAX BONUSES.

         (a)      Withholding. In order to comply with all applicable federal or
                  state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take
                  such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all
                  applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or
                  other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of
                  the optionee are withheld or collected from such optionee. In
                  order to assist an optionee in paying all or a portion of the
                  federal and state taxes to be withheld or collected upon
                  exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating
                  to) an option, the Committee, in its discretion and subject to
                  such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt, may
                  permit an optionee to satisfy such tax obligation by (i)
                  electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the shares
                  otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the
                  lapse of restrictions relating to) such option with a fair
                  market value equal to the amount of such taxes or (ii)
                  delivering to the Company shares other than shares issuable
                  upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions
                  relating to) such option with a fair market value equal to the
                  amount of such taxes.

                                       6

<PAGE>

                  The election, if any, must be made on or before the date that
                  the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

         (b)      Tax Bonuses. The Committee, in its discretion, shall have the
                  authority, at the time of grant of any option under this Plan
                  or at any time thereafter, to approve cash bonuses to
                  designated optionees to be paid upon their exercise or receipt
                  of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) options in order
                  to provide funds to pay all or a portion of federal and state
                  taxes due as a result of such exercise or receipt (or the
                  lapse of such restrictions). The Committee shall have full
                  authority in its discretion to determine the amount of any
                  such tax bonus.

15.      TIME OF GRANTING.

Nothing contained in the Plan or in any resolution adopted or to be adopted by
the Board of Directors or by the shareholders of the Company, and no action
taken by the Committee or the Board of Directors (other than the execution and
delivery of an option agreement), shall constitute the granting of an option
hereunder.

16.      NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.

Nothing in the Plan or in any agreement thereunder shall confer on any employee
any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
affect, in any way, the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to
terminate any employee's employment at any time. Nothing in the Plan or in any
agreement thereunder shall confer on any Director any right to continue as a
Director of the Company or affect, in any way, the right of the shareholders of
the Company to remove a Director from the Board of Directors.

17.      EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION OF PLAN.

         (a)      The Plan was approved by the Board of Directors as of November
                  12, 1998. The Plan is subject to approval by the shareholders
                  of the Company within twelve (12) months of such approval.

         (b)      Unless the Plan shall have been discontinued as provided in
                  section 13, the Plan shall terminate November 12, 2008. No
                  option may be granted after such termination, but termination
                  of the Plan shall not, without the consent of the optionee,
                  alter or impair any rights or obligations under any option
                  theretofore granted.

18.      GOVERNING LAW.

The validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any option granted under
the Plan, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any option
granted under the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the
State of Minnesota.

                                       7<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                  THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into on
January 23, 2003, by and between LIFE TIME FITNESS, Inc. (the "Company"), and
Michael Gerend ("Executive").

                  A.       The Company is engaged in the business of managing
health and fitness clubs and providing health and fitness club services
throughout the United States. The Company has enjoyed considerable growth and
success in the industry because of its innovative, confidential and proprietary
management and marketing methods and plans.

                  B.       The Company desires to hire Executive as its
employee, and Executive desires to be employed by the Company, subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and
the respective agreements of the Company and Executive set forth below, the
Company and Executive, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

                  1.       Employment. Subject to all terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, effective March 3, 2003 (the "Commencement Date"), the
Company shall employ Executive, and Executive shall perform services for the
Company, until Executive's employment terminates pursuant to Section 8 below.

                  2.       Position and Duties.

                  (a)      Position with the Company. Executive shall serve as
Chief Operating Officer of the Company. In that position, Executive shall
perform certain duties and responsibilities as assigned to him by the Company
consistent with his position. Chief Operating Officer initially will have
organizational responsibility for the following functions: Operations,
Marketing, LifeCafe, LifeSpa, Martini Blu, Business-to-Business Division and
Nutritional Division. Human Resources will have a dual reporting relationship to
the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Executive
Officer will continue to maintain overall responsibility for company strategy as
it relates to each of the above-mentioned functions as long as he has
organizational responsibility for them. Executive shall report to the Chief
Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company.

                  (b)      Performance of Duties and Responsibilities. Executive
shall serve the Company faithfully and to the best of his ability and shall
devote his full working time, attention and efforts to the business of the
Company during his employment with the Company. Executive hereby represents and
confirms that he is under no contractual or legal commitments that would prevent
him from fulfilling his duties and responsibilities as set forth in this
Agreement. During his employment hereunder, Executive shall not accept other
employment or engage in other material business activity, except as approved in
writing by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board").

<PAGE>

                  3.       Compensation.

                  (a)      Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive an annual
salary, less deductions and withholdings, which salary shall be paid in
accordance with the Company's normal payroll policies and procedures, but no
less frequently than twice monthly. This salary shall be composed of a
guaranteed component (the "Guaranteed Component") and a performance component
(the "Performance Component"), which such Performance Component shall be
dependent upon the Company's achievement of certain financial goals (the
"Guaranteed Component" and the "Performance Component" together shall be
referred to as "Target Salary"). For the year 2003, Executive's Target Salary
shall amount to $396,000 with the Guaranteed Component amounting to $264,000
That is, for 2003, Executive shall be guaranteed an annualized salary of no less
than $264,000 Each year thereafter, the CEO and/or the Board shall establish
Executive's Target Salary in an amount not less than the Target Salary in effect
for the prior year, unless Executive's Target Salary is reduced as part of a
general, across-the-board reduction in the salaries for all executive officers
of the Company, and, in such event, by no percentage amount greater than is
applied to any other executive officer. The Performance Component of Executive's
Target Salary shall, for each calendar year, be determined and set in a manner
consistent with the setting of similar performance incentives for other senior
management of the Company. Except as provided in paragraph 9 or as otherwise
agreed to in writing by Executive and the Company, Executive will not be
entitled to any salary continuation payments beyond Executive's last day of
employment with the Company.

                  (b)      Stock Options. Immediately upon the Executive's
Commencement Date, the Company shall seek Board approval of the proposed stock
option agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Stock Option Agreement").
Upon receiving such approval from the Board, Executive and the Company shall
execute and deliver to one another the Stock Option Agreement and Executive
shall be entitled to all rights, benefits and privileges set forth therein on
the terms provided therein.

                  (c)      Certain Allowances. During Executive's employment
with the Company, Executive shall be provided with the following allowances,
each of which shall be paid to Executive on a monthly basis, less deductions and
withholdings: (i) a car allowance in the amount of $850 per month; and (ii) a
cellular phone allowance in the amount of $300 per month. In addition, the
Company shall reimburse Executive for annual membership fees associated with
Executive's membership in the Young President's Organization and The Minneapolis
Club, such reimbursement not to exceed $5,000 per membership per year.

                  (d)      Employee Benefits. During Executive's employment with
the Company, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's 401(k)
plan and other employee benefit plans of the Company available to senior
management (including the Company's disability plan and the Company's medical
plan, which would provide full family coverage at no cost to Executive) of the
Company to the extent that Executive meets the eligibility requirements for each
individual plan or program. Executive will be eligible to participate in the
Company's medical plan on the first of the month following the Executive's
Commencement Date. The Company provides no assurance as to the adoption or
continuance of any particular employee benefit plan or program, and Executive's
participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions,
rules and regulations applicable thereto.

                                       2

<PAGE>

                  (e)      Business Expenses. While Executive is employed by the
Company hereunder, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable and
necessary out-of-pocket business, travel and entertainment expenses incurred by
him in the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder, subject to
the Company's normal policies and procedures for expense verification and
documentation.

                  (f)      Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to take
vacation, provided that Executive uses his discretion with respect to the timing
of such vacations, for an aggregate number of days not exceed twenty (20),
during any one year period.

                  (g)      Other Executive Compensation Plans. Executive will be
eligible to participate in all other company executive compensation plans
(including incentive stock option plans), during his active employment, that are
developed and approved by the Board of Directors subsequent to signing this
agreement.

                  4.       Confidential Information. Except as permitted by the
Company's Board, during the term of Executive's employment with the Company and
at the all times thereafter, Executive shall not divulge, furnish or make
accessible to anyone or use in any way other than in the ordinary course of the
business of the Company, any confidential, proprietary or secret knowledge or
information of the Company that Executive acquires during his employment with
the Company, whether developed by himself or by others, concerning (i) any
Company trade secrets, (ii) any confidential, proprietary or secret plans,
developments, research, processes, designs, methods or material (whether or not
patented or patentable) of the Company, (iii) any customer or supplier lists of
the Company, (iv) any strategic or other business, marketing or sales plans of
the Company, (v) any financial data or plans respecting the Company, or (vi) any
other confidential or proprietary information or secret aspects of the business
of the Company. Executive acknowledges that the above-described knowledge and
information constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company and
represents a substantial investment of time and expense by the Company, and that
any disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for the
sole benefit of the Company would be wrongful and would cause irreparable harm
to the Company. During the term of Executive's employment with the Company,
Executive shall refrain from any intentional acts or omissions that would reduce
the value of such knowledge or information to the Company. The foregoing
obligations of confidentiality shall not apply to any knowledge or information
that (i) is now or subsequently becomes generally publicly known for reasons
other than Executive's violation of this Agreement, (ii) is independently made
available to Executive in good faith by a third party who has not violated a
confidential relationship with the Company, or (iii) is required to be disclosed
by legal process, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach of
this Agreement by Executive.

                  5.       Ventures. If, during Executive's employment with the
Company, Executive is engaged in or associated with the planning or implementing
of any project, program or venture involving the Company, all rights in such
project, program or venture shall belong to the Company. Except as approved in
writing by the Board and as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, Executive
shall not be entitled to any interest in any such project, program or venture or
to any commission, finder's fee or other compensation in connection therewith.
Executive shall have no interest, direct or indirect, in any customer or
supplier that conducts business with the Company, provided that a passive
investment of less than 2.5% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any
customer or supplier listed on a national securities

                                       3

<PAGE>

exchange or publicly traded in the over-the-counter market shall not constitute
a breach of this sentence.

                  6.       Noncompetition Covenant.

                  In exchange for the Company's hiring of him, and the terms and
conditions of that employment as set forth herein, including but not limited to
the severance pay arrangement set forth in section 9 below, Executive and the
Company agree as follows:

                  (a)      Agreement Not to Compete. During Executive's
employment with the Company and for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive
months from and after the effective date of the termination of Executive's
employment with the Company, whether such termination is with or without Cause,
or whether such termination is at the instance of Executive or the Company,
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in any manner or capacity
(including without limitation as a proprietor, principal, agent, partner,
officer, director, employee, member of any association, consultant or otherwise)
in any "Company Business" in the "Territory." For purposes of this section 6(a),
"Company Business" means the design, development, management, or marketing of
health and fitness clubs, and health and fitness club memberships and services,
and nutritional supplements, and any other product or service that has grown
into a core or primary business of the Company at the time of Executive's
termination of employment. "Territory" means any of the United States or in any
other country in which the Company is then doing Company Business as of the
effective date of Executive's termination of employment with the Company.
Ownership by Executive, as a passive investment, of less than 2.5% of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of any corporation listed on a national
securities exchange or publicly traded in the over-the-counter market shall not
constitute a breach of this Section 6(a).

                  (b)      Agreement Not to Hire. During Executive's employment
with the Company and for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months from
and after the termination of Executive's employment with the Company, whether
such termination is with or without cause, or whether such termination is at the
instance of Executive or the Company, Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, hire, engage or solicit any person who is then an employee of the
Company or who was an employee of the Company at the time of Executive's
termination of employment, in any manner or capacity, including without
limitation as a proprietor, principal, agent, partner, officer, director,
stockholder, employee, member of any association, consultant or otherwise.

                  (c)      Agreement Not to Solicit. During Executive's
employment with the Company and for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive
months from and after the termination of Executive's employment with the
Company, whether such termination is with or without cause, or whether such
termination is at the instance of Executive or the Company, Executive shall not,
directly or indirectly, solicit, request, advise or induce any current or
potential customer, supplier or other business contact of the Company to cancel,
curtail or otherwise change its relationship with the Company, in any manner or
capacity, including without limitation as a proprietor, principal, agent,
partner, officer, director, stockholder, employee, member of any association,
consultant or otherwise.

                  (d)      Blue Pencil Doctrine. If the duration of, the scope
of or any business activity covered by any provision of this Section 6 is in
excess of what is valid and enforceable

                                       4

<PAGE>

under applicable law, such provision shall be construed to cover only that
duration, scope or activity that is valid and enforceable. Executive hereby
acknowledges that this Section 6 shall be given the construction that renders
its provisions valid and enforceable to the maximum extent, not exceeding its
express terms, possible under applicable law.

                  7.       Patents, Copyrights and Related Matters.

                  (a)      Disclosure and Assignment. Executive shall
immediately disclose to the Company any and all improvements and inventions that
Executive may conceive and/or reduce to practice individually or jointly or
commonly with others while he is employed with the Company with respect to (i)
any methods, processes or apparatus concerned with the development, use or
production of any type of products, goods or services sold or used by the
Company, and (ii) any type of products, goods or services sold or used by the
Company. Executive also shall immediately assign, transfer and set over to the
Company his entire right, title and interest in and to any and all of such
inventions as are specified in this Section 7(a), and in and to any and all
applications for letters patent that may be filed on such inventions, and in and
to any and all letters patent that may issue, or be issued, upon such
applications. In connection therewith and for no additional compensation
therefor, but at no expense to Executive, Executive shall sign any and all
instruments deemed necessary by the Company for:

                           (i)      the filing and prosecution of any
                                    applications for letters patent of the
                                    United States or of any foreign country that
                                    the Company may desire to file upon such
                                    inventions as are specified in this Section
                                    7(a);

                           (ii)     the filing and prosecution of any
                                    divisional, continuation,
                                    continuation-in-part or reissue applications
                                    that the Company may desire to file upon
                                    such applications for letters patent; and

                           (iii)    the reviving, re-examining or renewing of
                                    any of such applications for letters patent.

This Section 7(a) shall not apply to any invention for which no equipment,
supplies, facilities, confidential, proprietary or secret knowledge or
information, or other trade secret information of the Company was used and that
was developed entirely on Executive's own time, and (i) that does not relate (A)
directly to the business of the Company, or (B) to the Company's actual or
demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) that does not result
from any work performed by Executive for the Company.

                  (b)      Copyrightable Material. All right, title and interest
in all copyrightable material that Executive shall conceive or originate
individually or jointly or commonly with others, and that arise during the term
of his employment with the Company and out of the performance of his duties and
responsibilities under this Agreement, shall be the property of the Company and
are hereby assigned by Executive to the Company, along with ownership of any and
all copyrights in the copyrightable material. Upon request and without further
compensation therefor, but at no expense to Executive, Executive shall execute
any and all papers and perform all other acts necessary to assist the Company to
obtain and register copyrights on such materials in any and all countries. Where
applicable, works of authorship created by Executive for the

                                       5

<PAGE>

Company in performing his duties and responsibilities hereunder shall be
considered "works made for hire," as defined in the U.S. Copyright Act.

                  (c)      Trade Secrets. All trade secret information conceived
or originated by Executive that arises during the term of his employment with
the Company and out of the performance of his duties and responsibilities
hereunder or any related material or information shall be the property of the
Company, and all rights therein are hereby assigned by Executive to the Company.

                  8.       Termination of Employment.

                  (a)      Executive's employment with the Company shall
terminate immediately upon:

                           (i)      Executive's receipt of written notice from
                                    the Company of the termination of his
                                    employment, effective as of the date
                                    indicated in such notice;

                           (ii)     the Company's receipt of Executive's written
                                    resignation from the Company, effective as
                                    of the date indicated in such resignation;

                           (iii)    Executive's Disability (as defined below);
                                    or

                           (iv)     Executive's death.

                  (b)      The date upon which Executive's termination of
employment with the Company occurs shall be the "Termination Date."

         9.       Payments upon Termination of Employment.

                  (a)      If Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated by the Company for any reason other than for "Cause" (as defined
below), death or "Disability" (as defined below), or by Executive for "Good
Reason" (as defined below), the Company shall pay to Executive as severance pay
the following amounts:

                           (i)      a lump sum payment equal to the annual
                                    amount of Executive's Guaranteed Component
                                    then in effect, less required withholdings;
                                    and

                           (ii)     provided Executive's noncompetition
                                    obligations remain in full force and effect
                                    as set forth in Section 6 above, and
                                    commencing one year after the effective date
                                    of Executive's termination of employment, an
                                    additional amount equal to two-thirds (2/3)
                                    of the amount described in item (i) above,
                                    to be paid in 24 equal, bi-monthly
                                    installments and subject to all required
                                    withholdings.

In addition, the Company shall continue Executive's health care (including
medical and dental) and life insurance benefits coverage provided to Executive
at the date of his termination of employer at the same level and in the same
manner as if his employment had not terminated

                                       6

<PAGE>

beginning on the date of such termination for eighteen months, followed by COBRA
election rights. Any additional health care and life insurance coverages
Executive had at termination, including dependent coverage, will also be
continued for such period on the same terms. Any costs Executive was paying for
such coverages, if any, at the time of termination shall continue to be paid by
Executive. If the terms of any benefit plan referred to in this section do not
permit continued participation by Executive, then the Company will arrange for
other coverage providing substantially similar benefits at the same contribution
level, if any, of Executive.

         The Company shall be entitled to deduct from the payments set forth in
item (a)(ii) above any amount(s) earned by Executive or attributed to Executive
as income during the applicable payment period as a result of employment or
self-employment with any other employer (including employment as a consultant or
contractor). For purposes of mitigation and reduction of the Company's financial
obligations to Executive with respect to item (a)(ii) above, Executive shall
promptly and fully disclose to the Company in writing: (i) the nature and amount
of any earned income from self-employment or employment with any other employer
(including employment as a consultant or contractor), (ii) any variations in
income by pay period, and (iii) the period for which the income is attributable.
Executive shall be liable to repay any amounts to the Company that should have
been so mitigated or reduced but for Executive's failure or unwillingness to
make such disclosures. In the event that the Company implements a general plan
of severance for key members of senior executive management on terms more
favorable to such executives than those offered to Executive herein, the more
favorable terms of such general plan of severance shall be included in this
Agreement, subject to the approval of Executive.

                  (b)      If Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated by reason of:

                           (i)      Executive's abandonment of his employment or
                                    Executive's resignation, in each instance
                                    for any reason other than Good Reason;

                           (ii)     termination of Executive's employment by the
                                    Company for Cause (as defined below); or

                           (iii)    Executive's Disability or death,

then the Company shall pay to Executive or his beneficiary or his estate, as the
case may be, Executive's Guaranteed Component through the Termination Date.

                  (c)      "Cause" shall mean if the Company determines in good
faith that Executive has:

                           (i)      engaged in willful and deliberate acts of
                                    dishonesty or fraud against or at the
                                    expense of the Company, which adversely
                                    affects the business affairs of the Company;

                           (ii)     engaged in willful and deliberate acts of
                                    unlawful behavior against or at the expense
                                    of the Company, which adversely affects the
                                    business affairs of the Company in a
                                    material way;

                           (iii)    been convicted of, or pleaded nolo
                                    contendere, to any felony;

                                       7

<PAGE>

                           (iv)     engaged in gross negligence or willful
                                    misconduct in the performance of Executive's
                                    duties as an employee of Company, where such
                                    acts adversely affect the business affairs
                                    of the Company in a material way;

                           (v)      refused to substantially perform all of his
                                    duties and responsibilities, or persistently
                                    neglects his duties, or experiences chronic
                                    unapproved absenteeism or demonstrates an
                                    inability to perform his duties at a level
                                    commensurate with this position which
                                    remains uncured after twenty-one (21) days
                                    written notice to Executive of such alleged
                                    Cause by the Board; or

                           (vi)     breached paragraphs 4, 5, 6 or 7 of this
                                    Agreement.

                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
none of the foregoing events (other than clauses (i) or (ii)), shall constitute
"Cause" for purposes of this Agreement unless the Company gives Executive
written notice delineating the claimed event or circumstance and setting forth
the Company's intention to terminate Executive's employment if such claimed
event or circumstance is not duly remedied within twenty-one (21) business days
following such notice from the Board, and Executive fails to remedy such event
or circumstance within such twenty-one (21) day period.

                  (d)      "Good Reason" shall mean if Executive determines in
good faith that:

                           (i)      the Company has breached any material
                                    term(s) or material condition(s) of this
                                    Agreement, which breach was not caused by
                                    Executive and has not been cured by the
                                    Company within twenty-one (21) business days
                                    after receiving written notice from
                                    Executive delineating the claimed breach and
                                    setting forth his intention to terminate his
                                    employment if such breach is not duly
                                    remedied within twenty-one (21) business
                                    days;

                           (ii)     the Company has relocated its executive
                                    offices outside of a fifty (50) mile radius
                                    of its current location;

                           (iii)    the Company has materially reduced
                                    Executive's duties and responsibilities or
                                    title (including but not limited to
                                    reasonable discretion in the management of
                                    his department), which reduction has not
                                    been cured by the Company within twenty-one
                                    (21) business days after receiving written
                                    notice from Executive delineating the
                                    claimed reduction and setting forth his
                                    intention to terminate his employment if
                                    such breach is not duly remedied within
                                    twenty-one (21) business days;

                           (iv)     the Company has assigned duties and
                                    responsibilities to Executive that are
                                    inconsistent with Executive's position; or

                                       8

<PAGE>

                           (v)      the Company fails to enter into the Stock
                                    Option Agreement with Executive within 14
                                    days of the Commencement Date.

                  (e)      "Disability" shall mean the inability of Executive to
perform on a full-time basis the duties and responsibilities of his employment
with the Company by reason of his illness or other physical or mental impairment
or condition, if such inability continues for an uninterrupted period of 90 days
or more during any 360-day period. A period of inability shall be
"uninterrupted" unless and until Executive returns to full-time work from the
above-referenced leave for a continuous period of at least 15 days, excluding
vacation days or sick days taken for reasons unrelated to the illness or other
physical or mental impairment or condition necessitating the above-referenced
leave.

                  (f)      In the event of termination of Executive's
employment, the sole obligation of the Company hereunder shall be its obligation
to make the payments called for by Sections 9(a) or 9(b) hereof, as the case may
be, and the Company shall have no other obligation to Executive or to his
beneficiary or his estate, except as otherwise provided by law, under the terms
of any subsequent written agreement between Executive and the Company or under
the terms of any employee benefit plans or programs then maintained by the
Company in which Executive participates.

                  (g)      Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 9, the Company shall not be obligated to make any payments to Executive
under Section 9(a) hereof if the Company clearly establishes that Executive is
not in strict compliance with the terms of Sections 4, 6 and 7 hereof as of the
dates of such payments.

                  10.      Return of Records and Property. Upon termination of
his employment with the Company, Executive shall promptly deliver to the Company
any and all Company records and any and all Company property in his possession
or under his control, including without limitation manuals, books, blank forms,
documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, printouts, computer
disks, computer tapes, source codes, data, tables or calculations and all copies
thereof, documents that in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or
confidential, proprietary or other secret information of the Company and all
copies thereof, and keys, access cards, access codes, passwords, credit cards,
personal computers, telephones and other electronic equipment belonging to the
Company.

                  11.      Remedies. Executive acknowledges that the provisions
of Sections 4, 6 and 7 are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate
interests of the Company, and that any violation of those provisions by
Executive would cause substantial and irreparable harm to the Company to such an
extent that monetary damages alone would be an inadequate remedy therefore.
Therefore, in the event of any actual or threatened breach of any such
provisions, the Company shall, in addition to any other remedies it may have, be
entitled to seek injunctive and other equitable relief to enforce such
provisions and to restrain Executive from violating or continuing to violate
such provisions, and such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving
actual monetary damages. The preceding sentence shall not be construed to
prevent Executive from disputing the factual basis of any remedies or defenses
asserted by the Company.

                  12.      Indemnification. The Company agrees to defend and
indemnify Executive to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, for all
civil damages, penalties, or fines claimed or levied against Executive in
connection with any third-party claim, action, suit or

                                       9

<PAGE>

proceeding that arises from Executive's acts, errors, or omissions (other than
Executive's intentional misconduct, willful neglect of duties, or bad faith) in
the performance of his duties as an officer and/or employee of the Company or
any affiliate or subsidiary thereof. This Section 12 shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.

                  13.      Miscellaneous.

                  (a)      Governing Law. All matters relating to the
interpretation, construction, application, validity and enforcement of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota without giving
effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule, whether of the State
of Minnesota or any other jurisdiction, that would cause the application of laws
of any jurisdiction other than the State of Minnesota.

                  (b)      Jurisdiction and Venue. Executive and the Company
consent to jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Minnesota and/or the
federal district courts, District of Minnesota, for the purpose of resolving all
issues of law, equity, or fact, arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement. Any action involving claims of a breach of this Agreement shall be
brought in such courts. Each party consents to personal jurisdiction over such
party in the state and/or federal courts of Minnesota and hereby waives any
defense of lack of personal jurisdiction. Venue, for the purpose of all such
suits, shall be in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota.

                  (c)      Entire Agreement. Except for the Stock Option
Agreement referred to in Section 3(b) hereof, this Agreement contains the entire
agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject
matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreements, representations or
warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement that are not set
forth herein.

                  (d)      No Violation of Other Agreements. Executive hereby
represents and agrees that neither (i) Executive's entering into this Agreement
nor (ii) Executive's carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, will violate
any other agreement (oral, written or other) to which Executive is a party or by
which Executive is bound.

                  (e)      Amendments. No amendment or modification of this
Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the
parties hereto.

                  (f)      No Waiver. No term or condition of this Agreement
shall be deemed to have been waived, except by a statement in writing signed by
the party against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought. Any written waiver
shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall
operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not
constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future or as to any act
other than that specifically waived.

                  (g)      Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable,
in whole or in party, by either party without the written consent of the other
party, except that the Company may, without the consent of Executive, assign
all, but not less than all, of its rights and obligations under this Agreement
to any corporation or other business entity (i) with which the Company may merge
or consolidate, or (ii) to which the Company may sell or transfer all or
substantially all of its assets or capital stock. After any such assignment by
the Company, the Company shall

                                       10

<PAGE>

be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such assignee shall
thereafter be deemed to be the "Company" for purposes of all terms and
conditions of this Agreement, including this Section 13.

                  (h)      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by facsimile, such counterparts executed and
delivered, each as an original, shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.

                  (i)      Severability. Subject to Section 6(d) hereof, to the
extent that any portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the remainder of such
provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall continue in full
force and effect.

                  (j)      Captions and Headings. The captions and paragraph
headings used in this Agreement are for convenience or reference only and shall
not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any of the
provisions hereof.

                  (k)      Legal Expenses. The prevailing party shall be
entitled to recover all legal fees and expenses which such party may reasonably
incur as a result of any legal proceeding relating to the validity,
enforceability, or breach of, or liability under, any provision of this
Agreement or any guarantee of performance (including as a result of any contest
by Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to paragraph 9 of this
Agreement).

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and the Company have executed
this Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

                                   LIFE TIME FITNESS, Inc.

                                   ___________________________________
                                   By ________________________________
                                   Its _______________________________

                                   ___________________________________
                                   MICHAEL GEREND

                                       11

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00063-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00063-of-00352.parquet"}]]