After paying for all 12 months (and the yearly maintenance fee) for my year-long contract, they REFUSED to let me cancel unless I paid for a 13th month. They said I needed to come in the next month to cancel, despite fulfilling the contract. So, I played by their rules and came in the next month. Well, much to my surprise they had charged me for another month where I didn't use the facility AT ALL. Then, they informed me that I wouldn't be able to get out of my contract unless I paid for the 13th month because my account "isn't in good standing."
I explained that there's no way I'm going to pay for a 13th month after I tried to cancel when my twelve months were over and waited to come in like they told me to. (Also, keep in mind that I gave them more than three week's notice that I wanted to cancel.) Absolutely ridiculous.
Honestly, save yourself a giant headache and find a more reputable gym that's going to HONOR the binding terms of the contract. Even if you pay for the full twelve months, they aren't going to let you out of the contract. I'm sure they'll try to milk you for more money and more months like they did with me.