by Lauren Kent
It started with the Warrior Dash. I got suckered in to this thing last minute when it came to Forney in May, a 5K race with 14 “fun” obstacles like gale-force winds and fire pits. My friends dressed up in Halloween costumes which got completely destroyed in the mud slide, and the mud wall, and the mud pit. But after it was all over, and we were donning our complimentary “Finisher” medals and fuzzy viking helmets, it felt pretty darn awesome. So I got to thinking: What else has Dallas got?
I wasn’t disappointed. If you’re looking to switch up your hum drum workout routine—are those your tennis shoe indentations on the elyptical machine?—try one of these adventurous ways to solidify that bikini bod.
Aquatic Boot Camp
Boot camps are popping up all over the place these days, but sweating your tuckus off in 100 degree heat doesn’t sound too appealing. There is another way. Try the new Aquatic Boot Camp, a series of in-pool one-hour classes taught by ex-Army deep sea diver Justin Bradshaw. And if you’re thinking this is a super version of water aerobics, guess again.
“This class is different than any other class in the area,” says Bradshaw. “You get a more intense workout in the pool that is easier on your body than just running mile after mile, and a lot of the drills we do help you become a more proficient swimmer.” What kind of drills, you may ask? Treading water with 10 pound weights, swimming sprints, walking under water with dumbbells and more.
Visit http://aquaticbootcamp.com for more information
The Pilates Megaformer
If you’re really big on fitness contraptions, wait until you get a load of the Megaformer. The new Beyond Pilates studio on Lovers Lane is the first on the planet to house them, and I couldn’t wait to hop on. Sure, the straps and pulleys can be a bit daunting at first, but Brandi Marino, owner of Beyond Pilates, and her accomplice Bethany Meyers will help you get comfortable—fast—in an intense, 50-minute group workout that tones, stretches, strengthens and reshapes your bod.
“The trick is ‘total body confusion,’” says Marino, a California transplant who helped SPX founder Sebastien Lagree create the new Megaformer machine. “The idea is to challenge the muscle groups and push you out of your comfort zone.”
The Jail Break Run
On September 18th and 19th, try your might at a real advenure race in Roanoke. The idea behind this one is that you are—you guessed it—breaking out of jail, so don’t be surprised if you are chased by “the man” while you find your way through a maze, a river and more obstacles that will be leaked throughout the summer. As is custom for such races, there will be a party waiting for you at the end, with live music, food and a couple free beers. Come on, you just burned all those calories, you can live a little. Feel good bonus: proceeds will benefit Sower of Seeds, a non-profit organization that works to drill wells in India so children can have fresh water. Who says being fit can’t save the planet?
