Having trouble finding motivation to work out now that Spring Break has come and gone? Why not try something new, fun, and exciting? Wake Forest Campus Recreation does a great job providing some different work out opportunities for those of us who are getting tired of the gym and running trails. I’ve had some experience with a few of these, but this just grazes the surface of all the possibilities. Here are two of my favorites:
The Pool
You may or may not know that Reynolds Gym is home to a wonderful heated pool found on the first floor. There are hours for open and lap swimming every day of the week during which the pool is under a certified lifeguard’s watch. A half hour of swimming laps will do wonders for you heart and lungs, especially if you aren’t used to it. I am no competitive swimmer, but I have spent some time in there building up my endurance. For a workout, depending on your skill level, I suggest starting with a few warm-up laps with a kickboard, then doing a ladder in which you first swim two lengths at a casual pace, and then rest a minute before completing four lengths in a row. You can work in up to eight or ten laps in a row before coming back down to the cool down. Throw in a few minutes of treading water at the end, and you have yourself a great total body workout.
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The Crux
At this point, some of you are thinking that I switched languages on you or something. What the heck is the crux?!? It is Outdoor Pursuit’s bouldering wall in Reynolds Gym third floor “Six”. Bouldering is similar to vertical rock climbing except you are not being belayed, so you go sideways around the room, rather than climbing straight up. Check out the OP website for hours. When you go, they hook you up with climbing shoes and then you’re free to play around. This wall is challenging enough to keep even the most experienced climbers busy, but it also has sections that are perfect for beginners. I encourage you to grab and friend and try it out! After 15 or 20 minutes, you’ll be huffing and puffing and your forearms will feel like jelly. Workout complete.