There’s nothing like playing outside during the summer in Alaska. I can’t resist a sunny, beautiful morning running on the Coastal Trail or packing up for a hiking adventure at a state park. What gives me the strength to play outside in the summer? Keeping up my training inside the gym. I asked some of our personal trainers and group fitness instructors why it’s important not to skip your gym workouts in the summer and how what you do inside can help with what you like to do outside.
The Alaska Club Executive Director of Fitness Services, Janet Warner has many miles on her running shoes. She recently ran a half marathon and noticed how her gym training made a difference on hills. “There was a younger couple running in front of me but every time we got to a hill, I passed them because they really slowed down,” she recalls. “They would pass me again when the trail went flat. On the third hill, the guy said – ‘Wow, you’re strong on the hills!’ Janet believes the difference is her strength training. “Group Power and my weight room workouts keep me at my best, especially on those hill climbs. I don’t feel the need to slow down, and it really does feel like a series of leg presses to get me to the top of the hill.” Janet said she thought the couple would lead her to the finish line but at about mile 10 they had to slow down, and she passed them for the final time. She knows that getting outside in the summer is important to boost your energy and sense of well-being but says committing to a strength routine will make every step outdoors even better.
A fun, motivating variety of Group Fitness classes were the key to Instructor Janelle DelaCruz’s prep for this year’s Gold Nugget Triathlon. “Strength Development, HIIT, cycle classes to name a few, helps make Alaska summer adventures even more fun!” She believes the workouts helped with both strength and endurance. “When you participate in these classes, they are building the endurance for the long summer days and gorgeous hikes,” said Janelle, “Strength Development helped me build my core and leg strength for Gold Nugget and run my fastest 5K!” Janelle believes continued physical fitness in the gym will help make your summer adventures more fun. “You’ll want to take on the challenge and go to the next peak or reel in the large fish,” adding that by “taking on steep and uneven hikes, you’ll find yourself feeling strong and ready to take on more challenge by enjoying the gorgeous summers.”
Other classes to help you stay fit for summer fun include Group Power and Group Blast. Dena Thomas teaches both popular classes at East and West. She says the workouts are perfect for enhancing strength, endurance, and flexibility. “They make summer activities like yard work and hiking more enjoyable and less strenuous,” she says. “The music is motivating, and classes are available come rain or shine!” Dena invites you to join her for class to get an effective, efficient, and fun workout.
Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor, Stacey Ledgerwood says preventing injury is her goal for keeping up with her gym routine. “Doing functional training in the gym keeps muscles strong and joints flexible to handle the biking and hiking I like to do in the summer.” Fellow personal trainer and Manager of Personal Training Services, Cameron Allen follows a similar mindset, encouraging members to develop a year-round habit of doing activities your body needs to function at its best.
“Typically, during the first half of the year, members are motivated to come into the gym and workout and then many will elect to take the summer off and start again in the fall,” says Cameron. Inconsistency can set you back on your fitness goals. Especially if you aim to have a lifestyle where fitness is a priority. “Skipping the gym makes it harder because you lose habits such as waking up at a certain time, eating a certain way, going to bed at a certain time, and training certain muscle groups. You may not lose all your hard-earned results, but they will decrease over a long summer hiatus.” Cameron points out that doing this year over year can set you back in the fall when you’re ready to spend more time in the gym. “I'd love to see more consistency throughout the year to support making and maintaining fitness as a lifestyle.”
Alaskans are blessed with long days in the summer so even if you spend an hour in the gym, you’ll still have plenty of daylight left to get outside. Who knows? Maybe you can convince your pals at the club to go on a post-workout walk or lunch after a tough session to cool down together in the fresh air.