The Alaska Club Fitness Blog

Get out your calendar! It’s time to put those spring and summer triathlons, marathons, and fun runs on your schedule. From the Gold Nugget Triathlon to the Skinny Raven Half & 10k, there are so many fantastic events to choose from. Lucky for you, as a member of The Alaska Club, you have a whole host of resources to help you prepare. We tapped two experts at The Alaska Club who have trained and participated in multiple events over the years: Janet Warner, Executive Director of Fitness Services, and Stacey Ledgerwood, Personal Trainer and Operations Manager at The Alaska Club West. Lace up your running shoes, squat like you mean it, and get those laps in. You got this.

Starting Smart: How to Begin a Spring Exercise Program for Gardening, Walking, and Running

The new year is the perfect time to try new adventures. When The Alaska Club added Les Mills Strength Development class to its Group Fitness schedule, I decided to add it to my weekly routine. Motivating instructor? Check (shout out to you, Hannah!). Early morning class to kick start my day? Check. Working my muscles in a new and challenging way? Check. Curious if Strength Development is right for you? Whether you’re a regular lifter or just starting out, this 45-minute functional strength training class will push you to the next level.

I have been asked many times why I smile when I run. Truthfully, I have no idea, and in fact, I don’t even know that I am smiling when I run 90% of the time. I can tell you that I have loved running for more than 30 years and sincerely hope I have at least 20 more years left in these legs. My running routine was acquired over time, but the smile comes naturally along with those jogging steps.

My journey began on September 22nd, 2019. My best friend called and during our conversation, she told me she had lost 80lbs in the last 8 months. She showed me a pic and she looked amazing. I was not about to have her show me up, so I asked "HOW?". She was eating healthy. She had cut out most carbs and sugars. I was 386lbs and had already thought about getting healthy; and this was the last straw.

Reported by The Alaska Dispatch News The music begins and Yulissa Arescurenaga comes to life. And so does the room full of people in her Zumba class Friday afternoon at Service High School. The music, pulsating with Latin beats, is familiar. So are the moves, many of them inspired by dances like the merengue and salsa. What’s different is that Arescurenaga has Down syndrome. A 24-year-old Californian by way of Peru, Arescurenaga spent six years learning and memorizing routines in order to become a licensed Zumba instructor. “She was killing it,” said Liam Mamikunian, a recent Service graduate and one of about 50 people who worked up a sweat under Arescurenaga’s guidance. “She didn’t miss a beat.” Mamikunian is co-president of Service’s Special Olympics Partners Club, which pairs mentors like him with special education students. Arescurenaga’s workout left him exhausted – and impressed. “I got an amazing workout,” he said. “It’s an amazing inclusive experience. There’s no differences when it comes to this.” Arescurenaga and her mother and aunt are in Anchorage this week courtesy of the Alaska Chapter of the National Down Syndrome Congress. The group teamed up with The Arc of Anchorage and the Alaska Club to bring Arescurenaga to town for two days of instruction. For full story, go to Alaska Dispatch News/Sports by Beth Bragg.

Let's us set the scene: You are in the kitchen trying to make dinner for your little brood. Jimmy is running laps around the house because he thinks "open concept kitchen-living area" really means "the perfect place to see if I can break the sound barrier." Sara, who is usually somewhat sensible, has positioned the cushions from the couch under the stairs to create a soft landing area in case she falls from the banister, which obviously she must climb as if it is some building in a Tom Cruise/Mission Impossible stunt. And of course baby is bouncing quietly, acting like an angel, but giving you a look that says "yeah, just wait until I'm mobile..."

While the holidays are typically a time of sharing cheer with family and friends, the season also brings with it various sources of stress for each of us. Here are three ways to keep your cool while navigating the hustle and bustle this year.