River Workout Fitness Program

Many people take the elevator rather than walk up a few flights of stairs. Some Memphians, on the other hand, are opting to run up and down stairs — those outside the Pyramid.

"Workout on the River," a boot-camp-style fitness program, takes participants outside the gym and into downtown Memphis. The first camp concluded in early August; the second camp's eight-week session will begin August 13th.

Developer Stacy Chick, a five-year trainer at the downtown YMCA, ran the gym's boot-camp workout for two years. Her class was popular, but one factor was missing: a pleasant setting.

"I realized that it's kind of boring in the gym," Chick says. So, she took her program outside. Chick finds the new workout environment not only pleasing to the eye but also beneficial for exercise.

"I don't have to be the sole motivator anymore," she says. "The environment is the motivator. Sometimes, we run to the Pyramid and then run up the stairs there. It's much more interesting than a treadmill and weight rack. When people get bored, they lose focus."

Other activities in the boot camp include weight lifting, running, kickboxing, and obstacle courses. Participants meet three times a week for one-hour workouts.

The boot camp is designed to meet various levels of physical fitness, no matter how flabby or 'ripped' you may be. Exercisers support one another, but they also hold each other accountable for slacking on workouts or nutritious eating.

"The boot camp teaches a healthy lifestyle and self-confidence," Chick says. "People also socialize. It's not just that you notice the results. People around you notice too."

"Workout on the River," Greenbelt Park. Starts Monday, August 13th, 5:45 a.m., 5:45 p.m., or 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. $225. For more information, e-mail riverworkout@gmail.com or call 488-7740.