As the semester is winding down, so are my responsibilities. I have little work left to and that leaves next week's schedule relatively free. I am excited not only because school is ending, but because it is happening at a great time - right before Sweat the Stress! Sweat the Stress is a week where the Rec Center offers free fitness classes to all members during finals week. Upon discovering all of my free time, I grabbed a Sweat the Stress fitness class schedule and then proceeded to map out which classes I could take each day, Monday through Friday. I am excited to take advantage of both anaerobic and aerobic classes that are scheduled back-to-back to get a complete work out in each day. Even if you have a busy schedule, it is also important to take time for yourself and squeeze in that hour work out so that you thinking clearly on your last tests. I encourage all to join me next week as we finish the year out strong with fun and maybe new ways to work out by exploring fitness classes.

              I have been an avid runner for eight years now and one of the major perks (besides the endorphins) is that it’s quite inexpensive.  The only thing absolutely necessary to invest in is your running shoes.  Running can be very tough on your body and it’s important to take responsibility for treating yourself well!  I bought a new pair of Asics GT-2170 last weekend.  I have been running in the 2000 series for years now and they have never failed me.  The difference with the newest model is that they are taking on this minimalist trend.  The sales clerk was very knowledgeable about the shoes and explained that they are lighter and have a lower heel in order to help runners reduce heel striking.  It is much less harmful to the body when runners achieve a midfoot/forefoot strike in their stride.  Lately I’ve been seeing more and more talk about the minimalist running shoe trend.  My ears perked up when I started to notice those odd looking FiveFingers shoes, which seemed more like socks to me.  The idea is that they “allow the foot to move more naturally and, thus, allow the rest of the body to set up in more efficient running posture from foot to forehead” (http://bit.ly/elIFyp).  In fact, this idea has gone beyond the FiveFingers brand and has become a major trend in the running shoe industry.   All of this new information regarding minimalist shoes has definitely contradicted a lot of what I have learned in the past about running shoes.  One barefoot enthusiast claims that, "Arch support, cushioning, and high-tech features are believed to be improvements for human comfort but they're actually the direct cause of foot problems and injuries."  People in support of the minimalistic shoes even go as far as saying that companies who promote motion control and stability shoes are simply propaganda. ... [More]

During my travels around the world, and throughout the United, I have seen many things and heard many stories, but few are as moving and inspirational as the Team Hoyt story. Team Hoyt is an organization established to help disabled youth in the United States.  The foundation started when Dick Hoyt and his disabled son Rick began competing in running races back in 1977.  When Rick was born, he was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy.  As Rick grew, it was soon realized that he would not be able to speak or walk.  His parents were insistent on trying to give Rick the most out of life by pushing to get him into public school and college.  Thanks to the persistence of his parents and his motivation and determination, Rick graduated from Boston University with a degree in Special Education in 1993. When Rick was 15, he wanted to participate with his father in a 5-mile road race to benefit a lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident.  This was the first of over 1,000 races Dick Hoyt competed in while pushing his disabled son in a wheelchair specially designed for running.  In addition to running races, Rick and Dick competed in triathlons and duathlons.  After that first race, Rick told his father, through a computer program made for him at Tufts University, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.”  That moment, Dick and Rick began their amazing journey. In February, 2003, Dick Hoyt suffered a massive heart attack without knowing it had happened.  After continuing to compete for a few weeks, Dick decided to go to the hospital due to an annoying tickle in his throat.  The EKG showed Dick had 95% blockage in one artery and 85% in another requiring the insertion of 3 stents.  This happened just 3 weeks before he and Rick planned on competing in their 22nd straight Boston Marathon.  Unfortunately, they were unable to compete in the Bosto... [More]

Until recently I was too afraid to donate blood, I’m not proud of this because I think donating blood is a great way to contribute to your community.  Everything changed last Tuesday when I was walking to class and passed a blood donation event.  Before thinking I asked if they had any openings and signed up to donate the next day.  I don’t know what exactly changed but I was ready to face my fear. I was instructed to drink a lot of water and sleep for a full 8 hours.  I slept a little longer than I usually do but that was only about 7 and half hours so I didn’t quite reach the recommendation but I did drink a lot of water.  I even cooked a steak the night before because they do a preliminary blood test to check if there’s sufficient amount of iron in your system. When I arrived in the afternoon, I shakily went through the steps nervous to sit while a needle idles in my arm.  The doctor asked routine questions then stuck my middle finger and squeezed out the blood for the preliminary blood test.  According to the doctor I barely reached the required amount.  After that I figured there was no way to be rejected and I was meant to donate blood, but I was wrong.  As I pulled off my sweater and squirmed in the chair the doctor examined my arm, her expression worried me as she moved to my other arm and then asked for another opinion.  “I’m sorry but your veins are too small,” they said.   I didn’t realize the size of my veins could be my downfall!  Don’t get me wrong there was a small part of me relieved to escape the needle but a bigger part of me still wanted to help.  I asked if there was anything I could do next time to help my chances of a vein becoming more prominent.  I was instructed to drink more water.  Apparently for all the extra water I thought I was consuming I should have been drinking twice that much!  With this experi... [More]

If you are in need of a new playlist for working out, then look below for a UREC Fitness Class favorite. It is played during many classes here at the SRC, especially TRX. This playlist is full of both older and newer modern rock songs that will hopefully get you in the mood to work-out! Modern Rock Playlist: Yellow – Coldplay Broadway – Goo Goo Dolls If Your Gone – Matchbox 20 Hanging by a Moment – Lifehouse All the Small Things – Blink 182 Beautiful Day – U2 Higher – Creed Hemorrhage – Fuel With Arms Wide Open – Creed Then the Morning Comes – Smash Mouth I Think God Can Explain – Splender Wonderful – Everclear Enjoy your new playlist and check back next Friday for another featured playlist!

Get involved and get fit with the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) and University Recreation during the 15th Annual Campus on the Run being held on March 24. The past 14 years Campus on the Run has been a way for students, faculty, staff and community members to come together for a charitable cause.  Participants will compete in a 5K (3.1 mile) road race on the WSU Campus and this year’s proceeds will benefit The Willow Center. Campus on the Run is open to anyone 6 years of age or older and participants will be split into divisions: 17 & under, 18-20, 21-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55+ [Male or Female].  Early registration is open from February 1– March 12 and the cost is $14 for Student Recreation Center members (SRC) and $17 for non-members.  Late registration runs from March 13 – March 21 with a price of $20 for SRC members and $23 for non-members.  Check-in on race day, March 24, is 8:15-9:15 a.m. at the SRC, t-shirts and race bibs will be picked up at this time. The race will begin at 9:30 a.m. on March 24 in front of the SRC and will end in the tennis court parking lot.  All participants must wear the bib (race number) on their front.  Also, all race day participants will have access to the SRC for the day by showing their race number. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.campusontherun.wsu.edu/ or call 335-UREC.  

We all know that eating healthy is a difficult yet important thing to incorporate in your life.  I for one am not the best at it especially when you consider factors like cost and time.  However, I decided to do a little research about healthy recipes.  I found a blog with tons of healthy desserts created by a girl who is devoted to make them not only healthy but good as well.  Naturally, I decided to test one of her most popular recipes.  It’s a Healthy Cookie Dough Dip.  She calls it a dip because it’s not meant to be baked which sounds great to me because when I make cookies not many of them end up in the oven.  It doesn’t include eggs so we don’t have to worry about salmonella!  However it does call for chick peas.  The last time I checked, chick peas can be used to make hummus, not cookie dough.  It also has non-dairy milk, nut butter and oats.  This recipe is not only healthy, it’s vegan!  Challenge accepted.  With the help of my friend Hannah, I went to the store and picked up the ingredients.  Although I did end up buying milk chocolate chips which are far from vegan because I don’t mess around with chocolate.  The great thing about this recipe is that it didn’t turn out to be very expensive, except for the nut butter which can be substituted with oil if you’re on a budget.  The following ingredients are pictured below: brown sugar, oats, chick peas, chocolate chips, nut butter, non-dairy milk, salt, vanilla extract and baking soda.      As a side note, I learned a little something during the making of this recipe.  Apparently it’s important to use a food processor not a blender.  After looking the differences between the two, it turns out a food processor should be used for mixing solid foods whereas blenders are meant for liquid foods.  Unfortunately that doesn’t change the fact that I do... [More]

      Working for University Recreation (UREC) is a broad description, which can include being a challenge facilitator, fitness instructor or being involved in UREC marketing.       Senior Reilly Costello works in another area of UREC as an Intramural/Sport Club Supervisor.  Reilly’s work with UREC takes him to different places on campus outside of the Student Recreation Center.  Intramural games can even happen in Martin Stadium!  Some of Reilly’s responsibilities are different than you’d expect, while others make sense based on his title.  “I am the first aid responder in emergency situations and facilitate games and sport club events so everything runs smoothly,” Reilly said.  He also trains officials and helps them throughout the season.       He’s in his third year of working for UREC and credits his older cousin for his employment with UREC.  “My cousin did this job when she was at WSU in the early 2000’s,” Reilly said.  Although that was just how he knew about the position.        Reilly explained that his reasoning for working with UREC was due to the organization’s dedication to help patrons live a healthy lifestyle.  “I specifically like my job because it lets college students continue competitive sports,” Reilly said.  Meeting and working with people while they’re having fun with sports is another good take away from working with UREC.       “I think it’s one of the cooler places on campus to work and the people you meet and work with are interested in wellbeing and the wellbeing of other people,” Reilly said.  For Reilly, a health-oriented person before working for UREC, it’s a nice to work in that kind of environment.       Working for UREC is even helping him with his future endeavors.  When I asked if w... [More]

There are so many aspects of what the Student Recreation Center (SRC) does we thought it would be fun to interview people from different areas of University Recreation (UREC). Kelsey Platt is a Weight Room attendant and she was able to give a little insight into what her job is and how it changes her perspective on health. 1. What is the most challenging part of your job? The most challenging part of my job is being able to keep myself busy completing my tasks while also being available and helpful to the patrons. 2. What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job as a weight room supervisor is witnessing people work toward and achieve their fitness goals. Not only am I proud to go to a school where so many people are making healthy choices, but I am inspired every day to make good choices for myself to better my wellbeing as a whole.  3. Why do you care about what you do? I care about what I do because I enjoy being a part of something bigger. One of my life goals is to strive to be the healthiest individual I can be and I feel like working in the weight room gives me that motivation. Plus, I meet a lot of great people all the time! 4. Do you have any interesting stories from the weight room? An interesting weight room story... I would have to say that I have been asked out a couple of times which is pretty funny. 5. How do you incorporate fitness into your lifestyle? I incorporate fitness into my life by eating a balanced diet and exercising at least four days a week. I am also studying kinesiology so I get a little bit of knowledge on fitness every day! 6. Do you lift weights? I do lift weights. I believe everyone should incorporate resistance and strength training into their workouts, especially women! It helps build and maintain strong bones on top of the obvious benefits such as increased self-efficacy, body image and overall wellbeing. 7. What advice do you have for those who might work in the weight room after you? The adv... [More]

Walking past a fitness class always pumps me up because blasting through the doors is the best mix of exhilarating music pumping out the speakers.  I’ve always wondered how the fitness instructors construct their playlists, are they born musically inclined?  Or are they practiced at creating a wonderful workout environment?  I took to the hallways to find a class that sounded inspiring. It didn’t take long until I heard a playlist I wanted to know more about, it came from a cycling class taught by Cairistiona (Cairisti) Flatley, pictured below. Cairisti joined UREC in July and is currently teaching cycling and Pink Gloves Boxing.  She has been a group fitness instructor for 4 years!  When I asked about her playlist she became very excited, “I believe music is one of the most vital elements for a successful group fitness class,” Cairisti said.  She went on to mention the importance of finding music that moves you while you’re working out. Cairisti said she’s eclectic when it comes time to make a playlist for her fitness class.  “I like to choose some current pop songs, some oldies, some rock, and some of my personal favorites; anything that I think will get people excited and motivated,” Cairisti said.  By doing this she feels there’s a little something for everyone. Preparation is the key to success when it comes to many things in life, and crafting a playlist isn’t any different.  “It takes me at least an hour to design a cycling class and make a playlist,” Cairisti said.  Below is a private playlist she provided me to share with you!  Work songs: Easy Love- MSTRKRFTIf I Was You (OMG)- Far East MovementHere it Goes Again- OK GoSeven Nation Army- The White StripesPause- PitbullYou Make My Dreams Come True- Hall & OatesLonely Boy- The Black KeysRockstar (Jason Nevins Remix)- N*E*R*DHello- Martin Solveig & DragonetteBlackout- Breathe ... [More]