FORT RUCKER, Ala. (March 28, 2014) -- Finding a time to get a work out in can be challenging, especially in military life, but Fort Rucker's fitness centers are making it easier for people to find a way to work it into their schedule.
Fortenberry-Colton Physical Fitness Center's 2014 Spring Boot Camp runs April 7 to May 16, and this year's Boot Camp is switching it up by providing an evening class to better serve people on the installation, said Kristina Rach, fitness specialist and certified personal trainer.
The six-week program features two timeframes, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m., and participants will meet five days a week to incorporate five different elements of fitness for each day, said the fitness specialist.
"We've had a lot of people tell us that the (early morning) classes were too early for them, and that they had to be at work during the second session, so we wanted to switch things around, and give them no excuse not to come and work out," said Rach.
The activities and exercises will for the most part remain the same as previous sessions, but changes are made and other workouts are added to give "repeat offenders" something to work toward.
"We'll add and change up some things, and we will try to add a few things each boot camp because we do get repeaters, so we want to try and make it a little more intense for them," said the fitness specialist.
Each day will consist of a different element: endurance day, which could involve running or any exercise for an extended period of time; field day, which will involve functional training; game day, which will involve some sort of competitive sports activity; intensity classes, which will incorporate plyometrics-type exercises; and information sessions that include workout journals and nutritional counseling.
Another thing that will most noticeably change is the weather, and Rach said people should dress appropriately for the warmer days.
"People will sweat a little bit more and they'll need to make sure to remain hydrated throughout the workouts," she said. "The mornings won't be as cold, so people should dress in layers that they can take off if they want to, and sunscreen is also a big thing that people should bring during both the morning and evening classes."
Rach also said that people should bring plenty of water and stay away from sports drinks, energy drinks and coffee, especially during the warmer weather.
Cost of registration is $100 -- $30 due at signup and the rest due on the first day -- and includes weekly consultations to keep track of progress, a T-shirt, as well as access to all group fitness classes for the duration of the program, which Rach said people need to take full advantage of.
"You can come in and do this for an hour a day, but if you don't go home, and eat properly and take advantage of the fact that we're offering six weeks of free classes, then you might not reach the goals and see the gains that you want," she said. "This is really for you, it's not for us."
Boot Camp also utilizes facilities unique to the installation, such as the NCO Academy obstacle course, and the many trails found on Fort Rucker, including Parcours Trail, the Beaver Lake trails and the trails found at the Fort Rucker Riding Stables, depending on where the workouts will take place that week, she added.
"Most of the activities will be performed on location during those weeks and we will use whatever is available at the sites to perform the exercises," said the fitness specialist.
The program doesn't use traditional weights and fitness machines in order to get results, but utilizes objects found at the locations to perform certain activities, such as sand bags or bales of hay, which Rach said provides a nontraditional way to work out and a total-body workout.
Because of the intensity of some of the workouts throughout the program, Rach suggests that people who are interested have some sort of fitness background before signing up, but if they are highly motivated, then the program might be right up their alley.
"Boot Camp is a commitment and people should know that before jumping into it," she said. "You're going to get out of it what you put in, so if you come in just for a one-hour session and leave, you're going to get the minimum results out of the program.
"It is motivational and inspiring to see people transform and change throughout the program," said Rach "I don't like the word can't -- you're unable to or you choose not to."
For more information or to sign up, call 255-3794.
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