Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Mauff at Jacob.Mauff@Colorado.edu
The sun is out, casting a beautiful view of the Flatirons. A deep blue color fills the sky all around. It looks like a wonderful day outside.
But it’s not.
It’s a chilly 37 degrees out. The weather won’t get any warmer today. Chilly temps like these can create problems for people who like to get out and exercise. Luckily, for the students in Boulder, the University of Colorado has an answer: the Rec Center.
Anticipating the upcoming semester, the Rec Center recently held their annual spring kickoff week. The center offered all fitness classes for free. It allows those looking to keep up with their New Year’s resolutions a chance to see what the Rec has to offer.
“The first week is crazy,” employee Hayley Anklam said. “On Monday we had a line of people out the door buying lockers.”
Alongside specialized workout classes, like Zumba, pilates, yoga and others, the Rec offers a range of different options to help students stay in shape. Students have free reign over the basketball and racquetball courts, a swimming pool, an indoor soccer field, a rock climbing area and an ice rink.
“It’s pretty big,” said student Derrick Do. “There’s a lot of stuff to do in here.”
Out of all the things to do, the most packed is the weight room.
“One of my guy friends told me that people were touching each other at one point,” Anklam said. “People are always waiting on different machines to use.”
While there are a variety of machines, the weight room’s main attraction is the assortment of free weights. An entire wall is dedicated to dumbbells of varying sizes, all adorned by a CU logo. There are also many places to do each type of bench press and a multitude of squat racks.
If weightlifting isn’t your forte, there’s still a lot to do. Many types of cardio equipment are dispersed around the Rec; these machines are found just about anywhere on the second or third floors.
The pool gives those who like to swim the opportunity to do so. Colorado isn’t teeming with beaches, especially in the winter. It also gives some people who normally wouldn’t be able to exercise the chance to get their heart rate up.
“I just came here to swim,” student Phoebe Tengdin said. “It’s nice. It’s the only thing I can do right now, exercise wise.”
The Rec Center has something that can appeal to all students, injured or healthy.
“It’s a great place to stay active,” student Olivia Wells.
The Spring kickoff week is an incentive to get people into the Rec for the rest of the semester. Starting Jan. 18, the classes will continue for a fee. It’s not too late to begin going.
The Rec Center is open 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Its Friday hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., while its Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. On Sunday, it opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m.
