COOL TRAILS LESS TRAVELED

FITNESS CIRCUIT

There are many excellent trails located at the USAF Academy that although available to the public are not well traveled. My favorites are the Falcon Trail, and the Fitness Circuit. There are also trailheads for Eagle Peak, and Stanley Canyon.

I especially like the Fitness Circuit trail (actually a dirt road) that provides moderate hill work, nice scenery and a good workout. You can combine your run or hike with all or just a few of the Fitness Stations along the way that include sit ups, chin ups, push ups, hand walk, leg stretch and step ups. Each station will give you the number of repetitions to qualify for "Starting", "Sporting" or "Championship" Par. It will also indicate the benefits of each exercise. In addition, at the turn around point you will come upon a track that will enable you to pick up your pace if you choose to do so. An added bonus is the wild life, primarily deer that appear very nonchalant about your presence.

The trail head I use is just down the road from the front of the Fitness Center located in the Community Center area and across from the Prep School. You can park at the end of the parking lot and walk to the end of the road. You will see two athletic fields to your left. Proceed across a field until you hit the wood line. There you will see a large sign prohibiting unauthorized vehicles and the start of blue signs with white arrows. The downside is the signs are pointing in the direction from which you have just come; the upside is that they will point in the right direction upon your return. Take the first right if you choose to take the longer trail.

If you start at the trailhead I indicated it will be 1.45 miles to the track. You can add to your mileage with each lap of the track. On the return trip you will come to an intersection that has the "Circle Body" station. You can take the short trail back to the starting point or continue back the way you had come.

Although the Prep School uses the Fitness Circuit I have rarely seen more than one or two people on the trail during the six years I have been running it.

I recommend this trail particularly for anyone wishing to start an exercise or fitness program. The key to any exercise or fitness program is to make it enjoyable so you are more apt to want to continue. I believe you will find that although a treadmill will help in this regard, being out in nature, feeling the cool air, seeing the wild life, and watching the Academy gliders flying overhead makes for an enjoyable experience. You can mark your progress at the Fitness Stations and keep a check on your pace at the same time.

Developing a menu of trails that differ in distance and difficulty as well as scenery will provide a variety that you can choose from depending on the available time you have on any one day and/or your desire for an added challenge.