Breaking a Sweat
Staying Fit in the North State…
Let’s face it, the North State is a great place to work up a sweat – and we don’t mean because of the more-than-hot summers. No, the area we know and love is a great place to work out, whether that takes you out into the mountains, along the many miles of trails ribboning Redding and beyond, or hitting a gym, yoga or fitness club.
The most accessible and cheapest way to stay fit, of course, is out in nature, and the North State has it in spades. Runners can grind along trails near and far, from paved roads to dirt tracks and everything in between. A few of the more established routes have to include the Sacramento River Trail around the Sundial Bridge and leading to the Diestelhorst Bridge and ribbon bridge near the Keswick Dam. After all, running across a world-recognized landmark makes the miles go down a little easier.
There are also great trails at Lema Ranch on the east side of town as well as the Clover Creek Preserve. SWEAT Running Club, the one that helps put on the annual Turkey Trot, has been promoting running in the community since 1975 and has hosted more than 200 events. A fun-loving group which gathers to race, train and host fun runs throughout the year also is active in raising money for scholarships for local high school seniors who participate in prep athletics and plan to continue while in college. You can find information about them at www.sweatrc.com.
The same trails, paths and roads that are open to runners are also a great place for those who prefer a slower pace. Walking trails are dotted day and night with folks out enjoying the sunshine, walking the dog or just looking to stay active.
Whether you’re moving fast or slow, the road to fitness is also shared by the bikers – from road bikes to mountain bikes. The Shasta Wheelmen is open to those 18 and older with a small membership fee. The Wheelmen ride together on scheduled sojourns throughout the North State, promoting safe riding and the love of two wheels. Find them at www.shastawheelmen.org.
If you want to get off the road and find some sick single-track away from the concrete jungle, the area is home to hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails for beginner and expert alike. Redding is on the map as a destination for mountain biking, and the Redding Trail Alliance and the Redding Mountain Biking Club are great resources to find the perfect place to ride.
The Redding Trail Alliance has been around for nearly seven years and its mission is to “create high quality trail experiences but advocating for building and maintaining trails which are progressive, diverse, and promote community. The Redding Mountain Biking Club – www.mtbproject.com – has a great trove of trails to explore before you ride.
If getting away from it all on foot is more your speed, you’re in luck because there are so many trails around Redding and surrounding communities that you could probably not do the same hike twice in a year. Visit Redding has a great list of hiking trails, and among the faves have to be Chemise Peak, which rises with 360-degree views of the North State and Shasta Dam, as well as many of the waterfall trails at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
For those who want to hit the gym before or after work to stay fit for a more aggressive workout on the weekends, there are fitness centers, gyms, barre studios, yoga centers and Pilates studios for anyone. The Shasta Family YMCA is perhaps the biggest gym in the region and offers an array of amenities from two swim pools, to basketball to weights and a variety of classes.
But whatever you like to do to stay fit, one thing’s for certain – you can find it in the North State. Now, go work out.
