The canopy of trees and winding paths may make running along the Red Cedar River sound ideal but with a nickname like the “rape trail” it’s no surprise that MSU girls don’t want to venture down the river path by themselves.
Exercising is supposed to be something we do for ourselves, to better our lives and our health. A good workout should be relaxing to the mind while challenging to the body. When we can’t feel safe or confident it takes a toll on our performance and our fortitude.
One of the biggest obstacles preventing girls from working out is insecurity: insecurities in their surroundings as well as insecurities with themselves.
Girls don’t want to run along the trail by themselves because they’re scared, they don’t want to run down campus streets because they’re crowded and filled with bikers swerving in and out of every crack within the masses of students going to class.
So where can a girl go for a safe comfortable workout? The IMS? The IM facilities on campus have some of the greatest and newest work out equipment around, but with that equipment comes all the campus jocks. Whether it’s real or just in the minds of girls, some athletes seem to exude that egotistical attitude seen in the movies that makes others feel inferior. Their confidence isn’t a bad thing but can often make us non-track stars feel like we shouldn’t even bother stepping foot in the IM.
Saying we don’t care what others think of us as we workout is easy but actually feeling that way proves to be a bit more difficult. Having someone by your side while working out allows you to feel like you’re not alone in tackling the elliptical, and if you do something embarrassing you have someone to laugh it off with. A motivating playlist does just that, gets the positive thoughts flowing and increases self-esteem. (Number One by Nelly often does the trick for me.)
For those who still want to avoid the campus workout facilities, there are a number of local and at home options to working out.
Yoga State (515 East Grand River) has a variety of classes for beginners and special rates for MSU students. There are also a number of at-home-workout DVDs that anyone can do in their living room. Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred is a personal favorite of mine. If you don’t want to spend the extra buck on a DVD you’re not sure you’ll enjoy, Seventeen Magazine provides online workout videos that anyone can access. http://www.seventeen.com/video/?c=HealthandFitness
As important as it is to have options for a great workout, it is also important to have confidence in yourself. It’s less than likely that the guy (or girl) on the treadmill next to you is judging you; the only thing on his mind is probably his workout.