Every January a large percentage of the population makes a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, get in shape, join the gym, or some similar commitment. And every year most of us break those commitments within a few weeks, or at most a few months (most of us in Louisiana don’t last that long). There are many reasons for it: We’re too busy, too tired, or too broke. Or maybe you’re one of those people that goes to the gym regularly and you’re in pretty good shape, but you’re bored with your workouts and ready for something different, something more. No matter which group you fall into, you should know that it doesn’t have to be this way. An adventure awaits you. It’s called the great outdoors and it is infinitely more exciting and interesting than 30 minutes on a cardio machine.

 

 Patricia Fontova is a perfect example. “I’ve never been an outdoors person”, Fontova said. But after recovering from a serious illness in 1997, she decided she needed more physical activity. She discovered she liked canoeing, but didn’t have anyone to paddle with. After a little searching, she discovered the Bayou Haystackers Paddling Club and now serves as a board member for the club. The club has been around for 36 years and has 200+ members from Lafayette to southern Mississippi, with many from the Northshore area. The club organizes a couple of paddling trips each month on some of the beautiful creeks and rivers in southern Louisiana and Mississippi and even does a few open water paddles to places like Horn Island, MS in sea kayaks. You don’t have to be an expert paddler. Many of the trips are easy and are planned on waterways where you can rent a boat from an outfitter if you don’t have one of your own. “We have a whole group of new people since Katrina … people that are new to the area or that want to try something new. Get in touch with us and join us on a trip”, said Fontova.

 

 Or take Janis Hazlett for an example. Janis is 67 years old and rides every weekend with the Crescent City Cyclists Bicycle Touring Club. “I’ve always had a bicycle, but just rode it occasionally for recreation or with the kids”, said Hazlett. But one day in 1989 she read an article in the Times-Picayune about the Jambalaya Tour that is organized by the Baton Rouge Bike Club. She decided on a lark to check it out and has been hooked on cycling ever since. “The people in the cycling community are absolutely incredible, wonderful people from very diverse backgrounds”, said Hazlett. Just before Hurricane Katrina, Hazlett rode the Lewis & Clark Trail from Astonia, Oregon to Missoula, Montana, a distance of 600-700 miles. This past year she took a “Border Raiders” trip where she hit four states in eight days and rode approximately 500 miles. “It’s my goal to say I’ve ridden in every state”, said Hazlett.    She said what she loved about cycling with a group when she first started was the fact that other riders helped her learn the ropes and motivated her and that the ride leader will not leave until every single rider is in and accounted for. Hazlett’s advice for beginners: “Just go out and start getting some mileage on the Tammany Trace, then join us for a ride. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, the training you get with this group is phenomenal”, she said. 

 

 Perhaps you’re already kicking butt in spin class at the gym and want to take it to the next level. If you’re competitive, check out the New Orleans Bicycle Club. The group was founded in 1968 and their emphasis is on competitive bicycle racing. The club promotes many competitive races and events during the year, including the popular Tour de Louisiane, a three-stage race which will be held this year on June 13-14 in Abita Springs, Covington, and Stoney Point near Franklinton. “Cycling is very popular, but the general public is just not aware of it”, said Steve Sperier, owner of The Spokesman, a professional bicycle shop in Mandeville.  

 

 Or maybe walking or running is your preferred form of exercise, but you can’t seem to keep your appointment with the treadmill. Back in the mid-1990’s Bud Weiss usually ran alone or with his buddy, Paul Bodet through the streets of Covington. There was a pathway being constructed at the time in Hubie Gallagher Park and the idea for a social running/walking club was born.   The 15^th Street Flyers’ first gathering consisted of nine people and two dogs and they are known as the original running club on the Northshore. The club has regular Tuesday night runs at 6PM at Hubie Gallagher Park, Thursday night runs at 6PM at Varsity Sports in old Mandeville, and Saturday morning runs beginning at the Mandeville Trailhead.  “It’s not unusual for 80 people to show up on Tuesday nights”, said Weiss. The club also is involved with organizing 17 races in 2009, including the “Mardi Gras Mambo”, a 2-mile run/walk being held Saturday, February 14, 2009 to benefit the Pelican Bark Park;   the “Spring Stomp”, a 5k run/walk on Saturday, March 7, 2009 benefiting the Junior League of Greater Covington; and “The Ozone Spring Run” on March 14, 2009, a 2-mile and 10k run to benefit St. Paul’s High School in Covington. 

 

 “There are at least half a dozen formal and informal running groups that I’m aware of on the Northshore”, said Ryan Green, Managing Partner of Varsity Sports, a running and fitness store in old Mandeville that sponsors the weekly Thursday evening run  beginning at the shop on Claiborne Street.   Varsity Sports is now serving as a community hub for local runners and has begun a popular program called “The V-Challenge” to kick-start people for all the spring runs. “Most people need a goal”, said Green. Nowadays, runners are setting their goals higher than ever. “People want more of a challenge these days, more bang for their buck”, said Weiss. According to Weiss the popularity of longer distance runs, triathlons, and adventure races has diluted the attractiveness of the local 5k runs in recent years. “It’s easier for race directors to entice people to half marathons and marathons due to business sponsorship and better goodies for participants”, said Weiss. But Weiss said that even though many of the 5k local runs have taken a hit in recent years, many of them are coming back because we have so many new residents on the Northshore, many displaced by Hurricane Katrina, who are looking for connections and a local running community. 

 

 If you like a real nature experience, maybe hiking is your thing. People don’t generally think of Louisiana for hiking since we have no mountains or hills, but we do have plenty of trails. “It’s limited by what we can do here without mountains, but for what we can do there is a very active community”, said Gerry Fullington, General Manager of Massey’s Professional Outfitters in Covington. For organized hikes and great trail information, meet up with The Louisiana Hiking Club.

 

 Many people like running, biking, and paddling and want to combine them into one fun event. That’s where “Adventure Racing” comes in. Adventure racing is a sport that has been steadily rising in popularity. Dave Poleto, Co-founder of Gulf Coast Adventure Racing describes it as “a cross between The Amazing Race and a scavenger hunt”. Gulf Coast Adventure Racing is in their eighth year of staging events in the Gulf Coast region and sponsors a series of six events from April through November, beginning with the Mobile Urban Adventure Race on April 18^th and culminating with the Fontainebleau Adventure Race in September and the New Orleans Urban Adventure Race in November. 

 

 “We have an amazing following with an average of 70-80 teams in each event. We’re selling out every single event we put on”, said Poleto. Teams of three participate in a race whose course is kept secret until 30 minutes prior to the start. Events include paddling, running/trekking, and mountain biking. In addition, mystery events are added to test the team’s ability to work together under pressure. “In adventure racing, just finding the finish line is part of the challenge”, said Poleto. Poleto said the sport is designed for beginner to intermediate level athletes and that the average team is just out there to have a blast. “We’re looking to get people active and show them how much fun you can have outdoors”, he said. The average race lasts three to five hours and Poleto said many participants have lost 50-60 lbs by participating. He originally got into the sport to lose weight. “I weighed 100 lbs more when I started, but I just loved the people and the camaraderie. I do it because I’m passionate about it”, said Poleto.

 

 Dalton Fetters is a passionate adventure racer and a member of “Team Bike Zone”. He started as a 5k runner, then began participating in duathlons (a combination of running and biking), and finally did his first adventure race four years ago.  “It’s a lot of fun and you can meet a lot of great people”, said Fetters. Team Bike Zone won the Gulf Coast Adventure Series last year and came in second overall in state competition. Fetters, along with his teammates Dustin Bratton and Walker Higgins, is using his passion to help others. He will be doing a charity ride April 10-15, 2009 from New Orleans to New Madrid, MO, approximately a 600 mile ride, to benefit missions for Church of the King. To donate to the cause, you can reach Fetters at dalton@groundhoglandscaping.net.   

 

 If you are an athlete whose goals are a little higher than a laid-back social run or a bike tour,  then you might want to hook up with groups like “Team in Training”, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s sports training program that trains specifically for marathons, half marathons, triathlons, 100-mile century bike rides, and hiking adventures or “Team Earthquake”, a Mandeville-based multi-sport racing group focused on triathlons, duathlons, adventure races, marathons, ultra-marathons, and 10k races.

 

 “We’re a social group for people interested in triathlons that need encouragement and motivation. You wouldn’t get out there for a run at 4:30 in the morning when it’s 28 degrees if you didn’t have other people out there waiting for you”, said Sue Boudreaux with Team Earthquake. The club currently has more than 100 active members, with about 95 percent from Mandeville and Covington. “New Orleans hasn’t had a triathlon since Katrina. We’ve seen a big influx of people training for the Ironman 70.3 New Orleans”, said Boudreaux. The event will take place Sunday, April 5^th in New Orleans with more than 2,000 athletes participating.   The club usually has a bike ride every weekend, open water swims in Lake Pontchartrain, and group runs. Boudreaux’s advice is “You have to start somewhere. Don’t be afraid to start, just get out there. Somebody will take you under their wing”. If you’re interested in triathlons, don’t miss the Crawfishman Triathlon slated for May 3, 2009 at Grand Hills Estates in Bush.

 

 So, no more excuses people! We live in a beautiful area with more resources and ways to get involved than you can possibly imagine. “Sign up for something now, commit to it, and train for it. People need that escape outdoors. My wish is for people to get inspired”, said Poleto.