Sixty-minute program is suitable for all ages and fitness levels and offers mixture of running and exercise
It’s Saturday morning at Oregon Ridge Park and Nick Shultz, Executive Director of Red Brook Health and Wellness Center is looking at his watch, which reads 7:50 am. The sun has risen above the tree line at the Park overlooking Hunt Valley and Cockeysville, dew has not yet evaporated from the grass, the temperature is about 70 degrees and in approximately ten minutes, Nick and his brother Steve will lead a group of thirty to forty people in a spirited workout consisting of hill sprints, strength training, and other functional exercises. But, first, as he awaits for a few more people to arrive, he is reminding everyone that has already gathered to hydrate.
“The comradery and battling the Saturday workout together is what attracts a consistent turnout week-in and week-out,” explained Shultz, who manages the day-to-day activities for Red Brook Health, a full-service facility located at 400 Red Brook Boulevard in Owings Mills. “Participants know they will receive an organized and effective workout that they can participate in at their own pace. The outside venue is a serene setting that is both motivating and energizing. And no one in our group judges anyone else. My brother, Kurtis, started it over 15 years ago and we’ve carried on the tradition of “The Hill”. The program is just a great way to mix things up a bit and a fantastic way to kick-off a weekend of exercising. I guess it does not hurt that this has always been free,” he added.
After an initial mobility and activation circuit, all activities performed under the white-canopied amphitheater overlooking the main hill at Oregon Ridge Park, Shultz directs the gathering to engage in short sprints up the incline, followed by a steady walk down to the initial starting point. This continues for approximately fifteen minutes, which includes water breaks. From there, the group is divided into three sub-groups which perform a variety of exercise routines including pull-ups on the nearby jungle gym, more running up the hill and body weight exercises under the amphitheater.
“Our Saturday mornings are as much social as exercise-driven,” Shultz said. “A few people have participated with us since we started over fifteen years ago, and many attendees regularly train at our fitness center in Owings Mills. This is a great change-of-pace workout and opportunity to catch up with like-minded people once a week,” he added.
“The Hill” workouts continue most Saturday mornings, from 8 – 9 am, through the end of October. For additional information, call 443.394.7361 or visit www.RedBrookHealth.com
Red Brook Health and Wellness Center, a full-service facility featuring more than 100 different pieces of cardiovascular and strength equipment, focuses on improving the overall strength, wellness and mental attitude of its members. The Health & Wellness Center is located at 400 Red Brook Boulevard in Owings Mills, within the Red Brook Corporate Center. Its motto is “we change lives – not just numbers on a scale.”
Red Brook Health and Wellness Center is owned and managed by David S. Brown Enterprises, Ltd.
