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Fitness Center: Renovations & rewards

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Derek VanHorn
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Base officials are challenging the community to stay healthy with 75 new pieces of exercise equipment and prizes for the folks who put it to work in coming months.

The cardio-based revamping process began with the installation of 20 treadmills dispersed between the gym's cardio room and parent & child area on Oct. 3. Elliptical machines, stair-steppers, exercise bikes and multi-dimensional Adaptive Motion Trainers are also slated to arrive by the end of the month, according to Fitness Center Director Carol Muir, 319th Force Support Squadron.

"Our biggest goal here is to first get people in the door, and then to provide them the opportunity to keep up and continuously maintain their fitness," Mrs. Muir said. "When physical training tests come around, we want Airmen to be prepared because they want to come to the gym."

Those struggling to find motivation to get in shape can now find it by taking advantage of the incentive program, which is integrity-based - meaning customers track their own accomplishments - and open to all by registering at the fitness center.

"Participants can choose between four workout programs: cardio, swim, lift and climb," said Senior Airman Amanda Bennett, 319th Force Support Squadron fitness specialist. "Each program has different goals and milestones which are rewarded upon completion."

Prizes vary from lanyards and Frisbees to long-sleeve T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts, customized to the program completed. Participants have up to one year to work toward their goals, documenting their work on tracking cards conveniently stored at the fitness center, Bennett said.

"The purpose of the incentive program is to provide a good reason and motivation to work out on a daily basis," Bennett said. "With the variety of accomplishment levels and milestones, it gives everyone an incentive to get in shape."

Like the incentive program, the fitness center's newest additions provide plenty reason to visit.

Each new piece of equipment offers a TV monitor equipped with audio, video and USB ports for your choice of personal streaming, Muir added.

Totaling just less than $400,000, this is the first wave of new exercise equipment Grand Forks has welcomed in more than five years. All additions were funded by the Air Force after reviewing requests made by the fitness center staff.

For more information contact the Base Fitness Center @701-747-3384. Facebook users can learn more about the fitness incentive program here.