In the last month before UTRGV wraps up for winter break, students and recreation members are welcome to lift, climb or trot their way to the finish line.
The recreation centers on both campuses are set to host their monthly fitness challenge.
University Recreation will host the Deadlift Challenge on the Edinburg campus, while the Texas Southmost College Recreation Center on the Brownsville campus will host Ladder Up.
Fitness and Wellness Coordinator Fay Kennan said the monthly fitness challenges are all open to beginners.
“So if you’ve never attempted something like this before, this would be the perfect environment because we do want to educate students when it comes to all things fitness,” Kennan said.
The Deadlift Challenge will take place on the fitness floor of the University Recreation Center.
At the end of the participants’ deadlift attempt, UREC supervisors will collect the weight they attempted, as well as their body weight. Finally, the employees will calculate the ratio for the records. The calculations will be posted in the facility for other contenders to view.
Competitors are allowed three attempts in the month; however, only one will be recorded on the leaderboard.
Exercise science graduate student and graduate fitness supervisor Nicholas Gutierrez advises the challengers to take precautions as they attempt the monthly fitness challenges.
“Of course, [you] should be hydrated for one,” Gutierrez said. “Also, [get] a good warmup [within the] hour. Usually, we would advise them before they even do it … [and] kind of work your way up.”
Kennan recommends participants get cleared by their physician before starting any fitness program or challenge, especially those with preexisting conditions.
Juan Casarez, an accounting graduate student and supervisor at University Recreation, was a member of the powerlifting team throughout high school and has continued to lift.
Casarez said since he started working at the center, he noticed patrons have fun competing in the fitness challenges, as they see the names on the leaderboards and get motivated to do better.
The Ladder Up challenge, which takes place on the upper fitness floor of the TSC Recreation Center, requires participants to begin at level 5 on the StairMaster, then increase the intensity throughout a 10-minute time span.
The Strava Virtual Turkey Trot 5K is now in effect through the Strava app for any interested student or membership holder. To register, participants must join the Strava club and record their distance through the app. All are welcome to run or walk the 5K.
Contestants in the on-site challenges can attempt their challenge any time during the operation hours of the respective facility.
The highest ranks of each challenge will receive a fitness goodie bag that includes a T-shirt, towel, hand sanitizer and a corresponding medal.
