From class time workouts to Firebreather competitions, this year’s weight room activity can only be described as one thing: people picking things up and putting them down. What better way to end a year of intense non-stop work than with a field trip.

The plan was to go to Old Rag Mountain, but classes were forced to change plans and go to White Oak.

Old Rag has a reputation for being a dangerous trail, although many who have hiked it claim that any potential safety issues are easily avoided if hikers give the appropriate amount of preparation. Old Rag is especially dangerous in the rain, and unfortunately for the Personal Fitness classes, it was pouring rain on the day of the trip. Campbell decided that the conditions were too dangerous for Old Rag, so he decided to change the trip to another popular trail known as White Oak.Student who didn’t attend may be regretting their choice.

“I am distraught with the terrible agony of missing out on the Personal Fitness field trip,” said junior Bill Saulino, who decided not to attend the trip.

The rain played a major factor in the field trip. What normally would have been a fairly simple hike became much more difficult as objects such as rocks became dangerously slippery. Campbell ensured that his students were in peak physical condition, allowing them to conquer the many obstacles presented by White Oak combined with rainy weather. The weather was especially unfortunate for junior Mike Kenefick, who forgot his shoes.

“I don’t know, I just forgot them,” said Kenefick.

 The sudden change of events didn’t affect how much enjoyment the students got out of the trip.

“The best aspect of the field trip was that it was different than any other hike I’ve ever been on,” said junior Sam Mueller, who was one of the students to hike White Oak. 

As anyone in Personal Fitness can attest to, Coach Brendan Campbell has more than prepared his students for such a hike. While most people know the class as “weight lifting,” athletes also perform a considerable amount of cardiovascular exercise throughout the year.

Campbell also stresses that students prevent possible injuries by stretching daily and “rolling out,” a term used by lifters who use PVC pipe and literally roll it on their sore muscles. It helps relieve tension, stop cramps, and prevent injuries that could occur otherwise.

 Workouts of the Day (WOD) are extremely challenging aspects of workouts. They generally incorporate exercises that require tremendous strength with others that require cardiovascular endurance, providing a well-rounded fitness routine.

“The WODs pushes your body to the point where your body wants to quit,” said junior Personal Fitness student Avery Corbett. “And the only way you’ll make it through it is if you have the mental discipline to continue to fight.”

 Exercises in Personal Fitness range from the typical bench press to running the “Spartan Mile” to performing handstand push-ups.

“The Spartan Mile is one of the most grueling challenges ever undertaken by any man who ever lived,” said Corbett.

 Many of those going on the field trip also participate in WS sports and have multiple years of high school athletics under their belt.

“We had to walk through rivers, climb steep walls, and there was a torrential downpour the whole time,” said Mueller. “It was awesome.”