By Jonathan E. Coleman
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For some, 30 minutes on a treadmill followed by 30 minutes of free weights is the perfect workout routine.
The alone time allows them to focus on their workout and frees them from distractions.
For others, an hour-long workout sounds like a lonely and tedious prospect, but the notion of exercise and activity is nonetheless desirable.
That’s the group of organizers of the Harrisburg Family YMCA hope to reach with the facility’s first-ever field day.
The event, which is being sponsored by Harrisburg Town Center and Cabarrus Family Medicine, is planned for Oct. 4 from noon to 2 p.m. at Veterans’ Park, behind Town Hall, which houses a temporary YMCA facility on its second floor.
“Fitness doesn’t have to come staring at a treadmill for 30 minutes,” said Amy Kempfer, fitness coordinator at the Harrisburg YMCA. “We want to be a complete wellness center for the community.”
Fitness should also be about having fun, said Mandie Condie, who’s helping organize the field day event. Activities will include a tug of war, egg-and-spoon race and balloon toss. Condie said she expects between 100 and 200 people to attend.
“Last year, we did a family fitness day,” Condie said. “We showcased the aerobics classes and the fitness floor because we were a new facility.”
Apart from the field day events, Kempfer said the YMCA offers other “out-of-the-box” exercise options like Tae-Kwan-Do and group exercise classes to interject fun into the workout routine.
And while said the field day is a way to introduce the community that might not know much about the YMCA to its services and activities, it’s also about fun.
“We’re going to have crafts, temporary tattoos and face painting,” Condie said. “The big thing is to continue to give us exposure. We want people to know where we are, what we do and what we’re about – to get everybody together to have fun as a family.”
The event is open to non-members, and anyone is welcome to tour the facility to learn more about the YMCA.
• Contact reporter Jonathan E. Coleman at 704-789-9105.