The “Bread and Butter” of My Fitness Experience
Distance: 6 - 8 miles (60 - 90 minutes) Jeremy’s energy expenditure (resistance + run): 1,200 -2000 calories
Jeremy Watts, imm—May 9, 2020
Overpass at Marsh Chapel towards Fenway, Boston.
One of my daily routines is to think of three things that I am truly and sincerely grateful for. One of those is just being able to wake up to a new day, rain or shine, and experience life. Outdoor exercise is a great tool that I use to stay physically fit, but also to create ideas from stimulating experiences and live through a little bit of PURPOSE, people! I wanted to begin with what is one of my favorite and challenging exercise routines that includes approximately six miles of running and two stations for body-weight strength training on Memorial and Storrow Drive in Boston.
The run begins in Allston at Charles River Reservation IV, where the running path hugs the Charles River and windy Storrow Drive in a northerly direction. Once you pass under Eliot Bridge the direction changes south and easterly. I generally prefer the Allston side of the river. There is steady elevation change and I find value in pushing up a hill at a steady pace with a nice playlist, although running along the Harvard side is a solid route also. Perks to either route is that both have an out-door gym area, described shortly! The route may be interrupted with a couple of bridge intersections but crossing is usually safe and easy. Which day, season, and temperature it is usually dictates the foot and bike traffic but regardless the path has always been unimpeded, although bypassing a few Canadian Geese from time to time is normal. This makes it easy to focus on the route. If you cross the river and run along Memorial Drive you will pass Magazine Beach Outdoor gym, which consists of various body weight stationary equipment such as parallel/pull-up bars, a dip station, electric-free ellipticals, and abdominal and hip flexor benches. So you can keep your heart rate increased with high intensity body-weight exercises.
Esplanade Workout Station near Boston University.
Continuing, you can run south, crossing the Boston University Bridge and then east along the bike path towards Fenway. You are more than 2 miles into the run and there is a lengthy straight stretch where I like to pick up the pace before reaching Esplanade workout station, the second outdoor gym area. Most of the orthodox equipment found at the first gym is located here with additions for balance and stretching. I take a water break and organize myself for pull-ups and other body-weight workouts, and I will work to fatigue. The most difficult portion of my training routine is the straight run back following the resistance training. My strategy is to maintain a steady pace, while focusing on breathing and using my music as a stimulant to keep this pace. This route calculates to burning in between 1200 and 1800 calories, depending on your weight, intensity level of the run and resistance exercise, and length of time in active engagement at each outdoor exercise station. This route is a great way to experience Storrow Drive, the Charles River, and this area of Boston. After cooling down I recommend spending the day rehydrating and filling your body with a nice, big plant-based meal filled with protein to promote the building of fat-free mass and higher metabolism!