24-hour charity boot camp

By Jonathon Brodie/London Community News / Twitter: @jonathonbrodie There was no excuses of sleeping in and missing the Sunday morning workout from RealFit co-founders Jen Smith and Warren Hodgson who stayed up all night to finish their 24-hour BOOTCAMP Marathon for Charity. In fact, the 8 a.m. Sunday (July 15) workout was their last after completing a 40-minute training session every hour starting Saturday at 8 a.m. Throughout the marathon exercise challenge, friends and workout enthusiasts joined Smith and Hodgson with some people even setting up tents and spending the night with the pair, complete with movies and a late night fire. “Some people will be watching movies, but we can’t stop,” Smith said. “That’s the goal, 24 hours of boot camp,” Hodgson added. The fitness enthusiasts instructed a variety of classes during the event ranging from kickboxing and medicine ball training to cardio and core routines. The workouts are based on the ones hosted by RealFit during its regular scheduled classes in the week. Hodgson admitted though that the sessions around the 20-hour mark would probably be a lot more relaxed. “The 5 a.m. workout will probably focus more on stretching and core exercises and meditative programs,” he said, adding the duo titled the early morning program Yawn be Gone. The special boot camp was held completely outdoors with people able to work up a sweat in the Saturday afternoon sun, feel the midnight breeze while training with a partner or even stretch every muscle as the sun began to rise Sunday. The best part of the scenery though could be the location of the boot camp, hosted at the YMCA outdoor recreation centre behind the Scouts Canada building on Windermere Road. “This property is spectacular. It goes right down to the river and then the YMCA has cut trails through the forest, so you can run through the forest and it’s gorgeous,” Hodgson said. “Probably London’s best kept workout secret is right here.” Paying tribute to the adage, “a healthy mind equals a healthy body,” all funds raised during the event go towards the Children’s Aid Society’s bursary program to help in care youth support their post-secondary education. For more information about RealFit and their regular scheduled training sessions, visit www.arealfitlife.com. Find us on Facebook: London Community News [gallery columns="4"]