If you are on social media or if you just drive through town you will see that sports—both organized and unorganized— and physical fitness is not taking the summer off. If you drive by the track at the football field there is almost always someone walking and sometimes even running (ha).
We do have sidewalks and if you drive down Murray Street Monday through Saturday you will see the Blonde (aka, my wife Jennifer) walking Captain—the world’s greatest Rough Collie— getting in her three or so miles.
The football/soccer field tends to be busy, especially on Sundays where it looks like there are what we used to call “pick up” soccer games. Reminds me a lot of when we played “sandlot” baseball as a kid. We used old paper cups we found or someone’s baseball glove for bases.
I see the high school batting cage gets a good workout and so does the baseball/softball field. It looks like a lot of dads with their kids. It's great to see families taking advantage of the facilities our school has to offer.
There seems to be a resurgence in tennis happening at Veterans Park. My friend Rey Mata and I have tried to wear the courts out but they are still holding up.
I’m not sure how many know there is a gravel walking trail around Veterans Park—something to do while the kids are playing on the playscape or swinging. Of course, our city pool is located in the park and it is open to the public on a regular basis, plus it has swim teams for the kids. Swimming is such a great sport that you can do most of your life because sooner or later you have to hang up your cleats but you can wear the Speedo and get in the water for a long time.
I try to play golf on a regular basis and the Rockdale Country Club has a Wednesday scramble that’s popular. The club feeds you dinner at the tournament and you can’t beat golf and free groceries. I even hear Homer Mowdy will cook you a steak on certain Wednesday nights if you bring him one after your golf game. This nine-hole course is managed well and is in great shape right now.
Of course our RISD coaches are working hard with our student athletes in the gym, on the fields and in the weight room.
I run five or six miles a day and would love to start a run club, if you have interest HMU at 972-9214221.
While it looks like we are getting in shape (and we are), this is also about the quality of life our community offers. We have people, places and things community members/ entire families can do to get out and enjoy life in the Rock while maintaining their physical health.
No doubt we understand how important regular exercise is. It helps with chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers. It helps us maintain a healthy weight, it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, it makes our bones stronger, along with our joints and muscles.
Regular exercise can also improve mental health. Working out releases endorphins and serotonin which are chemicals that help you feel good, more relaxed, sleep better. This can help people suffering from anxiety and depression.
All of this can boost your energy levels by improving your cardiovascular system.
Who doesn’t want their city to be a healthy one? So what’s stopping you from finding something to do that allows you to enjoy this great community we live in while getting out and getting in shape?
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.