Finding creative ways to stay fit

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Fredrick Smith, the S4 non-commissioned officer in charge with the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and a Box Springs, Ga., native, sprints across an open field using a “run-n-chute,” which adds resistance while running.  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

09.05.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Angiene Hamilton 

4th Sustainment Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — While deployed, the standard means of getting a good cardiovascular workout can be limited. To stay physically fit, some hit the treadmill or go to spin class, while others choose to pound the pavement by running outdoors. However, some soldiers of the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, have found some interesting ways to get a good workout.

Piles of dirt sit all over COB Adder that some soldiers may overlook. However, a group of STB soldiers use them as their own personal rock-climbing wall and workout area, which puts an interesting twist on their normal workout routine.

“Most people just see a pile of dirt, but it serves as a great source of exercise,” said Staff Sgt. Gabriel Hamilton, a property book non-commissioned officer with the 4th Sust. Bde. and a Wichita, Kan., native. “You get a high-intensity workout from running towards the hill, maneuvering up the hill and then running down the side and back around to start the process all over again. It’s all nonstop, so you work up a good sweat.”

“Sometimes we do normal exercises such as sprints, but we incorporate a ‘run-n-chute’ which gives added resistance while running,” he added.

While the soldiers enjoy the variety of workout equipment and exercise classes offered on COB Adder, they also wanted to get out into the elements and get a workout doing something a little more interesting.

“Working out in the gym gets boring after a while,” said Sgt. 1st Class Fredrick Smith, the S4 non-commissioned officer in charge with the STB and a Box Springs, Ga., native. “I would rather be outside with this type of workout; doing something a little different each day, doing [what we] call the ‘Fit Nation’ workout.”

Physical changes can be seen on all the soldiers who have been taking part in the irregular exercise routine, and they expect the changes to continue as they incorporate new and interesting exercises to their fitness program.

“I’ve lost about 38 pounds since deploying to Adder,” Smith said. “I run an average of 36 miles each week. I also get out there with my counterparts to rock climb on the dirt pile on the south side, run sprints with the ‘run-n-chute’ and other various workouts that we incorporate each week from the things we find lying around the base.”

Smith added that as long as he and the other STB soldiers continue to work up a good sweat while keeping the workout routine fun and exciting, they will continue to come out each day.

• Date Taken: 09.05.2011
• Date Posted: 09.25.2011 02:21
• Story ID: 77544
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ