Circuit City

Why boot camp? I’ve always worked out, but I was looking to do something different. I knew [Adventure Boot Camp trainer] Maureen Corristan from church, and she helped me change my routine. It’s more functional fitness, as opposed to working out at a gym and sitting at a machine with one range of motion. With boot camp, no two workouts are alike.

How often do you train? Five days a week—Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are the regular boot camps, and Tuesday/Thursday we do a boxing boot camp.

Describe a typical workout. We alternate upper body, lower body, core and cardio. We may have six exercises in a circuit, and go through that four times. We use dumbbells, kettle bells, and Maureen’s always looking out for the next fitness thing to incorporate. It’s similar with the boxing boot camp, but we incorporate punches—uppercuts, jabs, power punches. If there’s anyone you’re really angry with, you can imagine their face on the bag and then punch the crap out of it.

Who attends? All kinds. Probably the youngest we’ve had was a high school girl. Probably the oldest has to be close to 75. She loves the boxing.

Benefits? I feel great. I have more energy. I work out at the 5:45 a.m. class. I’m really not a morning person, but it’s great for me to get it over with, have the day ahead of me. Any group you belong to, you form bonds with people, and that makes you more accountable and makes it more fun to work out.

Goal? Just to be as fit as I can be as I grow older.

Advice? Try it. A lot of people are intimidated by the phrase “boot camp.” But you’re not competing with anyone else, everything is timed, and you can improve at your own pace.