If you were in the Siegel Center last Tuesday, then you would have seen about 40 people running through an obstacle course to test their physical abilities as others timed their performances.
You also could have watched An Ly hit the top time within 50.53 seconds, while Lilly Meyer, the top female scorer, made it in 1:07 seconds. The average time for all performers reached 1:15 seconds.
“It was fun to do the obstacle course because it gives people a chance to test their physical ability,” said Jason Pruitt, a second-year graduate urban-planning major.
Constantine Alexakos, coordinator of informal recreation and special events, said the Body Awareness Week helps students and others learn about healthy eating, body images, eating disorders and more.
“The obstacle course is just an activity I wanted to set up with Body Awareness Week to get students and others to be a part of,” Alexakos said. “We want people to be more aware of their bodies, of exercise and of the food that they take in. (They need to) know that as we get older we have to take care of ourselves both mentally and physically.”
After completing the obstacle course, Alexakos said participants received a key chain, a VCU wallet, a VCU water bottle and a can of the Red Bull energy drink. Participants with the top two scores also received a T-shirt.
“I had two representatives from Red Bull who came out and gave the participants a free can of their drink,” Alexakos said, which made the obstacle course more fun.
For the past two years, VCU has sponsored the National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day Obstacle Course for participants interested in a workout. The course offers a number of events including jump-rope, push-ups, a football throw, a free throw, a slap shot and the ladder run.
James Gary, a junior sculpture major, said the obstacle course was a good idea to get more students involved in activities.
“Honestly, this was a good way to get people in the gym and a little friendly competition among friends,” he said.
A graduate of the University of West Florida, Alexakos, who has served as the program’s coordinator the past two years, said he wants students to get involved in other activities.
“Here at the Siegel Center, we provide different fun activities including table-tennis, dodge ball, card games, a bowling league and other activities,” Alexakos said, adding that a participant does not have to be athletic to participate.
Alexakos said he conducted a healthy-food-sampling class last week at the Siegel Center, where he taught students and others about eating healthy low-fat food as well as providing examples for them to taste.
In the future, Alexakos said he and his interns plan to add events to the obstacle course.
“I want to keep the obstacle course fun and competitive each year,” he said.