The Ultimate Philly Fitness Bucket List: 25 Things You Have to Do

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Leona Phillips
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10/25/2017 The Ultimate Philly Fitness Bucket List: 25 Things You Have to Do - Philadelphia Magazine NAVIGATION The Ultimate Philly Fitness Bucket List: 25 Things You Have to Do BY EMILY LEAMAN

Fischetti for VISIT PHILADELPHIA If you live here and love to get sweaty, consider this checklist your official game plan: 25-only-in-Philly things you must do, see and experience at least once in

1 10/25/2017 The Ultimate Philly Fitness Bucket List: 25 Things You Have to Do - Philadelphia Magazine NAVIGATION The Ultimate Philly Fitness Bucket List: 25 Things You Have to Do BY EMILY LEAMAN OCTOBER 14, 2014 AT 11:45 AM Photo by M. Fischetti for VISIT PHILADELPHIA If you live here and love to get sweaty, consider this checklist your official game plan: 25-only-in-Philly things you must do, see and experience at least once in your life. 1. FINISH A TRIATHLON Because three is better than one. Bike, swim and run your way to victory at Fairmount Park s TriRock Philadelphia Triathlon. Plan it: June 20 21, PRACTICE YOGA ON THE ART MUSEUM STEPS Because savasana s better when it s for a good cause. Yoga on the Steps, which fetches thousands of yogis 1/7

2 for an hour-long class on the Art Museum steps, raises funds for Haverford-based national breast cancer organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer. We ll say om to that. Plan it: Mid May. 3. RUN WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD RUNNING CLUB Because running with friends is way more fun than running solo. One idea: the Fishtown Beer Runners. You ll refuel with a cold, well-earned brewski at the end. Plan it: Thursday at 7 p.m. (Check out other local running clubs here.) 4. RACE ON THE BEACH Because sand isn t just for sand castles it s for shredding your calves. We promise: They ll be spent and then some after the Captain Bill Gallagher 10 Mile Island Run in Sea Isle City. Plan it: August 1, TAKE 20 FITNESS CLASSES IN ONE DAY Because we couldn t not include the best fitness fest of the year on this list. Sure, we re biased (it is our marquee event, after all), but Be Well Philly Boot Camp, a day of wellness for women, is one of the most empowering, inspirational events in town. Besides, you ll sweat your brains out, all in the name of fun. (Ladies only sorry, guys.) Plan it: Early June. 6. FINALLY RUN THAT MARATHON Because the Philadelphia Marathon is the ultimate in bragging rights. Don that race shirt with swagger you ve earned it. Plan it: November 23, CHEER ON A REGATTA Because rowing is a Philly tradition. The first Schuylkill regattas on record were held in the 1830s, and today rowers from universities, high schools and local clubs maintain the tradition. There are regattas throughout the year, but pencil in the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, a decades-old event that draws teams from 125 colleges across the country and Canada. Plan it: May 8th and 9th, CLIMB LEMON HILL Because it hurts so good. Your legs and rear will be screaming at you to stop as you ascend the winding.2- mile hill from Boathouse Row to the Lemon Hill Mansion, but ignore them. The skyline view at the top is worth it. 9. DANCE, DANCE, DANCE Because when s the last time you tangoed? The citywide Philadelphia Dance Day fest, organized by the folks at Philly Dance Fitness, includes more than 20 free dance workshops from bhangra to tap to hip-hop, live performances, and an evening dance party for the ages. Plan it: Late July. 10. COMPLETE A DECATHLON Because you re more than a runner you re an athlete. If the 10 CrossFit-like challenges at the Unite Fitness Decathlon don t kick your behind, the 5K trail run afterward will. And that s entirely the point of this badass race. Plan it: Mid October. 2/7

3 11. SIGN UP FOR A BIKE RACE Because we all have an inner Lance Armstrong (you know, minus the whole doping thing). Before the pro race, the Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic opens its course to amateurs for Velothon Philadelphia, a ride on 28 miles of car-free city roads. Plan it: Early June. 12. RUN 39.3 MILES IN ONE WEEKEND Because you love a good challenge. It s not enough to run the Delaware Canal Half Marathon. Nor it is enough to run the Bucks County Marathon. You must run both, in the same weekend, to conquer the Bucky. That s almost 40 miles you game? Plan it: November 15th and 16th, RACE THROUGH PHILLY S BEST NEIGHBORHOODS Because Philly s been dying for a race like the Philly 10K. Need proof? The debut race sold out in just 70 minutes. Here s why: It s one of the few non-city-run races that don t include time on MLK Drive or the Schuylkill River Trail. It starts and ends in Passyunk Square, and the closed course hits Midtown Village, Spring Garden, Old City, Queen Village and Pennsport. It s a race through the city you actually live in. Plan it: August 30, DO A MUD RUN Because you haven t played in the mud since you were 10. Choose between a three- or six-mile course at the Philadelphia Merrell Down & Dirty Obstacle Race, and tackle challenges like mud pits, cargo climbs, water crossings and more. Warning: You will get unrecognizably dirty. Plan it: Late July. 15. SPRINT THE ROCKY STEPS Because you can t say you live in Philly without having run the Art Museum steps at least once. 16. GO FOR A HIKE Because you ve been meaning to scratch this off your list for ages. Forbidden Drive in Wissahickon Valley Park is lovely for a stroll, but if you ve been there, done that, the 50 miles of backwoods hiking trails along the park s twin ridges are just begging you to explore them. 17. PADDLE THE SCHUYLKILL Because the Schuylkill River is drop-dead gorgeous. As part of the Schuylkill River Sojourn, you ll kayak 112 miles downstream from rural Schuylkill Haven to Boathouse Row and camp along the way, with field-trip-like educational stops, three daily meals and snacks, and Instagram-worthy scenery included. Plan it: June 6th through 12th, Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia 18. RIDE YOUR BIKE ALL THE WAY TO PHOENIXVILLE 3/7

4 Because you want to see if you can. The trick to conquering the 52-mile round-trip ride along the Schuylkill River Trail from the Art Museum to Phoenixville is to stop along the way: Grab a bite in Manayunk, make a pit stop in Conshy, explore Valley Forge. It s a sightseeing expedition with a good dose of adrenaline. 19. DO A TRAIL RUN Because you re sick of running on the roads. Even better, there are eggs hidden along the wooded Sloppy Cuckoo Trail Run course in Pennypack Park, and if you find one, you could win a sweet prize. Choose between half marathon, 10K or 5K races or do all three. Plan it: Late September. 20. RIDE THE WALL Because it s a killer. Cyclists far and wide fear the nearly half-mile, 17-percent-grade hill climb on Lyceum Avenue, reverently referred to as the Manayunk Wall. Which, obviously, is why you need to crush it stat. 21. WATCH THE PENN RELAYS Because it s a classic. Next year s event marks the 120th anniversary of the international track and field meet trivia alert: It s technically called the Penn Relay Carnival that s attracted more than 100,000 spectators and 22,000 athletes for the past several years. Go on Saturday to see the best events. Plan it: April 23rd through 25th, PEDAL TO THE SHORE YES, ON A BIKE Because it s better than sitting in traffic. Bonus: The National MS Society s annual City to Shore Ride is also a very, very good cause. Plan it: Late September. 23. RUN (ALMOST) THE EXACT ROUTE THAT ROCKY DID Because someone (Phillymag.com blogger Dan McQuade) mapped the 31-mile training route montaged in Rocky II, and then another someone (ultra-marathoner Rebecca Schaefer) went ahead and turned it into an organized run. This year s Rocky 50K Fat Ass Run it s untimed, unsanctioned and just for fun should definitely be on your calendar. Plan it: December 6, RUN ACROSS THE DELAWARE RIVER Because the view is amazing on the Ben Franklin Bridge. Run it on your own across the water and back is just over a mile or try the Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge 10K, which starts in Camden, crosses the bridge, and goes back to Camden to the finish line inside Campbell s Field. Plan it: November 2, CONQUER BROAD STREET Because everybody s doing the Blue Cross Broad Street Run. Nuff said. Plan it: May 3, This article first appeared in the 2014 Be Well Philly print magazine. Like what you re reading? Stay in touch with Be Well Philly here s how: Like Be Well Philly on Facebook Follow Be Well Philly on Twitter Follow Be Well Philly on Pinterest 4/7

Stressing About Pooping Before Runs Are You Eating Enough Carbs?

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