By Lina Ament

Staff Intern

It’s time to lace up the tennis shoes and grab an iPod because the sun is out and so are people looking to get fit this summer.

Wintertime in Michigan can be harsh and many people use indoor gyms and workout facilities to stay in shape. However, when snow melts away, many choose to hit the outdoors for a change of scenery.

Exercising outdoors has many positive effects. When you are outside, you can enjoy the sun and experience nature.

For many, the summertime includes softball leagues, tennis matches and beach volleyball as a means of getting in shape. Others prefer to utilize the parks in our area.

The municipal park in downtown Rochester is an excellent spot to get in shape. Its winding paths and hills line a tranquil creek that gives a refreshing vibe.

The Paint Creek Trail is a feature that is great for hiking, jogging or biking. What used to be a railroad is now a smooth dirt path that starts in downtown Rochester and goes all the way to Lake Orion. Whether it’s walking the dog or pushing a stroller, people are doing whatever they can to get outside and in shape.

Stony Creek is also an ideal location for exercise. The park stretches approximately six miles and contains paths for biking, jogging and walking.

An asset unique to Stony Creek is its fitness trail. The trail stretches about two miles and is set for you to walk, jog, run and sprint.

Along the fitness trail are stops, which indicate specific workouts such as stretching and workouts for your legs, arms and abdomen. The stops have a level for regular fitness and a level for advanced methods for those training for sports and marathons.

Races of many different distances are held all over the state and many people spend their summer training for and participating in these races.

If there isn’t time to make it out to a park, there are Web sites available like www.mapmyrun.com where runners and walkers can map their own running routes in their area.

Kristen Majeske, a student at OU, is among the many who are training for the Brooksie Way Half Marathon hosted by OU on Oct. 5. Majeske said she works out regularly in the winter, but now that summer has arrived, she is taking it up a notch.

“I plan to do a 20-week program,” Majeske said. “It will start out small and get progressive over time. Right now I can run three miles. The marathon is 13 miles so that is my goal.”

To find registration information for half marathons and other races happening this summer in Michigan, visit www.halfmarathons.net or www.runmichigan.net.