Sports
WORK OUTDOORS
As the summer heats up, here are a few ways to stay in shape and enjoy the fresh air.
Who really wants to be cramped up in a sweaty, smelly gym when the sky is blue and the sun is shining bright? Check out some scenic workouts that will bring your sports club to the great outdoors.
—Alexandra Calamari
OUTRUN THE TREADMILL:
Get all the health benefits without the risk of flying off the conveyor belt
HIKE THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL • ATLANTA
Arguably the most famous hike in the US, the trail spans from Maine to Georgia. Try the section that begins about 75 miles north of Atlanta, where you’ll find rugged wilderness hiking through the Chattahoochee National Forest. www.appalachiantrail.org
JOG THROUGH CENTRAL PARK • NEW YORK
Run the six-mile outer loop, zip around the 1.58-mile Reservoir Running Track or make your own trail at this New York City haven. www.centralparknyc.org
MOVE THE STATIONARY BIKE:
These paths display some of the country’s most picturesque landscapes.
BIKE THE MINUTE MAN TRAIL • BOSTON
Journey down the most traveled bikeway in the US, spanning from Cambridge all the way to Bedford, passing several historic battlefields of the American Revolution. www.minutemanbikeway.org
BIKE THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE TO TIBURON • SAN FRANCISCO
Journey over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, through quaint Sausalito and give a hug to a towering redwood, before ferrying home. www.goldengatebridge.org
SINK THE ROWING MACHINE:
Get a great upper-body workout while absorbing some rays—and a refreshing swim is only a capsize away.
RIVER RAFT THE NANTAHALA • CHARLOTTE, NC
Enjoy the thrill of rafting 8.5 miles of rapids, passing through the stunning Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains. www.noc.com
CANOE BLACKWATER RIVER • PENSACOLA, FL
This aptly named river runs 31-miles through a dense canopy of cedar, maple and cypress trees. www.pensacola.com
SPORTING EVENT CALENDAR
JULY 11
THE 15TH ANNUAL
ESPY AWARDS
Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles
The Oscars of the sporting world have arrived, but instead of Ellen DeGeneres, the Cavaliers’ All-Star LeBron James and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will entertain the crowd in between these “fan-choice” awards. The ESPY’s will air on ESPN July 15 at 9pm EST.
JULY 16-21
AT&T GREATER JACKSONVILLE
KINGFISH TOURNAMENT
Sisters Creek Park, Jacksonville
For the contestants in this professional tournament, reeling in a fish “THIS BIG” can mean earning up to $133,000 in prizes. This year’s competition will divide anglers into two separate divisions based on the boat’s all-over length, giving smaller boats a fair shot at victory.
JULY 29
ALLSTATE 400
AT THE BRICKYARD
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianpolis
We’ll see if Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick is “in good hands” at the 2007 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, where he’ll try to pull a rare double victory on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Dale Jarrett in 1996 and Jimmie Johnson in 2006 are the only drivers ever to score such a double win.