When the Weather goes South

♦

As the weather situation here in Bloomington continues to gradually approach freezing, the outdoor activities that many students once enjoyed have now become little more than fond memories of warmer times. For many, these very memories are of physical activity, and not just merely walking to class without freezing. I’m talking about biking, running, football, Frisbee, tennis, swimming, and even the leisurely round of golf that some find time to squeeze in. All of these activities that students frequently enjoy during their first and last months on campus are seemingly lost and forgotten during the winter months, or so it seems…

Two facilities exist on campus to rediscover these activities during the winter months, but for brevity’s sake I will focus on the newest facility that many students prefer. The Student Recreational Sports Center, or SRSC, is an enormous complex that contains just about every kind of recreation area one might want. There are indoor pools, basketball, volleyball, tennis, racquetball and squash courts. Spacious workout studios designed for group sessions feature sectioned areas for everything from cardio to strength training, and there is even a one-eighth-mile indoor track.

All SRSC facilities except the tennis courts are available for student use during the regular academic year by simply presenting an IU Student ID card. Once inside, students have access to state-of-the-art fitness equipment and rental equipment. Rental equipment is available on the lower level and includes everything from pingpong paddles to volleyball nets. If there is an activity that the SRSC can accommodate, there is rental equipment available at no cost.

Those who see exercise facilities as breeding grounds for germs and other unsightly adventures can rest assured that the utmost care is taken by the SRSC staff and administration to ensure that conservative dress codes are followed and that equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after each use. But don’t get the impression that this place is all about rules. It’s truly about you and what you want to do while you’re there. And if you don’t know what you want or how to accomplish it, just ask anyone wearing a dark blue SRSC polo shirt for help. Whatever you do, don’t sit inside all winter lamenting the lost days of warm weather!

So now that you’ve proven that you have enough focus and determination to read this entire blog post, jog over (you’ll be out in the cold for less time) to the SRSC and get started early on a New Year’s resolution that you might actually stick to this time. And if you really need some extra motivation, you can even drive your car and park for free (for up to two hours) in the SRSC’s parking lot. Sorry, but there are no excuses left. Hope to see you there…