Not-So-Lazy River

Lazy River

becomes exercise path

Story by Mike Kays  Photos by Von Castor

Jean Lewis was looking forward to a new year of it.

And there she was, among 68 in the second week of a summer program held every Tuesday at

River Country Family Water Park, as the Lazy River becomes a resistance walk against its flowing current. Lewis, 79, of Muskogee and some friends were looking at different things that were fun to do for exercise when they came upon this. “It’s not hard. Anyone can do it,” she said of what is labeled “Walk Against The Flow” by Muskogee

Parks and Recreation. “But you really feel it the next day in your muscles, so you do feel like you accomplished something.”

She measures her workout in time — in 30 minutes, she estimates she covers a half-mile. Eight times around the river is a mile.

“When I walk, I do a 22-minute mile, but you’re talking walking against more resistance here,” she said. “But it’s especially nice when it gets up to 100 degrees and that water feels so good.”

She then laughed. “And you don’t have to look good in a swimsuit to go.”

It’s for any one ages 16 and older. The park closes to other activity at 5:30 on Tuesdays and remains open for exercise until 8 p.m.

Some said they use it for fun, stay cool, and to be around people. One lady who did not give her name said she uses it for low-impact workouts — which are definitely at the other end of the spectrum from the marathons she runs.

The vast majority were women on this day.

These two traveled from Wagoner.

ALL: Visitors walk against the current as part of "Walk Against the Flow" at the river Country Family Water Park's Lazy river.

“It’s a lot of resistance and when you get to be my age, it’s hard to do some of those bouncy exercises,” said Charleyene Popp, 70.

She does, however use a recumbent bike and what’s called a rebounder — a foot-high mini-trampoline with a handle bar.

Tracie Cloud said her daughter saw it on Facebook and invited her.

“I work out on a treadmill every other day and that is not as much fun,” she said. “I like water. The current is probably the easiest way to lose weight and be healthy. It’s not hard on your joints. It’s fun. You can be with a bunch of people and realize, hey, this is exercising.”

Cost is $3. For more information, contact the park at (918) 684-6399. It is located in the Love-Hatbox Sports Complex at 3600 Arline Ave.