HEALTHY TRAILS

HEALTH: HEALTHY TRAILS Trails of Medina County by Robert Soroky

It is always fun to take a day and explore the community you live in. It is even more fun to explore it on a bicycle!

Back in June, I highlighted a few of the bike paths in and around Medina (see the column here: https://bit.ly/3eu7kPA ).

This month, the other bike paths across Medina County are being showcased, starting with the two short trails in the heart of Brunswick.

The first is a casual, mile-long paved trail off of Center Road and Brunswick Lake Parkway that encircles Brunswick Lake. The trail boasts a couple of wooden boardwalk-style bridges that offer some great scenic views.

The second trail, located off of Grafton Road between North Carpenter and Haddock roads, encircles a small lake at North Park. Although primarily paved, there is a little hidden gem of an off-road trail tucked away behind the lake. This simple dirt trail meanders easily through the woods across several short bridges but also has a few quick branchoffs to challenge the more skilled riders.

In Wadsworth, there is the Interurban Trail.

This 2-mile long paved trail starts near Central Intermediate School in downtown Wadsworth and continues to Silvercreek Road.

Some of the points of interest along the trail include the Wadsworth gazebo, built in 1976; the Miller baseball fields; and Trolley Line Park.

In Seville, there is a nice paved trail that starts at the Seville Historical Society off of West Main Street, runs along Chippewa Creek, and finishes back at West Main Street just south of Leohr Park, which was named after the Leohr family, who founded Leohr Motors, Inc., in Chippewa in 1911.

While biking through Leohr Park, be sure to stop at the boardwalk along the lake and watch a relaxing sunset!

For a great resource listing all bike trails and paths around Medina County, pick up a copy of the Bike Map of Medina County, developed by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. This free map can be found at any local area bike shop, library, tourist center, or online at https://bit.ly/3hXVbEq

NOACA also has developed bike maps for Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties as well, so get out there and explore!

Robert Soroky is a lifelong cyclist regularly participating in long distance charity rides and manager of the Century Cycles Medina location. Contact Soroky at robert@centurycycles.com to suggest column topics, for further information or to chat about bikes. HEALTH: OF MIND AND BODY Stepping Out V by Kelly Bailey

I am a gym rat. I love heavy lifting. But, when summer rolls around, I am ready to be outside and my body usually needs a break from heavy work.

That is why I typically switch to a cardio-focused workout that can be done outdoors. It breaks up the monotony of my training and gives me a great dose of Vitamin D and fresh air.

I wanted this month’s column to be a little different, so I am sharing my favorite outdoor workout.

Find a park with a loop trail that has benches interspersed along the path, and bring a stopwatch or timer.

My favorite local parks that are great for this workout are Chippewa Inlet Trail, Buckeye Woods Park, Hinckley Lake, Letha House Park, and Lake Medina, go to https://bit.ly/3gN4aqO for addresses and more information about these parks.

The Workout*

Warm up: Brisk walk or slow jog five to 10 minutes

Speed-burst intervals: Using the timer, walk at a normal pace for 40 seconds, then increase speed for 20 seconds. (Depending on your fitness level, you may increase the speed of walking or, if you are more advanced, you may choose to sprint.)

Continue the sprint intervals until you come to the first bench on the path and then do the following circuit: 10 squats 10 push-ups (hands on the bench) 10 step-ups per leg 10 sit-ups (on the bench)

Follow the circuit with sprint intervals until you come to the next bench, complete the circuit again, and so on. Do this until you come to the end of the trail loop.

If you have any questions on any of the exercises listed, please contact me for guidance. *Disclaimer: This workout is for entertainment purposes only. It is strongly recommended that you consult with your physician before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in any of the exercises or in this exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, you are voluntarily participating in these activities, and you assume all risk of injury.

Kelly Bailey is a certified personal trainer and certified holistic nutrition coach. She owns and operates Kelly Bailey Wellness. Read her blog and contact her at https://www.kellybailey.fit/