FITNESS

Find Your Best Workout

By Ashley Centers W hile the focus of this edition is mostly on outdoor adventures and those certainly tie in with my piece here, I was recently reminiscing with a member about when time spent in the gym or within our fitness regimen, was a point of solace in distressing periods of our lives. This current topic was at the forefront of my mind when I was asked to contribute. I do always try to write what is most close to my heart and mind about fitness in these articles.

As many of you know I am the general manager of a gym, and some of you know, my fitness background started when I was a pre-teen in competitive Powerlifting. What many of you don’t know is that for 5 years I was completely out of the fitness industry and did not even step foot in a gym in that time. Due to bad food choices, too many excuses to count about why I wasn’t working out, and the stressful hectic environment of my previous career, I gained a lot of weight and even worse, a lot of health issues. Ultimately, I had allowed myself to become very unwell in the pursuit of my career goals. Nearly two years ago I went through a major health scare that brought me out of the fog of my workaholism and brought about more mindfulness to my health and well-being. I began to focus on my nutrition, started exercising again, not too long after this, the position at Anytime Fitness came available, and of course — as they say, the rest is history.

What I have gratefully found within my journey is that when I come back to something I had loved and stepped away from, I truly find the very best parts of myself again. The times in my life when I was physically strong I felt mentally strong and prepared. The times when life got hard, my solace was always found in the gym or within a physical activity. For years I had found my peace and comfort in knowing and pushing my own physical limitations and when I found that again I was regretful I had allowed myself to lose it in the first place.

into positives for your health. It is rather about finding a place within your own mind and body where the stressors feel more manageable, not as big of an obstacle as you initially felt. When your body is fit, your mind is fit, it is whole, and more well equipped to deal with the day to day.

Whatever your situation, there is solace to be found within your own fitness no matter your background or activity level, whether you find it in a gym or out of the gym, competing with yourself or others, on a nature hike, a walk around the block, running a marathon, or biking around your neighborhood, it is there to be found! It is so profound that once you discover it for yourself, you will only regret not having found it sooner.

The solace I am talking about could be in small things, knowing your legs are going to hurt less and carry you a few steps further, your resting heart rate is continuing to improve, those sugar levels are dropping, and your actively managing all of those levels through nutrition and exercise instead of medications. It could also be big things like knowing your life is going to be extended and lived with a higher quality when you are physically active or maybe like myself it will help you find the strength inside of yourself again or discover it in the first place.

Whatever the place it comes from, and whatever the motivation behind it, your health and fitness should — and can be a place of solace for you. V

Ashley Centers is the GM at Anytime Fitness Mesquite, she can be reached at 702-346-3121

All Roads Lead to Trails Logandale

By Elise McAllister

Tucked between rural perfect Moapa Valley and the busy I-15 freeway lies an OHV paradise of silky sand, towering red rock canyons, gravel washes, and a plethora of panoramic ridges. OHVers of all persuasions flock to this Best Little Trails System in the West! UTVs, ATVs, sideby-sides, sand buggies, jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, rock crawlers—you name it---Logandale Trails has something to delight everyone and keep them coming back for more! Under reported as it is, Logandale Trails is also a popular equestrian, mountain biking, hiking, and even marathon running area---a true multiple-use playground if there ever was one! Add to that, the myriad primitive camping sites where two people can hide away from the world or gettogethers of 30 can camp and enjoy the fantastic social aspects of our great outdoors.

Oh, and picnics, star gazing, photography----did we mention the curious herds of bighorn sheep, the stunning spring flowers, the coveys of quail, or the little fox family that hangs around the main trailhead? Now you know why all roads lead to Logandale Trails! In one phenomenal scenic area, you can enjoy the desert’s amazing sunsets, wonderful wildlife, and vegetation, while pursuing your favorite outdoor activities!

But — one road leading to Logandale Trails is about to become a celebrity unto itself! The main road to the trails is being paved. YES!!! PAVED!!! The trails are an OHV mecca, but the road to get to all that fun needn’t be so rough and rutty! And soon it won’t be!

A grant, put together by Partners In Conservation (PIC) and submitted by Clark County to the Federal Lands Access Program, was approved and funded! This federal program provides funding to pave roads to popular federal lands and the road to a VERY popular Logandale Trails fits the criteria perfectly!

Photo Credit: Tim Conaway

Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick deserves ample praise for listening to many wanting this project, getting a team together to write the grant and then working endlessly to make it happen.

Other partners that had to come together over the right of way issues, etc. are the BLM who manage the trails system, Union Pacific Railroad, Valley of Fire State Park, private property owners, and of course the federal program administrators. Something this complicated requires cooperation among many entities! The paving project is on schedule to happen in 2021.

Benefits of this paving project are many; first, obviously, it makes the road to the main trailhead smooth and safe; OHV vehicles, not to mention trucks, cars, and trailers, are expensive and paving this main road reduces wear and tear. But one huge benefit is often overlooked — the impact of dust on the local residential area. On non-windy and busy days, the dust hangs thick and stifling in Logandale, affecting the health of families who have lived there for decades.

The Clark County School District does not allow field trips on unpaved roads, so soon the main trailhead can host school classes where they can learn about desert geology, wildlife, etc. and then enjoy a fresh air healthy hike. Also, paving will delineate no-passing lanes when appropriate

— the reality of dirt roads is users tend to drift, thus creating dangerous situations. When paved, cars and low-clearance vehicles will be able to safely access the trailhead, so folks can enjoy picnics, camping, hiking, etc. Paving the main road will provide so many more with the ability to access and enjoy the trails system!

So, not only do all roads lead to Logandale Trails, one road in particular does — and now it is being paved! V

Elise is the administrator of Partners In Conservation (PIC) a rural Non-profit focusing on public land access issues. You can reach her at picorg@mvdsl.com.