Whether you're preparing to climb Half Dome or just need the stamina to survive all three days of Outside Lands, the free Mountain Athletics Workouts being offered at Fort Mason and The Yard can help you reach your fitness goals without breaking the bank.
This past March, San Francisco joined Washington D.C., New York, Chicago and Boston in a pilot program launched by The North Face, to host workouts that would be free to the entire community. Offered locally at 6:30pm on Tuesdays (at Fort Mason) and Thursdays (at The Yard in Mission Bay), Mountain Athletics Workouts were designed to prep athletes of all levels for longer days and more fun outdoors.
Each one-hour session is taught by two hand-picked trainers who are "technically skilled but also skilled at creating a fun and exciting atmosphere," says Katie Ramage, director of sports marketing at The North Face. At our recent Tuesday night class, Josh, a UFC Fighter, and Ross, a certified Kettlebell instructor, didn’t disappoint.
The sweat sessions are open to athletes of all ages and abilities. I was out-planked by an 11-year-old at Fort Mason on Tuesday, but I dusted him in a footrace later on. The total workout included sprints, bear crawls, countless squats and, as the coup de grace, an innocent-looking Jane Fonda workout that absolutely murdered my glutes.
So far, the city is getting into it. Ramage says more than 250 people turned up for a special workout inside AT&T Park—"It was like a big party!”
No Mountain Athletics Workout is complete without the chance to score a little swag courtesy of The North Face. Following our Tuesday class, a few of us we were given the opportunity to participate in The North Face’s #ITrainFor social media campaign in exchange for a prize pack. What do you train for?
The North Face free Mountain Athletics workouts are every Tuesday at Fort Mason at 6:30 pm and Thursday at The Yard at 6:30 pm. Sign up at Eventbrite or show up!
GEAR:
- Bring water and a towel if you typically use one
- Wear layers and dress for the weather
- Comfortable running or trail shoes recommended
