By Chan Mon/reporter
David Reid/The Collegian
Hundreds of people from the community around South Campus are taking advantage each day of the jogging track and fitness equipment stations.
Not only students but also their family members and friends can be seen using the track from early in the morning until dark, said Michael Daniels, South Campus health and physical education department chair.
Five years ago, TCC moved the jogging track from the northwest part of the campus to the southeast part and set up 28 stations of fitness equipment.
“Since TCC moved the track, many more people are using it,” Daniels said. “It’s a great benefit to the community because it’s large enough and good enough to provide a workout using the weight training equipment.”
The accessibility of the fitness equipment is what has drawn participants from the surrounding neighborhoods, and campus president Peter Jordan is pleased.
“Community outreach is an essential part of what we do at the South Campus and across TCC,” he said. “I am elated when members of the community come to campus to attend student performances and/or practice healthy living through swimming and fitness classes or simply by using our jogging track and fitness stations.
“It is wonderful to see the use our track and fitness stations get throughout the day, especially in the early morning and evening hours.”
Community resident Tanya Lugo does a daily 30-minute workout.
“It’s my first day over here,” she said. “I used to walk the old track on the other side, but I didn’t know they had the new stuff here, and I like it.”
Raul Duenas, taking a break from pull-ups, said he and his family have been using the facility for about three months.
“I don’t like electrical equipment,” he said.
“I like the kind we use by ourselves naturally.”
Much of the community use of the track comes in the evening, Daniels said, when people bring their children. Some people walk after dark even though there are no lights along the track.
“We do have plans to put lights out there for people who walk at night,” he said. “We want the track to be used for 24 hours. Lights would be a big improvement.”
Many people using the track say they are doing so for health reasons, some of them at the direction of a doctor.
“I lost about 15 pounds in two months,” said Bennie Ray, a 300-plus-pound rapper who plans to exercise three to four days a week. “All my friends say I am looking better.”
Jordan is glad South Campus can contribute to its community’s well-being.
“I’m glad to know this small part of the campus is helping in a major way to combat or manage chronic diseases,” Jordan said.
