The Mile High City is bursting with ways to tone your tummy (and your thighs, and your biceps). Every month, new fitness studios open—all with methods sworn to revolutionize the way you work out. While they can’t all be the right fit for everyone, it’s worth giving them a try. (Plus, we can never have too many exercises in our repertoire, right?) We’ve decided to explore as many as we can, one by one, to help break down your options—and hopefully help our readers find the workouts that work for them. No more excuses: Your perfect fitness regimen is waiting for you.


Class: Fit36 Run Club

Sweat meter (1–10): 5

Instructor: Brad Cooley, former Navy medic, and Ned Matheson, veteran personal trainer and former wildland firefighter (co-founders of high-intensity interval training workout Fit36’s Ballpark location)

Format: A two- to two-and-a-half-mile run in the Ballpark/LoDo/LoHi area (routes change for each session), followed by 10 to 15 minutes of a modified Fit36 workout on the ViewHouse’s outdoor volleyball court. The week that I attended, this involved bodyweight exercises like push-ups, burpees, squat jumps, crunches, and more.

Tip: Actual Fit36 classes are fairly different, incorporating props like kettlebells and TRX bands into a 36-minute-long circuit training session, so make sure not to base your opinion—good or bad—on the Run Club version.

What it’ll (allegedly) do: Get everyone involved; the run’s not too intimidating and the exercises don’t last long enough to be overwhelming, meaning you don’t have to be concerned about lagging behind the typical run club crazies for too long.

Why it works: The cardio-strength training combination fulfills several fitness needs for your body; this way, you’re not strong but lacking endurance.

What you’ll need: Whatever clothes you think you’ll need to run comfortably as the temperatures dip. Fit36 and the ViewHouse provide water, protein shakes, and even dinner (it was pasta and salad my week) post-workout.

Where it’s offered: The ViewHouse’s Ballpark location on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.; catch the next one December 2.

Price: $20 gets you a long-sleeve T-shirt, a workout, and a meal

Doesn’t sound like the right fit? Check back next week as we explore other fitness classes in the Denver area.

(Read about more fitness classes in the Mile High City)

Follow editorial assistant Mary Clare Fischer on Twitter at @mc_fischer.