Fitness options available for those looking to get active

Downtown Las Vegas offers many options for those interested in getting fit. From free outdoor walks and boot camps to a state-of-the-art gym, downtown has a variety of places and opportunities to keep active.

The Outside Las Vegas Foundation, a nonprofit organization that encourages the public to enjoy the open spaces and trails in the area, is focusing on health and fitness in October. The group partners with the Southern Nevada Health District and other organizations to encourage walking and trail exploration — even in downtown Las Vegas. Outside Las Vegas has a searchable trail function at www.outsidelasvegas.org and there is also one at www.neontonature.org.

Las Vegas owns and operates many parks, including Lorenzi Park at 3333 W. Washington Ave., which is only one of two “America’s Great Outdoor” sites in Southern Nevada, as designated by the Department of the Interior. The city’s Pioneer Trail offers a historical tour, connecting the downtown area’s Cultural Corridor with the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

If you’d rather bike than walk, the Regional Transportation Commission operates the RTC Bike Center at 101 E. Bonneville Ave. The Bike Center is a hub for cycling activity in downtown Las Vegas. It is open to the public and staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It offers free bike parking for up to 75 bicycles, as well as restrooms, showers, lockers, unlimited bike repairs (with purchase of an annual Premium access pass), same-day bike repairs and rentals.

Cycling enthusiasts can purchase bike parts and accessories at the RTC Bike Center and enjoy free events and clinics. The “downtown to Red Rock” bike route starts at the Bike Center to give cyclists a safe and charted route from the heart of the city all the way to the Red Rock Loop.

The Downtown Runners, a noncompetitive, downtown-based running group, combines fun with running. The group’s goal is to provide camaraderie with like-minded running enthusiasts and a focus on promoting healthy lifestyles and improving the wellness of its members. Participants are invited to walk, jog, run or push a baby jogger at its 5Ks to encourage getting out and moving.

For swimmers, the municipal pool located on Bonanza Road and Las Vegas Boulevard offers a 50-meter by 25-yard indoor pool, two 1-meter and one 3-meter springboards, two outdoor pavilions, two classrooms, a fitness room, concession area, lockers, diaper machine, pool toys and Coast Guard-approved lifejackets. The pool is available for birthday parties and rentals and offers a full program of swimming lessons, water exercise classes, water polo, a synchronized swimming team and diving.

Yoga at Blue Sky inside the Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., is a place to wind down after a long day and improve flexibility. The vision of Blue Sky is to make yoga available to all, no matter what their financial situation. As a result, classes are offered on a donation-only basis. The organization’s philosophy is “pay what you can, when you can, and if today you can give a bit more for someone less fortunate, please do so.”

Real Results Fitness launched the Downtown Las Vegas Boot Camp in April 2012. Today, the Downtown Boot Camp is held in two locations: the Real Results Fitness gym at 1201 S. Commerce St. and in the Jackie Gaughan Plaza on Sixth Street between Ogden Avenue and Fremont Street.

Trainers lead participants in rigorous circuit training, alternating between strength-training calisthenics and short, intense runs. The result is an efficient and challenging workout that includes a wide variety of push-ups, sit-ups, plyometric exercises (hops and jumps), yoga-influenced poses and more. For those who need additional support in meal planning, Real Results Fitness also offers a 12-week nutrition support system with one-on-one counseling and instruction.

Molasky Corporate Center, 100 N. City Parkway, is home to 24-Hour Fitness. Open to the public and regular members, the gym is a state-of-the-art facility that offers a range of group exercise classes and personal training for weight loss, toning or training for an event.