To see a video on how the UREC is accommodating students after Hurricane Gustav, click here.
Bakari Taylor, business management junior, has played basketball all his life, and he’s used the University Student Recreational Complex indoor basketball courts since his freshman year. “I loved it,” Taylor said. “The air was wonderful.”Hurricane Gustav changed Taylor’s routine earlier this month. The storm ripped off the UREC’s roof, destroying the floors of the basketball courts. Students have crowded treadmills and group exercise classes since the storm. The UREC expedited earlier plans for streaming online cardio workout videos for students who want to workout at home.”It’s going to be a while,” Tamara Jarrett, UREC director, said about the complex’s renovations. A portable basketball goal was set up on a tennis court Sept. 9. Two more portable goals have been ordered, said Tricia Milford-Hoyt, UREC assistant director of marketing and membership.Adding portable goals outdoors is “pushing plans ahead” for more outdoor facilities, Jarrett said. Taylor feels the difference in playing basketball outdoors. “Out here [on tennis courts] … it is much more tougher and hotter,” Taylor said. “You know it is just better to be indoors.”Hurricane Gustav’s rains closed the UREC’s indoor track Sept. 1. The track reopened Sept. 18 on the second floor after risk management deemed it safe. Students who use treadmills and indoor tracks experience nearly the same impact on joints as those who run outdoors, said Emily Eoff, UREC coordinator for Healthy Lifestyles. The biggest difference between indoor and outdoor running is dehydration, Eoff said. She said drinking fluids is the best way to combat heat and humidity outside that causes extra strain. Running on an indoor track strains less on the body than pavement around the lakes, Eoff said. A treadmill’s conveyor belt is designed give a slight ease on the runner, Eoff said.Bennett Broussard, UREC supervisor and Road Runners speciality course coach, has a different opinion of running on indoor tracks. “You run around the corners sharply several times, and you are putting a lot of weight constantly on your joints,” Broussard said. “I think when you run on treadmills or concrete it’s relatively the same, but grass is a little bit better.” Grass’ soft surface provides less impact on knees and joints than concrete or treadmills, Broussard said.  Students who want to achieve the same cardiovascular workout provided outdoors can use inclines on indoor treadmills, Eoff said. Seth Cormier, general studies senior, disagrees. He said motion on a treadmill is different than motion on pavement. “Here you have to physically move on the concrete,” Cormier said. “Where on the treadmill, the track is moving toward you and you just have to lift your feet. It is not as big as an effort for me.”  Broussard enjoys running outdoors instead of indoors because he can move rather than stay in one spot. “I much prefer running outside,” Broussard said. “You are less restricted on what you can do.” Some students enjoy running outside more than on a monotonous treadmill. “I’m actually going somewhere instead of running on a treadmill where I am stuck standing in the same place,” said David Gomez, first-year law student.  Students who like outdoor running with groups can join Road Runners, the UREC’s running group. The group meets from Sept. 15 to Nov. 26 at 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. The group, which costs $40, is progressive and increases in difficulty throughout the month.Cormier usually uses the indoor track but couldn’t because of Hurricane Gustav’s damage. “Inside kind of takes away the heat element,” Cormier said. “You don’t sweat quite as much.”There is little difference between indoor and outdoor basketball, Eoff said. There is a higher risk of injuries outdoors because of the contact nature of basketball and harder surface, she said. Dehydration is still a factor, Eoff said. The heat factor also applies to bicycling. Students who enjoy bicycling can rent bikes from the UREC, Milford-Hoyt said. Bicycles are free for two hours, $5 for a half day, $10 for a whole day and $20 for a weekend. Students who prefer indoor cycling can take classes using resistance to mimic outdoor challenges. Group X cycling classes — instructor-led group classes — are themed “cycling,” “Tour de France” and “cycling core.”Themed cycling classes feature genre music such as ‘90s and rap. Instructors for Tour de France verbally motivate students to simulate racing. Cycling core mixes 30 minutes of cycling with 30 minutes of abdominal exercise.The UREC plans to upgrade Tour de France by adding visual scenery with projectors or screens in the future.Volleyball played on the basketball courts was also affected by Hurricane Gustav. Outdoor sand volleyball is available for volleyball patrons who used gym courts. Sand volleyball exercises lower body muscles as players dive for balls and jump in the sand, Eoff said. “Just going down and digging in the sand is going to burn more calories than if you are inside just running after balls,” Eoff said.- – – – Contact Mary Gonzalez at [email protected]