New fitness pad gives Airmen space to work out

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  A new fitness pad officially opened Monday inside the track behind the Travis Fitness Center.

Just a year ago, Travis Airmen struggled while exercising and stretching on the infield dirt and grass inside the track.

The field worsened with rain and winter conditions, greatly increasing the possibility of injury.

"It was dangerous," said Maj. Elizabeth Eychner, 60th FSS commander.

The situation came to the attention of former 60th Air Mobility Wing commander Col. James Vechery during Saturday morning physical training sessions.

Vechery initiated a project to give the Airmen a better surface to work out on.

On Monday, members of the 60th FSS unveiled that capability, blowing into their hands to warm them on the cold morning, they no longer stood in a muddy field, but instead on the new, rubberized surface which was several months in the making.

The 14,500-square-foot pad is made of the same composite of rubberized materials as the track surrounding it. It can host as many as 250 individuals.

The pad also helps Airmen meet the modified PT standards which took effect July 1, 2010.

"It was thought of as a way to keep troops as fit as possible," said Dean Fazzio, fitness center director.

Eychner echoed that sentiment.

"Fitness is an even more important part of our careers now," she said. "It's good to have a large environment for it."

Eychner said the pad gives Airmen another place to stay fit.

"We don't have a center to meet the size of the base population," Eychner said. "This will allow the opportunity for more units to do PT."

The pad is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, for groups of 30 or more, reservations are required. A squadron representative must submit a written reservation request to the fitness center for no less than 30 minutes and no more than 60. Priority is given to wings, then groups followed by squadrons.

For more information on the Air Force fitness program, visit http://www.afpc.af.mil/affitnessprogram or call 424-2008.