Sports and the Outdoors

I’ve always loved biking, both mountain and road, and I’ve been super happy to have found that a number of my classmates share the same passion! In the fall we would ride together once or twice a week. Having Forest Park right by campus is incredible for biking because the bike paths and roads in the park are very smooth and there are hardly any cars to worry about. There are also some nice rides along the roads in St. Louis that go out into the suburbs. A group of us first-year students even rode in an event called “Pedal the Cause,” which was to raise money for cancer research and took us on a beautiful route through some of the hills and parks to the west of the city. Honestly, I have ridden my road bike more, longer, and more consistently than at any point in my undergrad or gap year. There’s also a school-wide biking group called the Krebs Cyclers (very clever I know) who I often ride with, and we have some pretty cool looking kits as well. If you’re just getting into biking, Forest Park is amazing because of the dedicated bike paths that form a ~6.5 mile loop around the outside that is great for bikers of any level to enjoy!

There are many opportunities to hike and explore nature in St. Louis and the surrounding area. You can see waterfalls on the Mina Sauk Falls Trail, explore caves at Onondaga Cave State Park, see and climb on large granite boulders at Elephant Rocks State Park, or hike and swim at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, all within less than a 2-hour drive from the medical school. If you don’t want to drive, Forest Park is right next to the medical school and there are many paths both paved, and unpaved throughout the park that are great for walking, hiking, jogging, and biking. One of the most popular locations for hiking is Castlewood State Park, which is about a 30-minute drive from the medical school and includes multiple scenic trails along the Meramec River. Our class organized multiple day trips to Castlewood this fall, including one to relax in the afternoon after an assessment, which I would highly recommend. Other popular locations for hiking include the Rockwoods Reservation (40-minute drive), the Lewis and Clark Trails (30-minute drive), and Pere Marquette State Park (1-hour drive).

Everywhere I have lived, from Seattle to Chicago to Quito, Ecuador, Ultimate Frisbee has been a great way to stay active and meet new people — and St. Louis is no exception! The St. Louis Ultimate Association (SLUA) runs leagues and organizes pickup year round, and there are several club teams to choose from! There are also several youth teams if you are interested in outreach and coaching. I played in the fall womxn’s league and everyone was really welcoming. Playing in a fall league also helped me get to know people outside of medical school, which I really appreciated. Whether you’re new to the sport or you’ve been playing for a few years, Ultimate Frisbee is a great way to stay active and get outside of the WashU bubble.

If you’re a runner, St. Louis is the place to be. The city has so many beautiful parks and trails around where you can go for a run of any distance. Whether you want to be able to escape the heart of the city to go for your run, or you just want your run to be in your backyard, St. Louis has a fitting place for you. The hidden gem of this city, though, is most certainly Forest Park. For students living in the Central West End, The Grove, and other surrounding neighborhoods, this park is quite literally steps away. This beautiful park is a massive 1,300 acres and is full of surprises. Almost every time I go for a run, I find myself discovering a new path to follow. Forest Park has been an incredible asset for so many of us during this period of quarantine during COVID. Many of us have bonded by forming running pods of all speeds (quite literally we have a “fast” running group named “WUSM Running From Our Problems” and a “slow” running group named “Running Backwards”) and this has helped to keep us sane throughout the stresses of medical school. Also, there are so many other beautiful trails within a half-hour drive at Castlewood State Park, Weldon Spring Conservation Area, Cliff Cave County Park, Creve Coeur Lake, and so many other locations! Also, after COVID, many of us are looking forward to participating in the many races hosted in the city — including The Hot Chocolate 15K/5K, where you get some awesome swag and goodies, and the medal is a delicious, huge bar of chocolate! Whether you need to a quick study break or you’re training for a marathon, St. Louis parks have got you covered!

Pickleball is, at the time of writing, the fastest-growing sport in America [citation needed]. It’s so cutting-edge that the text editor I’m using to draft this paragraph gives the word “pickleball” the old red underline. I first heard about pickleball from my younger sister, and started playing in earnest this past September, the very same month in which I started medical school here at WashU. Like a powerful drug, I was hooked from the very first go. The nonpareil combination of a low barrier-to-entry with infinite horizons of growth makes it the perfect activity to share with friends of all ages and abilities, and we have several courts conveniently located near campus. Take my word for it: there is no contradiction between being in medical school and discovering a new, non-medical hobby, passion, raison d’être, etc. Yours may just be pickleball.

When I got to WashU School of Medicine, I was committed to maintaining my physical health even with the academic stress associated with medical training. Immediately, I saw familiar faces of other medical/graduate students (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, PhD, etc.) and through these interactions, I have made some great friends who have kept me motivated. Through this motivation, I have become the strongest I have ever been and the healthiest I have ever been. This has helped not only my physical health, but my mental health as well in that it’s a great escape from studying.

So, find yourself a workout buddy and get in the gym! My lifting buddy and I text every day to coordinate a time that works after classes to hit the gym and break up the day. It’s really a fantastic way to get out of the monotony of studying, improve your health, and make friends!

John W.

 

Whether you’re a weekend warrior, a gym junkie, or are just thinking about getting started, WashU offers great resources for all things fitness. The Core gym is conveniently located on the Medical Campus and has all the free weights and machines you will ever need for a lift or a cardio workout. With our flexible class schedule, it’s easy to hit the gym before, after, or during classes depending on your preference. The Core is also a great place to run into classmates and other members of the WashU School of Medicine community. The Rec Center on the Danforth Campus offers a much larger selection of weights and cardio machines, as well as indoor and outdoor tracks, group fitness classes and a lap pool. For beginners, the BearFit program at the Rec Center provides access to professional trainers who will help you build a personalized fitness plan, while local CrossFit gyms and the WashU powerlifting club provide great options for those looking to take their gains to the next level.

Mitchell G.