Fort Collins: One of America’s Fittest Cities and Your Key to Fitness After 50
Craig McBreen • November 22, 2024
Fort Collins, Colorado, isn’t just known for its stunning foothills, thriving craft beer scene, and vibrant cultural community—it’s also a hub for fitness and outdoor recreation.
Named one of the fittest cities in America, Fort Collins offers the perfect environment for anyone looking to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle.
If you’re over 50 and thinking about taking the next step in your fitness journey, Fort Collins provides the tools, spaces, and community to help you achieve your goals. At FiftyPlus Fitness, we’re here to guide you toward strength, energy, and vitality at any age.
Why Fort Collins is Perfect for Staying Active
Fort Collins boasts miles of biking and hiking trails, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, and parks designed to encourage movement. Here are just a few ways the city helps you stay fit:
- Hiking and Walking Trails: Explore local favorites like the Spring Creek Trail, a scenic path perfect for walking or cycling. If you're ready for a challenge,
Horsetooth Mountain Open Space offers breathtaking views paired with a solid workout.
- Bike-Friendly Community:
Fort Collins is a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community, making it ideal for low-impact cardio that’s easy on your joints.
- Local Fitness Centers: From The Other Club Fitness Center, a gym focused on welcoming individuals over 40, to FiftyPlus Fitness, where we focus on strength training tailored to your needs, there’s something for everyone.
Strength Training After 50: Why It’s Essential
Fort Collins provides an incredible environment to stay strong and healthy as you age. Whether it’s hiking the rugged trails of Horsetooth Mountain, cycling along the Cache la Poudre River, or engaging in tailored strength training programs at FiftyPlus Fitness, the city’s resources empower you to embrace fitness as a lifelong journey.
The supportive community and beautiful surroundings make staying active a natural and enjoyable part of life here. For those over 50, strength training isn’t just about building muscle—it’s about maintaining your independence and quality of life. Here’s why it’s crucial:
- Improves Bone Density: Combat osteoporosis with resistance exercises tailored to your fitness level.
- Boosts Metabolism: Strength training helps you burn calories more efficiently, even at rest.
- Reduces Aches and Pains: Strengthening muscles around joints can alleviate pain and improve mobility.
- Supports Longevity: Studies show regular strength training is linked to a longer, healthier life.
Fort Collins is filled with gyms and studios offering weight training programs, but at FiftyPlus Fitness, we specialize in working with clients over 50. Our “Stronger Every Day” approach ensures safe progress at your pace.
Where to Stay Active in Fort Collins
Looking for specific places to start your fitness journey? Here are some top spots around town:
- Northside Aztlan Community Center: Northside Aztlan Community Center offers Fort Collins residents an expansive, 50,000-square-foot recreation facility packed with activities for all ages. From fitness classes and sports leagues to special events and community programs, there’s something for everyone. This modern center continues to provide beloved community offerings while introducing exciting new opportunities to stay active and connected.
- Foothills Activity Center: Situated inside the newly renovated Foothills Mall, Foothills Activity Center is a dynamic three-level recreation space. It features a gymnasium, workout areas, and multipurpose classrooms. This versatile facility hosts a variety of programs, including youth and adult sports, fitness classes, and early education activities, making it a hub for fun and fitness in Fort Collins.
- Pineridge Natural Area: Pineridge Natural Area is a gem for outdoor enthusiasts in Fort Collins. Its scenic trails wind through diverse terrain, offering stunning city views and serene loops around Dixon Reservoir. Whether you’re hiking, rucking, or running, this foothills retreat provides 7 miles of soft-surface trails perfect for exploring nature. For a longer adventure, connect to Maxwell Natural Area via the southern end of the 9.6-mile Foothills Trail, and enjoy spotting local wildlife along the way.
For strength training focused on the unique needs of adults over 50, FiftyPlus Fitness stands out. Located in the heart of Fort Collins, our gym offers personalized programs designed to help you reshape your body, gain strength, and feel your best.
Ready to Reshape Your Body?
Fort Collins provides an unparalleled backdrop for fitness at any age, and FiftyPlus Fitness is here to help you make the most of it. Whether you’re exploring local trails, hitting the gym, or taking your first step toward strength training, the key is to start.
Contact us today and take the first step to losing fat, gaining muscle, and feeling your best. Don’t wait—your health, strength, and confidence are worth it!
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Let’s explore Fort Collins' prime locations for outdoor workouts, from city parks to scenic trails. Whether you’re into bodyweight training, calisthenics, running, or hiking, Fort Collins has many options for fitness enthusiasts. We’ll start with the city’s top outdoor spots featuring dedicated workout stations. Fort Collins Parks with Fitness Courses for Bodyweight and Calisthenics Lee Martinez Park 600 N Sherwood St, Fort Collins, CO 80521 Lee Martinez Park in Fort Collins has an impressive calisthenics park perfect for outdoor workouts. Situated in the northern part of the city near the scenic Poudre River bike paths, this is a great place to fit in a bodyweight workout. The equipment, including monkey bars, pull-up bars, parallel bars, and adjustable-height straight bars, offers exercises for various muscle groups. Amenities like a sit-up table, balance beams, and a vertical ladder are also available. It's an ideal setting to challenge and enhance strength, balance, and flexibility. With sturdy equipment and a wood chip-covered ground, Lee Martinez Park is ideal for workouts. Whether you're building strength, improving endurance, or just taking a break during a bike ride or run, it's the perfect spot. City Park 1500 W Mulberry St, Fort Collins, CO 80521 City Park in downtown Fort Collins offers a well-designed fitness course with a variety of workout stations. The fitness course is designed so you can mix outdoor exercise with strength training in a nice park setting. Here’s a brief rundown of the workout stations: 1. Pull-Up Bars: Perfect for strengthening the upper body and improving grip strength, pull-up bars provide an excellent opportunity for performing pull-ups, chin-ups, and hanging leg raises. 2. Parallel Bars: Ideal for performing dips, push-ups, and other bodyweight exercises, parallel bars help target the muscles of the chest, triceps, and shoulders while also engaging the core. 3. Sit-Up Benches: Perform sit-ups, crunches, and other core-strengthening movements to build a strong and stable midsection. 4. Balance Beams: Balance beams provide a challenging yet fun way to improve balance, coordination, and proprioception. Users can walk, step, or lunge across the beams to enhance stability and lower-body strength. 5. Step-Up Platforms: Step-up platforms offer a versatile workout station for performing step-ups, lunges, and other lower-body exercises. By varying the height and intensity of the steps, individuals can customize their workout to target different muscle groups. During my Spartan race training, City Park became a favorite. Running its perimeter and hitting each station was my routine. The fitness course here might be a hidden gem, but it's convenient and accessible, offering a refreshing alternative to big box gyms. Golden Meadows Park 4324 Mcmurry Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525 Golden Meadows Park on Fort Collins’ east side, offers an excellent outdoor workout space. This compact park features a playground, sports field, pond, and workout stations along the Power Trail. Its prime location next to this popular biking and walking path makes it ideal for fitting in a bodyweight workout during a bike ride. It's one of my favorite spots to work out. Whether you're cycling along the Power Trail or exploring on foot, it's the perfect pit stop for push-ups, pull-ups, and other bodyweight exercises. From pull-up bars to balance beams, the park offers a wide range of exercise options. Looking to build strength, improve your cardio, or simply unwind? Golden Meadows Park offers something for everyone to enjoy. Rossborough Park 1630 Casa Grande Blvd, Fort Collins, CO 80526 Rossborough Park is a hidden gem in a serene neighborhood setting. It's one of my favorite spots for a quick workout. While not as equipped as the previous parks, it still offers a range of workout stations targeting different muscle groups, making it a great place for a quick session. Definitely worth checking out. Fort Collins' Top Outdoor Parks for Hiking, Rucking, and Trail Running Pineridge Natural Area Fort Collins, CO 80526 Pineridge Natural Area is one of Fort Collins' best spots for hiking, rucking, and running. This foothills area boasts city views, diverse terrain, forested trails, and a reservoir, catering to all outdoor enthusiasts. Spanning 7 miles, its soft surface trails include a scenic 1.8-mile loop around Dixon Reservoir. At the southern end of the 9.6-mile Foothills Trail, Pineridge seamlessly links with Maxwell Natural Area, guided by trail markers. Its soft surface trails offer comfort and scenic vistas for hiking, rucking, and running, with chances to spot prairie dogs and magpies. I love this spot! Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area Fort Collins, CO 80526 2001 Overlook Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80526 Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area offers a glimpse into Fort Collins' pre-settlement shortgrass prairie landscape. A mix of drylands and wetlands, this unique natural area provides vital habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals, including horned lizards, ground-nesting songbirds, butterflies, rabbits, coyotes, and rattlesnakes. If you are looking for the idea workout spot with foothills views, the paved Fossil Creek Trail spans 2.4 miles one-way, perfect for hiking, rucking, running, or biking. In fact, one of the best things about Fort Collins is its system of trails. This network of integrated trails allows you to start out at the Spring Creek Trail, move onto the Fossil Creek Trail, then onto the Power Trail and the Poudre River Trail, and beyond. These integrated trails offer endless opportunities for outdoor exercise, connecting various parks and natural areas throughout Fort Collins. Extend your workout by continuing northwest to connect Cathy Fromme Prairie to Spring Canyon Park and Pineridge Natural Areas, further exploring the beauty and diversity of Fort Collins' outdoor offerings. Here is a link to The City of Fort Collins trail maps . Reservoir Ridge Natural Area Fort Collins, CO 80521 Reservoir Ridge Natural Area offers rugged foothills trails with dramatic rock outcroppings, grasslands, and ponderosa pines. As the northernmost natural area managed by the City of Fort Collins, its a perfect spot for walking, hiking, and biking on natural surface trails. The Foothills Trail, looping 9.6 miles through three natural areas, offers a challenging experience. I love exploring this area because it transitions from grasslands to foothills, offering great views of Horsetooth Reservoir and the cityscape. Serving as the northern stop of the Foothills Trail, Reservoir Ridge connects to Pineridge and Maxwell Natural Areas, with trail markers guiding the way. Easy access is provided by the Overland Trail Rd parking lot. Riverbend Ponds Natural Area E Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80525 Riverbend Ponds Natural Area offers a network of trails winding through marshes, riparian areas, and grasslands, ideal for both a peaceful workout and nature observation. Depending on the season, visitors may spot pelicans, herons, gulls, ducks, cormorants, and more. If you are looking for a longer hike or trail run, connections to Cottonwood Hollow and Running Deer Natural areas extend the outdoor adventure. I enjoy hiking the entire system, starting at Riverbend and connecting to Cottonwood and Running Deer via the trail underpass beneath East Prospect Road. Get Outside! Fort Collins offers abundant opportunities for outdoor workouts, from bodyweight training in local parks to hiking, rucking, and trail running amidst scenic landscapes. Ready to take your fitness journey to the next level? Reach out to me now , and let's craft a customized training plan designed just for you! Before diving into any dietary changes and for personalized diet advice, consult with a registered dietitian.
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