Mike Camunas, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, September 23, 2008
At YMCA boot camp, there’s no need for sunscreen because the sun hasn’t risen yet. Participants get started at 5:45 a.m. by running in the parking lot of the Hernando branch in Spring Hill. From there, they head to the pool for some laps.
They get to the YMCA before the sun is up. They get told what to do, stifle another yawn, then do it anyway.
They're athletes at the YMCA Hernando Branch's boot camp class that starts at 5:45 a.m. They have a "drill instructor" who pushes them for a good workout by running and then doing aerobics in the pool for 45 minutes or so.
"It's more like a self-endurance thing," 44-year-old Spring Hill resident Fernando Tercero said. "It's a challenge within yourself and everybody gets to participate, but it still goes above the normal workout."
Their so-called drill sergeant, Jenn Siem, will have them run in the Y's parking lot for about 15 minutes. Then they will hurry to the pool for laps and taking turns with a medicine ball.
"I do push them hard," Siem said, "but I don't have the voice (of a drill sergeant) to yell at them. That's just not my style."
Her style doesn't include a Louis-Gossett-Jr.-in-An-Officer-and-A-Gentleman performance, but Siem can be forceful, making sure participants keep to the regimen, but if things get too difficult, she relents quickly.
"We have people who have never done group exercise before and people that come out here every day," Siem said. "And the good thing is that they're picking each other up, but it's also for people who need to get done earlier and get out of here and those who do need the challenge as well."
Boot camp lasts six weeks and the classes get progressively harder. Siem mixes up the routines so participants don't know what to expect each time. The program is free to Y members, but nonmembers are also welcome for $135. Then, they get to use the fitness trails, pools and other facilities.
Members or not, most say that getting up even before farmers and garbage collectors is not the hardest part.
"It's something different and every class changes, but I really thought it would be fun to go at 5:30 a.m.," said Kim McAuley, a third-grade teacher. "I used to laugh at people who'd get up this early and do this, but this is really the only time I can get here to work out.
"The first five minutes of waking up that early is the hardest, but once you get going you feel fine and once you're done with it, you feel much better."
The early wakeup call doesn't bother Tercero, either, but he agrees that getting an early-morning workout helps him throughout his day.
"It's the type of work that you do, that endurance that (Siem) puts you through," Tercero said. "It's not so much the hour that you train — it will eventually get harder as you get better at it.
"But it gives you a little more energy, once you're done, that you have all day."
And it'll seem as though Siem has the most energy out of the group. She has to when she's "barking orders" but realizes the early hour of the class and helps people through it with just the right workout.
"This has been the earliest class I've done here," Siem said. "Once you get past those first couple of classes, these people have formed friendships and finally they're having fun and enjoying it.
"There will be a lot of tired faces, but they really feel like they've accomplished something at the end of the class."
Community Sports Editor Mike Camunas can be reached at mcamunas@sptimes.com or (352) 544-1771.
>>Fast facts
YMCA boot camp
When: 5:45 a.m. to about 6:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Where: YMCA Hernando Branch, 1300 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill.
Each session lasts six weeks and this one ends Oct. 10. Next one starts Oct. 13 and goes to Nov. 21. The program is open to YMCA members for free and to nonmembers for $135 for the six weeks, which includes use of the entire facility during that time.
For information, call Jenn Siem at (352) 688-9622.
Boot camps in Pasco:
Where: YMCA, James P. Gills Family Branch, 8411 Photonics Drive, New Port Richey.
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