By Cole Freshkorn

Staff Writer

The Big Red Fitness Club takes care of their business, both in and out of the gym. When one thinks about the “CrossFit” style of training, sometimes the real definition of what it is can get lost.

CrossFit is a program developed to offer a full-body workout that combines different elements of cardio, Olympic weight lifting, gymnastics, core training and more to prepare the body for the unexpected.

These high-intensity workouts are extremely varied and all about getting the most bang for your workout buck.

A CrossFitter will likely never do the same routine twice in one week and each workout will usually last between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the activities involved for that workout.

These intense workouts are exactly what the Big Red Fitness Club specializes in, incorporating all of these different techniques, as well as varying levels of instruction for members of all experience levels, from gym newbies to CrossFit champions.

The club here on campus is fairly new, founded in the spring of 2013.

“I noticed that there was a lack of fitness and health-related campus organizations at the school, and I wanted to change that and help out the student body in a positive way,” said Max Ungar ’16, president and founder of the Big Red Fitness Club.

Max also doubles as a leading instructor for the workouts.

“I had a lot of background with fitness and health, and I figured there was no better way to expand on my interests and help others who share that same interest than starting a club.”

As CrossFit grows in popularity, so does the popularity of the Big Red Fitness Club.

Spots for the club’s weekly workouts-Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 pm, and Saturdays at noon-are limited, usually capped at 25 participants per session.

These workouts are held at Always Forward CrossFit, a gym in Granville off of Denison’s campus.

“I think moving to Granville helped us, because we were able to use a faculty that was specifically designed for what we want to do as a club, as well as establish connections and contacts with the Granville community, as well as make connections with the trainers from Always Forward,” Ungar continued. Founding the club and helping students and faculty become more active through meetings.

Big Red Fitness has had a good start but the students behind it have a bigger plan in mind.

“We want to be able to pass the baton off to the freshmen, and have them take leadership positions in the club, for when we are gone and graduated and don’t really have a say anymore. Also, we want to spread out the club in the coming years, and make it a larger ‘umbrella’ organization for other fitness genres, for people that have certain fitness goals and interests,” Ungar stated.

The Big Red Fitness Club is growing stronger and stronger with every workout, just like the people who partake in it.