Why you should give a #CLTFreeWorkout a shot

I dragged my carcass out for a quick lunchtime jog yesterday and accidentally ended up on one of the brand-new #CLTFreeWorkout routes.

The routes, created through a partnership between OrthoCarolina and marketing/branding company #thesavageway, use “Clean Graffiti” markings on sidewalks to direct someone (like me, the unsuspecting jogger) through a self-led workout.

These free bodyweight workouts were designed by OrthoCarolina physician assistant Aaron Hewitt and can thus far be found along six 800-1,000-foot stretches of sidewalk in six neighborhoods near uptown: Dilworth, West Charlotte, Sedgefield, NoDa, Cherry and Wilmore. They all feature the same moves.

“It’s really just about becoming more active,” said Hewitt in a press release.

The patch I came across was along McDonald Avenue in Dilworth and I suddenly felt like the universe was shouting in my face to do something other than my lazy jog, so I gave it a shot.

I liked the way the #CLTFreeWorkout began: With air squats. Because nothing breaks down your ego quite like stopping and popping some squats in the middle of a sidewalk while cars are passing.

Ego dissolved, I jogged to the next one: full arm circles.

Which got me loose and warmed up for what followed: push-ups. At this point, since my face was basically on the sidewalk, a passing car slowed down to (a) see what the heck I was up to and/or (b) check and make sure I was OK. (I was OK.)

An arrow indicated I should probably continue on.

So I started lunging. At this time I’ll point out that I was the only one on the sidewalk doing this, but it’s cool that the goal of this campaign is to make a healthy lifestyle accessible to people in Charlotte outside of the gym.

“The experience of working out can sometimes be just as important as the workout itself,” said Bruce Cohen, CEO of OrthoCarolina, in a press release. “Sometimes just taking that first step to get out there and give it a try can encourage the inner athlete in all of us.”

I didn’t really feel like my inner athlete had been unleashed, but I was certainly having a different athletic experience from my usual “I only practice yoga” routine.

The final arrow had me jogging toward the finish, with 10 jumping jacks and a 30-second plank. By the jumping jacks portion, I was flopping my arms and feeling free, not caring about passersby anymore. Also I had broken a sweat.

My plank station was all up in the mud (so, this #CLTFreeWorkout situation may be a bit hindered by inclement weather) and I’m not hardcore enough to sink my hands into that slop — yet.

This whole workout round (assuming I had done my plank) took a little over four minutes.The final sign tells you to repeat five times, so plan for a 20-to-25-minute workout.

What I liked most about this exercise was its intentional focus on body weight exercises. Similar to yoga, this kind of circuit is a reminder that you already have everything you need to get stronger — your body and your own internal motivator. And maybe this video showing you how to properly execute each exercise.

Now you just have to hit the sidewalk.

Photos: Katie Toussaint

This story was originally published August 8, 2016 at 10:00 PM with the headline "Why you should give a #CLTFreeWorkout a shot."