Active Lifestyle

Transcript

All right, now let’s head up the Brazos River to Cameron Park, a 416-acre urban park that’s about 10 minutes from campus. Mike, a junior double majoring in history and English with a minor in business administration, is waiting for us. He’s gonna tell us about the many outdoor activities Baylor students enjoy to stay active and have fun. Mike, you’re up.

Aloha from Waco. One of my favorite things about the Baylor and Waco community are the countless opportunities to get outside and stay active. Even though we’re located in Central Texas, Waco surprisingly has a lot to offer when it comes to water activities. I’m from Honolulu, Hawaii, so I’m always looking for a way to get out on the water. Baylor University is located on the Brazos River, and has a marina of its own. At the marina, Baylor students can rent paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, all for free. There’s also a great sand volleyball area at the marina, which is the perfect place to hang out with your friends on a hot Texas day. There’s also Lake Waco, about a 15-minute drive from campus. It’s perfect for wakeboarding and just hanging out with your friends on the beach. I really got acquainted with the Brazos River the summer of my sophomore year. I recommend grabbing some of your friends and eating lunch along the river. My favorite place in Waco is definitely Cameron Park. Cameron Park is known for its rolling hills, scenic views, and bamboo forest. There are over 20 miles of biking trails that I prefer to use as hiking trails. These trails are relatively easy. They require little to no experience. Even my 11-month-old puppy, Beans, loves to go on these trails. There’s also a disc golf course and a zoo within the park. If I get too busy to drive to Cameron Park, Baylor’s campus has the Bear Trail. The Bear Trail is a trail that goes in and around our campus for a little over two miles. It’s perfect to run on in the early mornings and late evenings. College is a great time to be active, but you also have to make memories. A great Baylor tradition is called the Gut Pak Run. Runners run to a famous restaurant in Waco called Vitek’s. Runners quickly consume their famous specialty, the Gut Pak. The Gut Pak consists of sausage, beans, barbecue, cheese, and a Frito pie. The crazy part is, after eating the Frito pie, you run a mile back to campus to finish the race. If you’re an average to above average long-distance runner, I recommend running the Bearathon. It’s known as the hardest half marathon in Texas. Many of the students here will train together so they can run or walk it as a group. Waco also hosts an Ironman competition which is a qualifier for the Ironman Championship in my home state of Hawaii. And that’s how I spend my time outdoors and relax here at Baylor. Back to you, Alex.

-Thanks, Mike. That was amazing, and so is the scenery. Thanks for introducing us to Beans, and showing us the trails at Cameron Park, and the Gut Pak sounds pretty delicious, too. Thanks again, Mike. Take care.