feature
EcoTrEk FiTnEss ownEr cari DraFT runs ThE sTEps aT John Ball park
EcoTrek sends fitness buffs over the dunes and through the woods
by Bona Van Dis • Thursday, July 22, 2010
Energy. Pure and contagious. No caffeine required.
That's Cari Draft in a nutshell.
Her goal is to make West Michigan more fit, and she's
scampering over sand dunes, climbing hills and jumping
mud puddles to make it happen.
Draft's business, EcoTrek Fitness in Spring Lake, is redefining what a workout can be, and it's already made
hundreds of people convert to tromping through the
woods in search of a healthier life.
Based on her initial success in West Michigan, Draft is
taking her slant on outdoor fitness to other states. A few
months ago, she opened an EcoTrek Fitness in Morgantown, W. Va. and hopes to open one in Summit County,
Colo. in the spring next year.
No such thing as bad weather
The attraction of EcoTrek Fitness is its emphasis on the
beauty of nature, and Draft says only lightening will prevent her from getting people outside, year round, to work
out.
"People get to see parks and trails they've never seen before," says Draft, 45, a graduate from Coopersville High
School and Grand Valley State University with a bachelor's degree in advertising/public relations and graphic
design. "The variety is awesome and being outside helps
people stay young and active."
EcoTrek Fitness is an original, group fitness program,
not a franchise, created by Draft that integrates cardio,
strength training and flexibility in a 75-minute session.
Draft refers to the workouts as physical and mental fitness training.
Every workout, from the lakeshore to Coopersville to
Grand Rapids, is held outdoors in a well-researched,
strategic location. She or one of her nine series leaders
choreographs each session, utilizing the landscape and
making prolific use of sand dunes, rolling hills and various man-made "props." Draft says a picnic table is a perfect place for tricep dips or push-ups, and bleachers are
the best for toning legs and glutes.
"The great thing about being outside is that you're totally
unaware you're doing squats and building your core
strength," Draft says. "We jump over mud puddles. It's
so fun to see people acting like little kids."
Draft quickly attests that weather should not play a factor
in exercise routines. "There is no such thing as bad
weather, only bad choices in clothing," her website insists.
The key, Draft says, is dressing for the situation. If you
dress in layers, there's no reason for not enjoying the outdoors, even in the depth of winter. To prove her point,
she offers guided snowshoeing events in February.
The purpose of EcoTrek is to get people moving and get
them outside. Draft thinks
the most logical form of
exercise happens right
outside a person's front
door…or along a steep
dune by Lake Michigan.
Although she would
never scoff at a gym, she's
a firm believer that exercise can and should be accessible and inexpensive.
EcoTrek Fitness workouts cost $12 for a single session (pay as you go), or multiple sessions can be purchased at a discounted rate.
myself avoiding exercise altogether. Cari is an awesome
motivator who pushes me to do my best. EcoTrek is a
great fit for anyone."
Once an EcoTrekker, always an EcoTrekker
Wherever you are in West Michigan, there's an EcoTrek
Fitness session within 15 minutes. The nine series, scattered throughout the area, comprise 100 different routes.
And, just in case you don't feel like pouring sand or
pulling twigs out of your shoes at the end of a workout,
EcoTrek has numerous urban locations.
100-mph woman
Draft believes that if you ask a busy woman to get something done, she will get it done. She thrives on the fast
pace of her life, not to mention the speed of her Yamaha
V-Star Classic 650 motorcycle.
EcoTrekkers are known for their extreme loyalty.
"It's a good addiction," says Draft. "The workouts change
every session, so boredom is never a factor."
Vicki Wenger has been attending EcoTrek sessions for
almost three years, and has converted a colleague and
her husband.
"EcoTrek is truly like no other workout I have ever
done," says Wenger, 45. "I can honestly say that I still
look forward to each and every session."
"My energy comes from my clients," Draft asserts. "I
probably wouldn't be out climbing dunes at 5:30 in the morning,
if it wasn't for them."
Draft says people at any level of fitness are invited to
join even if they are "fresh off the couch." EcoTrekkers
are encouraged to work at their own level, so there's
never a feeling of intimidation or competition.
After working as a graphic designer for nearly twenty years in
the Grand Rapids metro area,
Draft lost her verve for the mainstream marketing world. She
changed directions and became
an ACE certified fitness trainer,
receiving a specialized outdoor
action certification at the Nike
headquarters in Oregon.
"My philosophy is to build people up. I'm not one of
those 'break them down to build them up' trainers. I encourage a common sense approach to fitness, including
healthy eating choices."
When Draft returned from her Nike outdoor training, she
asked a few friends to join her for a trial run, and voilà,
EcoTrek Fitness was born.
Draft spent one year as the sole trainer, sculpting
EcoTrek into what it is today. That was over six years
ago. She now employs nine other leaders.
Word-of-mouth, Draft insists, is still one of the best ways
to reach the masses.
A friend told Kristy Kehl, a triathlete and firefighter for
the city of Grand Rapids, about EcoTrek Fitness, and she
immediately became a diehard fan.
"I found myself in an 'exercise slump,' says Kehl, 36. "I
was sick of doing the same workout everyday and found
The number of
EcoTrekkers grows
daily, and Draft says
that more than 2000
people have passed
through its "doors"
since 2006.
Draft also finds time
to be a personal
trainer with her OneOnOne Fitness business, and offers
corporate fitness, Bridal Bootcamps for brides and their
bridesmaids, and specialized sessions for church and
school groups.
"If you sit down and sit still, life just passes by," Draft
says. So, if you're looking for some motivation, get outside and find Cari Draft. She's waiting.
Bona Van Dis is a copywriter, editor and project manager for Reagan Marketing+Design. She lives in East
Grand Rapids with her husband and two young sons.
Photographs by Brian Kelly -All Rights Reserved