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DELAWARE

Having a really good time and staying fit in Fenwick

JENNIFER POPIEL
DELMARVANOW CORRESPONDENT
Fitness on the beach while having fun is what the hipAHA camp is all about.

hipAHA is a Native American expression from tribes around the Delmarva region which translates to “having a really good time!” 

Students in a fitness class, held on the beach at Fenwick Island during summer, concur that this is the perfect name for the workout group in which all have a significant role of putting fun back into fitness.

Whether a local resident or vacationing for a week, anyone is welcome to stop by the beach in Fenwick — 7 days a week at 7:30 a.m. — to join one of the many classes offered: yoga, boot camp, HIIT, Tabata circuit, and Navy SEALS hipAHA style. 

Although this is a summer-only fitness class, a small group of women gather in the off-season to train for a variety of fitness-related events that are held throughout the year in various locations. 

Three women, Chris DeStefano, Elaine Wright and Becka McWilliams discuss their fitness journey with hipAHA and its leader, Lori Martin.   

Can you describe how you discovered hipAHA and what ways has it changed your outlook on fitness?

Chris DeStefano: Since 2004, my family and I have gone back and forth between two residences (Annapolis and Fenwick).  Since I love my life here at the beach, I wanted to be connected. 

One day while shopping in Fenwick, I found an advertisement for a weekend-long bikini boot camp, all women’s retreat. It sounded like fun, but I was apprehensive at first because I had not exercised, officially, in years. 

Although I was nervous, I signed up and it was one of the best things I had ever done. The summer classes on the beach is no comparison to being inside of a gym. Lori jokes, “in addition to your workout, you get a free sand-dermabrasion.” 

The classes are regimented, yet relaxed; focused, yet fun. There is a place and challenge for every level of fitness. Women bring their friends, daughters and even husbands. Everyone who comes to boot camp has one thing in common: their desire for fitness.

 

However, most of us have realized that fitness is not about muscle workouts. We have read a 75-year study from Harvard that cited social ties are the secret to a long and fulfilling life. 

 

This workout group over the years has grown to something more than just one-hour beach sessions. Women have found friendships, traveled for destination fitness vacations and/or joined each other for marathons, half marathons, triathlons, bike tours, surf lessons, rope courses, salad parties, after-class coffee, farmers markets and happy hours. 

 

We have built friendships, have been there for each other through many of life’s challenges — divorce, motherhood, illness and just recently the loss of one of our dear friends this May.  It is an open-arm group of women empowering women.

 

Elaine Wright:  I was always into fitness before, but I joined the group six years ago.  I was new here in town and it was a great way to meet new people and stay motivated. Some of the women I have become good friends with. 

I prefer the long-distance running training — I have done a few marathons, an ultra-marathon (50K) and many half marathons. Prior to joining the group I never had done anything like that before. 

My very first marathon was the Flying Pirate in the Outer Banks with a whole group of women – I think there were about 10 of us that ran together from hipAHA. After that, I was motivated from there on out to do more. 

It is hard to keep going sometimes, but we work together to push each other, we talk while we run, we listen to music. It is easy to stay in shape when you are working out with a group of people you really like. Lori is a motivating leader for all of us. 

Becka McWilliams:  This is my 10th year participating in boot camp after meeting Lori at a party who encouraged me to try one of her boot camp classes. Prior to that I was always active, especially with softball. I had kids late in life and my main focus was on them, but they kept me very active. 

I never ran before, but a year after being with the group, I ran in my first marathon. I then moved on to doing triathlons and completed several half marathons.Honestly, I lost track how many events I have done. 

Joining hipAHA got me started in the right direction and I thank Lori because she is such a positive role model. I initially lost 25 pounds and have been able to maintain my weight since. 

As I get older, the program gets harder, but I still enjoy it and I hope to continue the exercise journey provided my joints do not give out. This is a great group of people who are so motivating and positive. We try to maintain our goals throughout the winter even though our group dwindles in size by then since there are not many participants who are full-time beach residents.

When training with Lori she had this way of taking it one mile at a time and before I knew it I was up to 20 miles and said to myself, how the heck did that just happen because anything over 3 miles was too grueling for me.

Somehow though, she was able to get me to push through it. However, it is one and done for me. I plan on continuing with half marathons though because training does not take up as much time. 

A group of us gathered to go to Disney World to run the Princess Run, Goofy Relay and went to Outer Banks, North Carolina, the last five years for the Flying Pirate half marathon.  

IF YOU GO

hipAHA boot camp

Where: East Atlantic Street beach, Fenwick Island,

When: 7 days a week in the summer

Time: 7:30 a.m.

Info: Lori Martin at 302-539-1290 or hipaha@hotmail.com