By Christopher Gregg
Contributor
Looking for a challenging and unique way to kick off your day? Try
working out with the "Soccer Moms" at Dog Beach in Del Mar.
The 'Soccer Moms' participate in a tough workout on the beach in
Del Mar.
Photos by Christopher Gregg
Chris LeMay, founder and program drill instructor, began Soccer Moms in
the fall of 2007, and runs two programs per year; September to December
and January to June. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m., the
moms show up and the workouts begin. Dads and non-parents are always
welcome, and no prior soccer experience is necessary, LeMay said.
Make no mistake though. These aren't latte-chugging chat sessions,
either. The routines they go through work the body hard.
LeMay starts the group with light stretching, followed by five different
muscle-toning and cardio-pumping stations - sprints, leg-kicks, push
ups, side-to-sides, etc. - followed by a long run up the foothills,
triceps workouts, medicine ball lifts, stabilization and stomach
crunches, ending with a cool-down period.
There are short water and power bar breaks, but you name a muscle group,
and these moms are working it.
The cost is $20 a session or $175 for 10, and turnout has been brisk.
Turnout numbers are anywhere from 5 or 6 to as many as 16 at a session.
Local resident and dedicated Soccer Mom, Shelley Morris said "With the
Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, and a gorgeous eastern sunrise, what better
way to start your morning?"
LeMay got the idea for Soccer Moms from his primary venture,
SoccerInTheSand.
As a former soccer coach at UC Riverside, LeMay saw a need for a sand
soccer tournament series in San Diego, so he started SoccerInTheSand in
2006 and it has grown quickly ever since.
His first tournament was held in May 2007 with 24 teams competing. That
number more than tripled to 75 teams in May 2008, and he is expecting
approximately 144 teams for this year's big May event.
Tournaments are usually held at Mariner's or Crown Point in San Diego,
and the ages are U9 through adult, men's and women's teams and coed.
Rosters typically carry eight players and games are four against four
players with a goalie.
Costs are $250 per team for a one-day tournament and $350 per team for
two-day tournaments. SoccerInTheSand is also the only "traveling" sand
soccer tournament series of its kind.
Tournament stops include Santa Barbara, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Georgia, and more sites to be announced. Visit soccerinthesand.com for
complete info.
All above is courtesy of the Del Mar Times newspaper