Staying physically fit is an important part of keeping you healthy overall. Being a student at Sacramento State can be overwhelming and in order to relieve a bit of that education-induced stress, exercise can be a useful tool in keeping your fragile psyche sane during the semester.

“Mentally and physically, exercise puts you in a better mood,” Darrnell Worthy, junior sociology major and football player, said. “Exercising helps me focus in school; it releases endorphins similar to sex.”

Senior sociology major Andrew Kawagoe agrees.

“Working out and exercising is sexy, and ultimately, attractive,” Kawagoe said. “It shows you’re actively trying to keep yourself healthy and want to have fun. Exercising is a satisfying aspect of life and should be enjoyed.”

Running can be considered a great way to burn calories, work your heart out and relieve stress and Sacramento can be considered a great place to run.

Everyday, loads of people are out jogging in different areas of the campus. Joining exercise classes or school athletic teams used to be the only university-sponsored option for staying fit. The running group Hornets on the Move is a new option for students to join in on some good old calorie-burning times.

Hornets on the Move is a running and walking group that runs primarily along the American River trails outlining the Sac State campus. You can see the group on campus two times a week getting their fitness on.

The group started at the beginning of the fall semester of 2006 and is affiliated with the campus. It is free to join.

Jasmine Sekhon, the group’s president, was unable to be reached for information regarding the group, but Shauna Schultz, registered dietitian, was able to give some insight into the active club.

“Hornets on the Move is a recognized student organization working in conjunction with and advised by the Sac State Student Health Center’s Health Education Department,” Schultz said.

The runners meet twice a week: Mondays from 1-2 p.m. and Thursdays from 3-4 p.m.

They begin their expedition at the Student Health Center. They take a quick walk to the levee trails by the dormitories and begin their workout. Their run is continued around the resident’s hall and out toward Howe Avenue and Watt Avenue bordering the campus, Schultz said.

Beyond the actual workouts, students in the club are also motivated to fuel their bodies correctly and have been known to seek diet guidance from Schultz.

“I don’t get involved with the runner’s diets,” Schultz said. “But generally I tell students that they will feel better if they’re fueled better.”

Kawagoe seconds that motion.

“People don’t know that eating right is the first step to getting a six pack,” Kawagoe said. “Not just crunches and running burn off the fat.”

After five running sessions with the group, a runner can be considered a member and even receives a free T-shirt. The shirt is a Dri-FIT-type shirt with the group’s logo on it.

What we’re trying to say here is they will give you something for free just for getting yourself out there and making the effort. One might ask, how can you go wrong with that?

Besides the motivation and free stuff, another reason to join the club is the fact that it does its part in unifying the runners of our campus.

Almost every student I spoke with agreed that the club was a good idea and they’d want to join it.

“Personally, I think the club is awesome,” Schultz said. “To my knowledge there are not that many walking and runner’s clubs and it is a wonderful opportunity to meet on campus to walk and run.”

The biggest reason why clubs like these are so successful is because of the group aspect. It keeps people coming and helps retain attendance. If anything, someone might not want to go, but feels forced to in order to not let the group down.

“Coming to participate in a group setting is a little more motivating,” Schultz said. “It assists you in increasing your accountability.”

Most of the students spoken to agreed that joining a club like this would help them stick to a more normal routine of exercise. It also could help with motivation for dieting as well.

“Working out with other people motivates me to stay fit,” Kawagoe said. “Plus you get all the benefits because you’re joining a social network.”

The message behind this club and other similar groups around the campus is that of healthy living overall.

“I want to stress to people that small changes in fitness levels and diets can lead to big health rewards,” Schultz said. “Go out, be fit, have fun.”

Briana Monasky can be reached at [email protected]