January 1, 2008 started like any other year. There were parties and parades, but more importantly, there were promises. And like every year, a majority of these promises involved getting in shape.

Early on, the pledges to drop the pounds are obvious, as packed gyms turned into places of ambition - places of resolution.

But every year, we see a steady trend start to take shape: The treadmills slow down, the ab classes unload, and resolutions that seemed so authentic in January quickly turn impractical.

“I’m too tired.”

“I just went (two weeks ago).”

“My favorite towel is in the washer.”

Whatever the reason, your exercise routine quickly falls by the wayside. Oh, well. Maybe next year…

But maybe it’s not a case of you failing at the gym. Maybe it’s a case of the gym failing you.

With the temperatures rising, we suggest taking a different approach. Here’s a look at some of our favorite fresh-air activities aimed at getting you out the door and back in shape this spring.

Lifting Off at Horizons Park
“Disc golf is played like ball golf using a flying disc.”

These 11 words greet you as you step onto the Horizons Park Disc Golf Course. The simple description does an excellent job of summing up the sport. Like golf, the objective is to play the 18-hole course from beginning to end in the fewest strokes (or throws) possible. To start playing, officials say all you need is a disc and about an hour of free time.

Built in 1981, the course has the distinction of being the first disc-golf site in the state. While this adds to its prestige, it also limits the course from a spacial standpoint. Horizons Park is notably shorter than most conventional sites, with holes averaging only 230 feet. But Mark Serosky, director of Forsyth County Parks and Recreation, sees the shortcoming as a plus.

“It’s the perfect course for beginners because it’s not incredibly long,” he says. “Even if you can’t throw the disc a mile, you can still have a good time.” What Horizons may lack in length, it makes up for in looks.

Timeless red barns, rolling green hills, and towering oak trees encompass the course, creating a setting that’s both simple and dynamic. Its untroubled charm is clear from the very first tee, where you can get views of nearby Pilot and Sauratown mountains.

The setting seems to make many of the players forget they’re actually exercising. While the workout isn’t strenuous, it is steady, and by the end of the course, players have covered 3,673 feet of terrain.

“It’s a good walk regardless of how bad I play,” Gregory Good says with a laugh. The Winston-Salem native is a regular at the course. He admits that by hole 10, he’s usually worked up a sweat. “You definitely get some exercise - you get a good cardio workout - and you have fun doing it.”

For more information, visit co.forsyth.nc.us/Parks.

THE VIEW FROM THE TOP
“Why can’t I climb up the big knob?” It’s a question park ranger Janet Pearson admits she hears all the time, and one she’s happy to answer.

According to Pearson, it wasn’t too long ago that climbers were allowed to scale up Pilot’s famed 200-foot pinnacle. The park used to have a rickety wooden staircase that allowed patrons to access the peak. The stairs were torn down in the early 1970s however, as park officials looked to install a more secure metal staircase.

During this time, the park brought in a group of biologists to take a natural-resource inventory of the mountain. The scientists discovered a host of rare plants taking root on the peak’s summit, most of which could only survive at high altitudes.

Also, the peak was found to be the nesting site of a rare bird, ironically called the common raven, which only dwells in areas high above human activity. In fact, there have been only two other confirmed nesting sites in the Piedmont.

At that point, officials decided it was in nature’s best interest to close off the pinnacle. In 1976, President Jimmy Carter declared the upper region of the park a natural landmark, securing the pinnacle from any future human activity.

While climbing isn’t allowed, there is a trail that takes you around the base of the mountain. Named after a local Indian word meaning guide, the Jomeokee trail is nearly a mile long, and brings you within touching distance of the crag.

Rising Up at Pilot Mountain
Matthew Simmons and Justin Shook are aching. The two East Carolina University students made the 4.5-hour drive from Greenville to Pilot Mountain with members of their Leisurely Activities class.

Take one look at their faces, and it’s painfully obvious - there’s nothing leisurely about rock climbing.

It’s the most intense upper-body workout I’ve ever done,” Shook says. “I lift weights regularly, but rock climbing forces you to use some secondary muscles you don’t really work out at the gym.”

Simmons agrees: “Everything’s hurting. My abs, my shoulders, my forearms - they’re all pretty sore.”

The two had spent weeks training on a 27-foot climbing wall, but admitted it didn’t exactly prepare them for the real thing. As Shook says, “there are no obvious grips out here,” hinting at the mental and physical strain authentic rock climbing creates.

Ingesting the day’s lessons, along with a few Tylenol, the duo stepped back onto the Greenville-bound bus, vowing to return some day.

Fortunately for us, we don’t have to spend hours in a crammed car to experience Pilot’s blessing. Approximately 25 minutes from Winston-Salem, the state park is easily accessible off Highway 52.

According to park ranger Janet Pearson, the park’s proximity is precisely why it’s such a popular spot. “In the afternoon, we see a lot of climbers who have gotten off work early,” Pearson says. “You can get a good climb in and still be back in time to eat dinner.”

While its location is a plus, the mountain’s most welcoming virtue is the range of climbs on hand. Beginners, who are best-suited for top roping or bouldering, can find a wealth of options for developing their skills. Pilot’s quartzite cliffs also form the foundation for some of the state’s most-heralded climbs, such as the classic Devil in the White House.

If you’re interested in getting started, Pearson suggests you choose your climbing company wisely. “The most important thing you can do is to find someone with experience and bring them with you,” she says. “Don’t try to learn by yourself.”

It’s free to start climbing - just fill out a permit at the climbing display board, located at the summit of the park. From there, you can take off down the Ledge Springs Trail, cross down in the Three Bears Gulley, and start looking up.

For a climbing guide, go to carolinaclimbers.org.

Take a Hike
Finding a place to take a stroll in our area is literally a walk in the park. Forsyth County contains a variety of paths and greenways that are sure to both energize and enlighten. Here’s a quick look at some of our favorites:

BETHABARA GREENWAY: Take a step back in time on this 2.7-mile path, which winds through Historic Bethabara Park - the first Moravian settlement in the state. The trail runs from Reynolda Commons Shopping Center to Crown Oaks Apartments. 2147 Bethabara Road, Winston-Salem.

REYNOLDA GARDENS: Two walking trails wander throughout the 125-acre preserve known as the Greater Gardens. The woodland trail stretches approximately 0.75 miles, while the perimeter trail goes 1.5 miles. Many of the estate’s celebrated structures are found near the walkways. 100 Reynolda Village, Winston-Salem.

UNION CROSS PARK: Great for people-watching, this 1,600-foot path snakes through the park’s heavily used softball and tennis facilities. “The Old Radar Base,” as it’s sometimes called, contains a five-story concrete radar tower that once served as a surveillance post for the Air Force. 1935 Union Cross Road, Winston-Salem.

TRIAD PARK: Triad Park, a joint venture of Forsyth and Guilford counties, features a 1.5-mile hiking loop through the woods. Two separate paths are found on the course - one for moderate hikers and another for more advanced. And if you get tired of walking, there’s always the rock climbing playground. 9652 E. Mountain St., Kernersville.

DOWNTOWN STROLLWAY: Completed in 1990, the Downtown Strollway serves as a connector between Old Salem and the downtown district. The 1.15-mile greenway is a favorite of downtown workers looking for a scenic midday walk, along with area bikers and joggers. Fourth Street, between Cherry and Liberty streets.

Teeing Off at Tanglewood
“It’s golf for Average Joes,” describes golfer Joshua Wood of Tanglewood’s Par-3. The depiction of the classic Clemmons course is a fitting one. While it shares the same terrain as the park’s renowned PGA Championship Course, Tanglewood’s Par-3 is a place anyone can enjoy.

“I found out I wasn’t really cut out for ‘real’ golf,” Wood says, laughing. “But out here I’m not too bad - I don’t lose all my balls.”

It’s the Par-3’s inviting nature that sets it apart from other courses. Whether they’re children getting their first taste of the sport, or seniors playing their weekly round, visitors to the course say it is truly one for the ages. To play, you only need a few clubs, a few balls, and about two hours of free time.

Constructed in the late 1950s, the Par-3 was billed as a family alternative to the Championship Course. The holes are relatively short, the longest being around 100 yards. But don’t let the course’s compactness confuse you - it’s no walk in the park. Water hazards, sand traps, and uneven terrain can present problems for beginners and experts alike. Couple this with the small greens, and you’ll see why it’s nearly impossible to make even-par.

But shooting a 54 isn’t the primary objective of most people at the Par-3. Mike Wilcox, the park’s head professional, says most course-goers are just looking for a quick, inexpensive way to work on their game. He adds, “it’s just a super way to spend an afternoon.”

Wilcox isn’t kidding. The park’s grassy pastures and towering trees serve as a perfect reflection of our area’s simple, wonderful geography. A quaint duck pond borders the course, and actually makes an appearance on the 13th hole, forcing golfers to go airborne to avoid it. The whole atmosphere seems to serve as a utopia of sorts, making it easy to enjoy the day and forget the score.

“The biggest thing is to just relax and have fun while you’re out there,” Wilcox says. “You’re going to have a much better time if you’re not taking it too seriously.”

For more information, go to co.forsyth.nc.us/Tanglewood.

Making Par at Shaffner Park
One of the area’s most frequented exercise facilities is the par course at Shaffner Park. Just off Silas Creek Parkway, the par course is a 1.1-mile path featuring 20 exercise stations.

“It’s basically an outdoor workout area,” says Haley Gingles, marketing director for Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks. “Each one of the stations is designed to work out a different muscle in the body.”

The course begins with a few warm-up stations designed to stimulate your cardiovascular activity. The pace quickly picks up though, as the exercises become increasingly challenging. Chin-up stations, monkey bars, and a balance beam are just a few of the movements visitors perform along the way.

Aesthetic ornaments add to the course’s appeal. A creek, with its abundance of ducks, presents a nice centerpiece to the park. Couple this with picnic tables, bird feeders, and a variety of trees, and you have a convenient escape from the real-world bustle.

The 6,003-foot loop ends much like it begins, with a few cool-down exercises along with a congratulatory sign and a reminder that regular use will add to your vitality and good health.

Shaffner Park’s par course is open from dawn to 10:30 p.m. Bikes and dogs are not allowed, but are permitted at the park’s neighboring trail, the Silas Creek Greenway.

Rolling On at Salem Lake
They come by the hundreds it seems. Some dart by, as if they’re chasing the last few hours of daylight on this otherwise serene Sunday evening. Others take a casual approach, laughing as they pedal through one of the area’s most beloved attractions.

“It’s just such a nice, relaxing ride,” says Tim Musser, a local cyclist. “A lot of times, I come out here with my daughter and put her on the back of my bike - she loves it.”

On this day, Musser has come with friend Jason Long. The two men have been riding for nearly a two hours, estimating they’ve traveled about seven miles. Exhausted, Long reaches for a calorie-monitoring device attached to his bike. “A thousand,” he says. “I just burned over a thousand calories, and I wasn’t even riding that hard!”

Aside from a couple of sharp inclines, the 6.94-mile ride features little in the way of extreme challenges. But the natural wonder of the path allows riders to roll along for hours without losing interest.

“There’s just a lot of natural beauty out there,” Gingles says. “It’s shaded by a lot of trees, and there’s a nice breeze blowing off the water. It’s a really comfortable ride.”

While this particular afternoon takes on a Tour de France-like feel, the trail hasn’t always been so popular.

The path was established in 1919 by the Utility Department of Winston-Salem, and was predominantly used as a patrol route for the lake warden. While walkers weren’t turned away, they also weren’t openly welcomed.

Then in 1967, the trail was turned over to the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. While popularity grew, the trail still suffered one major flaw - a lack of continuity. A portion of the lake split the trail along the Northern edge, forcing bikes to turn around and backtrack when they reached a certain point. This changed in 1990 however, as the city placed a bridge in the area, linking the two disjoined sections and creating the harmonious loop we now enjoy.

For more information, go to cityofws.org.

From the peaks of Pilot Mountain to the shores of Salem Lake, there’s a certain wonder - a certain brilliance - across our landscape. Instead of simply passing through these areas, why not get out and explore them? Toss a disc at Horizons Park as the sun starts to set. Swing the nine iron at Tanglewood while the dew is still fresh. Who knows, you just might be able to keep that resolution after all.