If you have taken a walk along the Eden Fitness Trail (EFT) on a Thursday morning, you may have encountered a keen group of locals exercising at the fitness hub just down from the RSL Hall.
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The EFT Trail Blazers have become a regular sight at the hub, taking part in workouts designed by group facilitators and volunteers Cherie Mercado and Megan Poore.
Cherie, a retired physiotherapist said each workout session started with a warm-up and finished with a cool-down.
"And it's not a cruisy workout, either... Trail Blazers work for up to three minutes on each piece of equipment before we move them on to the next station with a short break in between," Cherie said.
Megan said the most impressive thing about the group was seeing the genuine improvements in people's strength and fitness levels, as well as their balance.
"We seem to notice big jumps every six to eight weeks, where suddenly people who started at the same time move up a level in their capabilities," Megan said.
What started as an orientation session led by Cherie and attended by five people in February 2021, has expanded to two hour-long exercise workouts with over 20 participants regularly taking part.
"We were getting 15, 16 people rock up each week, and the hub just couldn't accommodate that, logistically speaking," Megan said.
"So we've had to split the group in two and offer two start times. It's nice being a victim of our own success!"
Trail Blazers have initiated their own sessions, outside of the more structured Thursday workouts.
"I think this shows what can be achieved when community members put their heads together to improve the health and wellbeing of Eden locals", Cherie said.
"We also have special Trail Blazers T-shirts, which give us a sense of group solidarity... but anyone can buy one, just ask us!"
Many Trail Blazers head to a local café after their workout, further cementing their shared experience as a group.
The Trail Blazers post weekly updates via Facebook on the Eden Fitness Trail and Eden Voice groups, including photos of their activities.
"We've had great feedback on that, and people have said it's encouraged them to come along and join in," Cherie said.
The exercise hub opened in November 2020 and was built using funds from a NSW state government My Community Project grant, which was submitted by the Eden Fitness Trail Group in partnership with Bega Valley Shire Council.
The main exercise hub is located in Imlay Memorial Park on Calle Calle Street and is linked to three individual stations located along Aslings Beach Road.
The Trail Blazers meet every Thursday morning at 8.30am and 9.30am, weather permitting.
Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
