Ditch the Crowds at the Gym for a Better Workout
Hidden Staircases of LA
With the start of the New Year, it is the busiest time of the year at the gym. It’ is great to have so many people enthusiastic about fitness, but sometimes the gym can be overwhelming at this time. As I was looking for alternatives to the gym, hiking is of course a great option here in Southern California. As I was looking for a new trail to check out I discovered a set of stairs that created a great leg day workout. Apparently, there are many of these hidden staircases around LA so; my first goal for the New Year is to run all the hidden staircases in LA in 2016. I started with Baxter Stairs in Echo Park.
1.
Name: Baxter Stairs
Location: Begins at 1501 Baxter St.; Ends at 2101 Park Drive
Steps: 231 Steps
Parking: Free street parking before 6 AM – 8 PM near 2101 Park Drive
Pets: The trails are dog friendly and are a great place for trained dogs to play.
Other Information: The street leading to the top of the stairs is steep and narrow, so be extremely cautious when driving. Once you reach the top of the stairs you are rewarded with amazing views of downtown LA. Additionally, there are many trails behind the stairs that offer more great views and make a good easy hike.
2.
Name: Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (Culver City Stairs)
Location: 6300 Hetzler Road, Culver City, CA 90232
Steps: 282 steps (375 ft. above sea level)
Parking: Ample Street Parking available
Pets: No
Other Information: The stairs lead you to a platform that offers views of the DTLA skyline as well as Century City.
My workout: "Stair suicides"- Climb to the top of the staircase. After resting a hydrating walk back 3/4 way down the stairs. Climb back to the top of the staircase. Walk back 1/2 way down the stairs. Climb back to the top of the staircase. Walk back 1/4 way down the stairs. Climb back to the top of staircase. There are many breaks in the stairs (with dirt platforms so that you can rest as needed). I used these breaks as my 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 stopping points for the suicides.
After completing the stairs follow the walking trail to come back down to your starting point. Jog .25 miles until you reach the bench. (If the pressure is too much on your knees try jogging backwards). At the bench grab our towel or mat and complete the workout with core work.
-60 secs high plank
-10 moving planks
-10 push-ups
-20 shoulder taps (in plank position)
-In and outs (2 sets x 20 reps)
- Russian twists (50 reps)
Be sure to stay hydrated, especially if going on a hot day! Enjoy!
I will continue to update this post with a review on each staircase once completed. Stay tuned…
-body.by.ja