By Will Gilson, Currier Times Staff///

With the new year starting and Spring Break around the corner, the Curry College Fitness Center’s annual Back to the Beach Challenge, which runs until March 7th, is in full swing.

Kevin Blackmur, the Associate Director of Fitness Recreation and Sport, says the challenge, which started in 2018, is a great way to keep students focused on their fitness goals.

“People try to hit their fitness goals trying to stick with it after New Years so this is something to kind of keep them motivated after a lot of people would tend to drop off,” Blackmur said.

Blackmur also mentions a raffle system in which you must follow the Fitness Center Instagram (@curry_college_fitness) to enter, and you earn tickets: one ticket for weekday visits, two for weekend visits, and four if you attend one of the programs offered, with a prize drawing every Friday.

“Each week one of my managers is in charge of it, and they pick a prize ranging from headphones or GNC gift cards or athletic equipment,” Blackmur said. “And that is announced on Instagram and we tag you, so that is kind of the idea of why you need to follow the Instagram for it.”

Students on campus are very engaged and excited about Back to The Beach. Senior Marketing major, Drew Rowell, who’s been doing the challenge since his freshman-year, enjoys the raffle part of the contest.

“I love being able to win prizes,” Rowell said. “Sometimes I go here multiple times a day just to get more tickets.”

In addition to the raffle, you can also win a t-shirt at the end of the challenge if you visit 15 days of the 30-day challenge.

“Each year we print off an exclusive one-time t-shirt,” Blackmur said. “If you are very committed and make 15 days, you get that t-shirt as sort of a prize for your commitment”.

Blackmur anticipates the success of the challenge to continue.

“It’s a great way to get more people involved and stay here,” Blackmur said. “No matter what you’re doing on your fitness journey, as long as you’re here, it’s doing something good.”