That goes through your mind when you think of boot camp? If you are thinking of traditional military survival training led by a ferocious drill instructor, think again! The new and very popular fitness boot camp programs that have sprung up all over the country are known for their camaraderie among participants, use of the natural beauty of the great outdoors, working at your own pace toward your own personal goals, and above all, having fun while getting fit.

For Patty Marsico and Catherine Whelan, co-founders of Front Range Outdoor Fitness, the purposes of their boot camps is to provide participants with fun but challenging outdoor workouts and guidance to help each woman meet her own fitness goals, they say. On their Web site is the header, “Serious Fun for Serious Fitness,” and both Patty and Catherine share a philosophy about combining fitness with fun.

Additionally, these two fitness professionals are well-matched in their educational backgrounds and specialized training. Both women have degrees in kinesiology, certifications as Health Fitness Specialists, and certifications as massage therapists. They have combined their knowledge and understanding of how the body works, their years of experience as personal trainers, and their love of the outdoors to create Front Range Outdoor Fitness, which opened in March of this year. They launched their inaugural “Spring Boot Camp for Women Only” on April 6th. The boot camp is held from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m., which is “the best and most beautiful part of the day,” according to Patty.

Although the spring boot camp was scheduled to run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during April and May, the participants and trainers made a decision to extend the camp through the end of June. Recently, the group decided to keep going throughout the summer, through the last week of August. Catherine and Patty encourage anyone who is interested to call, e-mail, or visit the Web site and make arrangements to attend. Patty adds that now is a good time to try out a boot camp, enjoy yourself, and then sign up for the fall boot camp, which begins in September.

Boot camp is open to women regardless of their age or fitness level. All that is required is your own commitment to obtaining a level of fitness that works for you and meets your personal goals, Patty says. Since the program is held outdoors, suggested attire is comfortable clothing that is appropriate for the weather and works well in dirt and grass.

According to Catherine, “The first day of boot camp starts off with a fitness assessment so that you will have a baseline to track your progress and success against during the eight weeks of the camp.” She emphasizes that improvements happen fast, and participants can both feel and see them from week to week. Participants have reported becoming stronger, more toned, and more flexible. They experience both weight loss and the redistribution of weight. Patty and Catherine say that the woman-only component of the boot camp works well because participants are less self-conscious about their body or form, and they tend to quickly create a very supportive community for each other.

Kelsey, a boot camp participant, readily shared how she got involved: “I met Patty at the coffee shop where I worked, and when she invited me to come to the boot camp, I decided to try it. I thought it would be really hard and very challenging, but Catherine and Patty help you set your own level and then manage it.” She adds that she has seen benefits such as a more toned and trim body, and her cardiovascular strength has increased.

While observing a recent session of the boot camp held at Boulder’s Chautauqua Park, I heard a lot of laughter and chatter among the trainers and the participants. The equipment was minimal, and included medicine balls, exercise bands, and handheld weights. The emphasis is on cardio, strength, flexibility, tightening and toning­—and fun. Participants work alone as well as in pairs, and receive encouraging guidance from the trainers to develop each of these key areas of fitness. Most sessions end with a group hike, and given that the locations of the sessions vary from Chautauqua to Mount Sanitas to North Boulder Park, the terrain and the scenery offer a good variety of sights and challenges.

In addition to the boot camps, both Patty and Catherine have established businesses as personal trainers and massage therapists. Catherine has been a wellness professional for over five years, and says she uses a whole-body integrative training approach. She has clients ranging in age from 12 to 80. Some have chronic pain, some are pre- or postnatal, and others are just seeking to achieve and maintain general fitness.

One of Catherine’s clients, Regina, is a cancer survivor. Her medications were causing sore muscles and joints, but she says that Catherine’s expertise in personal training and massage have improved her leg and hip flexibility and have decreased her pain. She adds that Catherine also has a delightful sense of humor, and it is really fun to work with her. Another client, Jerry, has been working with Catherine for five years. He shares, “I can heartily recommend Catherine to anyone who wants to feel better, look better, and enjoy a more active life.”

Patty provides massage therapy and personal fitness training, as well as yoga instruction. She says that she has been involved in fitness her whole life. She loves the outdoors, including hiking, biking, and snowboarding, and she loves helping her clients feel better and achieve greater health, she says. One of her longtime clients, Pamela, says she has reaped the benefits of Patty’s strength training and massage therapy for the past six years, and that it has helped her manage the effects of a chronic disease. Pamela describes Patty as “very passionate and knowledgeable about fitness and the human body. She is a professional who is always researching how to best tailor a program to your needs.”

Lucy, a client of Patty’s for the past 10 years, shares that as an athlete herself, she considers Patty to be a top personal trainer who readily adjusts her training to individual needs and abilities. She adds that Patty is committed to providing the maximum benefits to you during the time you spend with her.

For more information about Front Range Outdoor Fitness Boot Camps, personal training, or massage therapy, visit www.frontrangeoutdoorfitness.wordpress.com. You can also visit www.integrativetraining.wordpress.com for specific information on Catherine’s integrative training. To reach Patty, call 720-261-6459. To reach Catherine, call 262-623-0758.