Working Out the L.A. Way

by Dennis Lin

In a scene that has become commonplace in the surrounding neighborhood, people spill out onto the street, sweating heavily and gasping for breath.

No, they’re not running for their lives. They’ve merely made it to the top of a series of steps that scale a canyon hill near the intersection of 4th Street and Adelaide Drive in Santa Monica.

But reaching the pinnacle of these “Santa Monica Stairs” is no mere feat. The 189 concrete steps are as unforgiving as they are steep, providing a strenuous outdoor workout that daily attracts droves clad in T- shirts, spandex and running shoes.

Just a couple hundred yards down the street lies another set of stairs, wooden instead of concrete but just as popular as its counterpart down the street. These steps run north and south, without the constant turns and harsher surface of the concrete steps.

So, a pair of outdoor staircases -- big deal.

But just passing by on a weekday afternoon tells you that these steps are one of a kind. This is where fitness buffs come to ply their trade, where Hollywood celebrities come to tone their bodies, where tourists come to admire scenic views of the coast.

"It's trendy," said Bryan Brewer, a local resident who frequents the stairs regularly. "It's more so than anything else."

Located less than a half-mile from the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Stairs have become a beacon for cardiovascular training. With the combination of breathtaking scenery and rapid calorie-burning, it comes as little surprise that the stairs have earned a name for themselves outside of Southern California.

Raja Chakravorti, originally from New York and a student at UCLA, was introduced to the Los Angeles landmark by a roommate.

 

"It's a totally different intensity level. This is like a sprint versus trying to run a long distance," Chakravorti said, comparing the stairs to the inside of a gym.

 

That intensity level often means a rude welcome for first-time visitors, most of whom find themselves winded and panting by the end of their first set. But the difficulty of the workout also lures fitness enthusiasts by the thousands, with many making the stairs a daily destination.

Along with improving cardiovascular health, stair climbing can effectively strengthen the major muscle groups in the lower body: the gluteals, quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles. Working out at the Santa Monica Stairs comes with another bonus: no need for an expensive gym or health club membership.

Chakravorti admitted he was impressed by his first experience with the famous steps.

 

"There's nothing like this on the East Coast. Versus other urban locations, I think it's really difficult to find something like this."

 

And it's not just the outdoor setting and views of the ocean that keep the crowds coming back every week.

While both staircases provide a fresh way to sweat off pounds, they also give visitors the opportunity for social interaction in one of the most unique settings in Los Angeles. Many people come to the stairs looking for more than just fitness.

“I think it’s a meeting place for singles, so that’s why it attracts a lot of different people,” Brewer said. “If you come during different parts of the day, you’ll see a little mingling meat market.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 10, 2009

 

Copyright 2009 Dennis Lin, lindenni@usc.edu