Next week, Beaufort County Community College will host a grand opening of its IM FITT Trail on campus. The new mile-long fitness trail, which includes three fitness stations, will be open to anyone as a free community resource.

The college was able to build the trail with outdoor-rated equipment that will last up to 25 years due to a grant from Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust as part of its Healthy Places NC initiative, making Beaufort County one of first four counties in the state to have received funds to improve community health. According to college officials, the initiative will span many more counties over a period of time.

In Beaufort County, there are limited resources for individuals to utilize for health and fitness, much less a free resource to meet that end. What this new resource will open up for those who cannot afford to join a gym or who are underprivileged is invaluable to the overall fitness and well being of those individuals.

In addition to the obvious benefit of the trail, the trail itself, which will provide a place for walkers and runners alike to get their workout(s) in, the new resource will give parents a place to take their kids to get much-needed exercise, upon proper instruction, of course. And that is another great thing about the IM FITT Trail at BCCC — each station provides detailed instructions about how to properly use the equipment, which allows for maximum return on workouts, as well as minimal injuries.

Once the weather warms up, the trail will be a great way to get back in the swing of things this spring by exercising and perhaps even getting into a routine that could produce some amazing results. The trick to actually seeing the results, however, is consistency. And what easier way to exercise consistently — and it’s completely free.