Get Fit: The Arnold Sports Festival
Also known as the Arnold Classic, this fitness extravaganza has been going on in Columbus for 20 years. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s annual festival of fitness features over 35 different sporting events, including ladies fitness figure competitions, martial arts and this year, the Team USA Olympic weightlifting qualifier.
From the early years, the California Governor has made a point of letting the world know what a great town Columbus is. And in response the event has grown and grown, expanding from just Veteran’s Memorial to take Vet’s, The Greater Columbus Convention Center & Nationwide Arena.
From a personal standpoint I think the Arnold Classic is a fun thing to go to. In any given year your admission fee will get you everything from personal fitness advise, supplement samples galore, the opportunity to ‘try before you buy’ the latest in fitness equipment, and even free evaluations from everyone from personal trainers to chiropractors and sports doctors.
On the other hand, if seeing impossibly perfected ladies and wildly bulked-up men is really not your thing, you might want to simply skip this one. The physical standards set at the classic are more of a ‘Wow! did you see that?’ type than an actually attainable goal for the masses. Added to that, the crowds are ridiculous, you have to pay to park and the vendors can get a little pushy. If you won’t enjoy the events or the trade show, your time and money might be better spent seeing a personal trainer and nutritionist, like the ones at Lifetime Fitness, in the relative calm of the health club and the privacy of their offices.
But if you have the time, $20, and even a little curiosity, the Arnold Sports Festival is one Columbus tradition that I recommend you get to at least once in your life.
Arnold Sports Festival
February 29 - March 2 2008
Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St.
Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd.
Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St.
EXPO hours: Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
$10 EXPO ticket provides admission to most events.
614-431-3600
Columbus, Ohio, OH, fitness, bodybuilding, Olympics, weightlifting, supplements, Veteran’s Memorial, Vet’s, GCCC, Greater Columbus Convention Center, Nationwide Arena, Arnold Classic, Arnold Sports Festival, martial arts, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Leave a Reply