Running laps is just a warm up. Drill sergeant Luke Shepherd keeps everyone at Prairie Life boot camp on their toes and it's an hour-long workout that Lori counts on.

She says, "It's one of those things that I love -- boot camp. And I hate it at the same time because it challenges me beyond what I'm used to challenging my own self."

Where else do you throw tires one minute and do push-ups with a twist the next?

The key is to find a class with different levels, with a teacher who helps you modify moves.

Certified Fitness Trainer Luke Shepherd says, "From beginners to advanced lifters or people who've been exercising for a while, simply changing one thing can make it easier or hard so everyone can enjoy one class together."

Here's the difference with boot camp. When you're running you're going at one continuous pace. With boot camp, sometimes you're in a higher cardio zone and sometimes you're down in a fat burning zone, constantly mixing it up and giving your body a total workout.

It's a challenge the boot campers come back for week after week, "running up a hill or with tires on shoulders, making it harder for them," Shepherd says. "And them realizing what they've done when they leave, they've accomplished a lot more than they thought they could ever do."

Lori says, "You challenge yourself mentally, physically, and psychologically. At the end of class you feel successful and say 'I did it.'"

You can try out boot camp Friday night, May 30. Prairie Life is holding a fund-raiser from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. It's $10 for members, $15 for non-members and that includes the class, food and drinks. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to a staff member battling cancer.

To reserve a spot, call Prairie Life at 691-8546.