NEAR WEST SIDE — Challenging Chicagoans to find their inner athlete, Nike is launching a new training program in a revamped warehouse on the Near West Side.
Called Train Chicago, the six-week training program brings together the city's top trainers — and a few celeb athletes, too — in a series of Saturday classes inspired by professional sports.
As an added bonus, all of the classes are free.
The new fitness series, a first for Nike, is launching exclusively in Chicago. Each week, Nike master trainers Jason Raynor and Emily Hutchens will team up with athletes to create an elite training program of drills and strength moves based on the training regimen for a specific sport.
Trainer Jason Raynor (left) watches Bo Balogun dead lift at Nike's new Train Chicago facility Thursday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
Nike's Bo Balogun lifts at Nike's new Train Chicago facility Thursday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
While registration for Train Chicago's first class Saturday is now closed, athletes can still sign up for the remaining five Saturday sessions online. Registration begins each Monday at 10 a.m. for the Train Chicago session scheduled later that week. Capacity for Saturday workouts, which kick off at 10 a.m., is limited to 100 participants.
Session schedule:
• May 9: Gridiron-Fit with Chicago Bear Sherrick McMannis
• May 16: Ice-Fit
• May 30: Diamond-Fit
• June 5: Pitch-Fit
• June 13: Hoop-Fit
• June 20: Final Train Chicago session
Starting this week, Train Chicago will also host weekday workout sessions starting at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Capacity is limited to 60 for the weekday sessions and participants can sign up online.
Trainer Lindsay Aceto works on a suspension trainer Thursday at Nike's Train Chicago facility on the Near West Side. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
Trainer Lindsay Aceto moves a push sled during a football-inspired workout at Nike's Train Chicago facility Thursday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
A group stretches at Nike's Train Chicago facility Thursday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
At the end of each Train Chicago session, athletes will participate in three challenges. The top two finishers of each challenge will receive an automatic entry to the final event that takes place at an "epic" undisclosed location of June 20 hosted by retired baseball and football great Bo Jackson.
Train Chicago takes over a warehouse space at 1800 W. Walnut St., five blocks North of the United Center. For more information, check out Nike.com/Chicago.
Train Chicago, Nike's new training facility at 1800 W. Walnut St., officially opens Saturday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
Train Chicago, Nike's new training facility at 1800 W. Walnut St., officially opens Saturday. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]
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