Achieving Your Fitness Goals at LSE Summer School

Before embarking on my LSE Summer School adventure, one of the biggest concerns I had was whether or not I would be able to continue my workout routine while studying. As a college athlete, like many others, I had a summer workout plan to ensure I remain in peak shape, ready for the return to university in the autumn. I was afraid that, in going to an unfamiliar place without knowing where I was allowed to train or where I could get the nutrients I needed, I would fall behind and lose the progress I had been working towards during the offseason. To all of the athletes and those that strive to be active at Summer School, I want to let you know there is no need to fear like I did, LSE and the city of London have all the resources necessary to continue to improve upon all your fitness and nutritional goals.  

When I first arrived in London, I knew of the LSE Student Union Gym, but I was a bit concerned as to whether they would have the resources I needed. The gym hosts a plethora of weighted machines, cardio machines (treadmills, stair steppers, stationary bikes, rowing machines, etc.), and a plyometrics area with free weights, a squat rack, pull up bars, kettle bells, bar bells, medicine balls, rollers, yoga balls, and many other amenities; providing all of your cardio and functional weight needs. One of the best features of the gym is the marked turf space, where you have a measured area to complete your workout.

If your fitness plan requires a 30.5 cm (12 inch) band for raises, mobility or squats, be sure to bring your own as they are not provided. If you need heavier weights, the Marshall Building Strength and Conditioning Suite has multiple squat racks and heavier weights as well as other exercise tools such as a weighted sled.

Both the LSE Student Union gym and the Marshall Building Strength and Conditioning Suite are located in the centre of campus, making them very convenient. To make the most of my day, I would typically pack clothes for the day and a snack, arriving at the gym before class to do my lift. The LSE Student Union gym offers a locker room with showers where you can prepare for the day after your workout. The lockers require a one-pound coin to be inserted that you will get back after you have unlocked the locker, so be sure to have a pound on hand if you plan to use the lockers. Hours for the gym vary, please check the LSE Student Union website for up-to-date information.  

For those of you who also love outdoor cardio or need to run each week to complete your summer routine, London is a very pedestrian friendly city. If you like to run on city streets, the pavements are usually wide and easy to run on. London also has a plethora of small and large parks for all of your cardio needs. Parks near LSE include Regent's Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, Battersea Park, and many others. I recommend Battersea Park because they have a 400-meter track as a part of their Millennium Arena which you can access. There is a small fee (that can be reduced with a student discount), but it is one of the friendliest, most easily available, and well-maintained tracks I found in London.

However, if you want to have shorter runs, more specifically yard runs to be completed on a 100-yard field, it will be hard to find a turf field to complete these runs. For my yard runs, I found a park that was about 150 yards in length, and I used Google maps to measure the length of the park, and then the length of 100 yards from a chosen point A to point B. I then placed markers at the points to ensure I would be accurately completing my yard runs.

One of the best things about London is that there is a park almost everywhere you turn. No matter where you find yourself living during your LSE Summer School adventure, you have plenty of space and opportunities to continue pursuing your fitness goals.  

This blog was written by one of our 2024 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the Summer School experience at LSE.