For those ready to take their workout out of the gym and into the warmer air of spring, the University and Philadelphia offer many venues for enjoying the sunshine while getting a good workout.
n Historic Franklin Field is home of the football team in the winter, but now that the Quakers' season is long since finished, the field can be a perfect spot to run or play a pick-up game of football.
Kara Dewhurst, a member of the gymnastics team, said, "When it's warm out our team goes to Franklin Field and runs the track or the stairs."
She added that the field is available for use by anyone as long as no team is using it for practice.
n Despite being an urban school, Penn still has its share of grassy areas. Wharton sophomore Isaac Dayan often uses the fields of Superblock to play ultimate Frisbee.
"I'm not on any team," he said. "Typically I invite friends to play."
n For tennis enthusiasts like Engineering sophomore David Solomon, the Lott Tennis Courts on 33rd Street, located near the Palestra and Franklin Field, are a popular option for sunny days.
Use of the outdoor courts is free, but a court membership -- $15 per year for students -- is required to reserve a court.
n There are many parks in close proximity to campus that provide scenic trails for running, biking or walking.
According to its Web site, Fairmont Park boasts 62 neighborhood parks and over 215 miles of recreational trails. These trails include everything from city sidewalks to secluded paths. However, students planning to use bicycles on the trails must have a Trail User Permit.
A donation of at least $20 is requested to obtain the permit.
n Recently refurbished, the Schuylkill Banks are just a few blocks past Hill College House and offer 1.2 miles of pathway for running, biking or jogging.
The path is accessible from stairs that wind down from the Walnut Street Bridge and can take a runner all the way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a large portion of Fairmount Park.
