Two athletes go the extra mile to prepare for their futures

At 4 am., while the rest of Oakville sleeps, two alarm clocks ring. Kristine Pickens (12) and Chase Kohl (10) roll out of bed and pull on their exercise clothes. A dancer and an MMA fighter, respectively, both students have trained themselves to get up before the sun every morning to get in a workout before school.

“I get up at four in the morning, get dressed, and go to the Workout Company,” Pickens said.

Because Kristine is a dancer on the OHS Golden Girls team and plans on dancing for Lindenwood’s team next year, she feels she needs to be in tip-top shape. Starting in January 2016, she began to go to the Workout Company on Telegraph with her dad each morning and exercise. Despite the early morning hours, Pickens says it does not make her feel too tired to get through the rest of the day.

“I like it because it wakes you up for school and it makes you feel good after you work out,” Pickens said.

Chase, on the other hand, wakes up at 4:30 am and works out in his house. He is training to be a stronger MMA fighter. Starting his freshman year, Chase began to do pull ups, bench press, and lift weights every morning. The early morning hours get at him sometimes.

“I’m really tired for school,” Kohl said. “But I do enjoy it.”

Pickens and Kohl both say they will continue to work out over the summer as well, just not that early in the morning.