Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — To capitalize on Olympic excitement, Russia is giving away subway tickets to active citizens when they do a certain number of squats. And since Utahns are known for Olympic fever, a similar promotion was tried out here.
At an average subway station in Moscow, there is a non-average ticket machine. In exchange for 30 squats, it gives away free fares.
Today a physical trainer with cash went to a FrontRunner stop to see what riders would do for a free ticket.
Jeffery Beck, an exercise physiologist at Intermountain Health Care, had passengers doing jumps and lunges.
“The Olympics definitely motivate others to definitely want to be better and inspire others and stuff like that,” Beck said. “So it's definitely a good time to try and piggyback on that motivation and continue it through the rest of the year, and hopefully establish a lifelong habit.”
But it wasn’t just the free ride that left passengers with a smile on their face.
“(The exercises) released some endorphins, the feel-good chemical the brain releases with exercise and activity,” Beck said.
Passengers indicated they felt motivated to do exercise a little more every day.
“This is one of the more unusual train trips I’ve ever taken. I exercised for a ticket,” said rider Marina Spence. “I feel good that you made me do that. Will it get me to the Olympics?”
