Ever wanted to chase a dragon and get fit at the same time? Ever wanted to race people from around the world? Ever wanted to become first place on a leader board? Now you can.

The Hollis Center has purchased new cardio equipment equipped with video screens where students can race dragons, race against their own personal records or against others from all over the world.

The Hollis Center recently purchased four new treadmills, four new arc trainers, eight new recumbent (spin) bikes and two new espresso bikes, some of which have monitors to adapt to users’ needs. Students can check out a website linked to the machines, where they compare their personal records to leader boards displaying everyone who has finished a race using the machines. Students can then race that person’s time.

Each machine cost roughly $4,000, and because of the cost, the Hollis Center gave the machines a trial run last year. For several weeks, the Hollis Center had the machines available and monitored their use, both through watching how often students used the machines equipped with video screens as well as using feedback cards for written feedback.

Jimmy Kelly, the new assistant director of Wellness and Recreation, said that after the trial period ended, students were asking about what happened to them and wanted them back. As a result of student feedback, they have returned. Kelly graduated from the University of South Florida and earned his master’s in higher education at the University of Central Florida.

As for other Hollis Center updates, the gym floor has recently been resurfaced. An additional ping pong table has been added to the lounge. The new Group Fitness schedule is out. And the Hollis Center is looking into buying new weight equipment for next year.

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By James Albright, intern, Stetson University Marketing