For those who can't stand the gym, the following groups are good sources of outdoor adventure as well as a little company.
• The Colorado Springs Cycling Club (bikesprings.org/index.php) offers cycling for riders of all ages and experience levels, with a thrifty rate of $18 for a single membership. The club is also committed to working locally to increase the availability of bike lanes, paths, trails and rider-support facilities.
• The Hiking Freethinkers (meetup.com/Hiking-Freethinkers/#upcoming) is just one group that meets regularly to trek a wide spectrum of trails around the region. Affiliated with Freethinkers of Colorado Springs (freethinkerscs.com), who advocate for "the use of reason" in our strongly religious environment, this group also plans camping trips. If these folks don't seem to be a fit for you, you can find a host of other local hiking groups at the Meetup website (hiking.meetup.com/cities/us/co/colorado_springs).
• The Rocky Mountain Field Institute (rmfi.org ) and Friends of the Peak (fotp.com) are just two local organizations that offer opportunities for volunteers to get outside and help with trail and open space upkeep. Day-of, you might reroute trails, build rock risers, and construct retaining walls. And the day after, you'll feel muscles you've never felt before.
• Pikes Peak Road Runners (pprrun.org) is a 700-member, all-ages running group that provides discounts for local races at a college student-friendly rate of $15 per year (for an individual). Its website also provides a community race calendar and a roundup of 20-plus free running groups (such as Trinity Brewing Company's) or weekly runs in town.
• The Outdoor Club of Colorado Springs (meetup.com/outdoor-club-cs) is free to join, and accommodates all skill levels while hosting a wide range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and mountain biking. The club averages about six events a week, with 25 to 30 people typically participating in each one.