SNOQUALMIE – It’s more of a craze than crazy, but sometimes you wonder – 25 women meeting on the cold, dark Centennial Fields at 5:30 a.m. to exercise?

Even the on-looking elk seem to groan “go home.”

But they never do.

The women of Eastside Adventure Boot Camp relish their early morning workout hour as priceless “me time” or a date with the girls and their stringent, yet spunky leader, Kimbrough Kendall.

“I’m not the drill sergeant type, but I have a lot of energy and really want to see people get the results they want,” Kendall said. “I’m human, I’m not Barbie up there leading an aerobics class.”

The 38 year old in the blond ponytail and ball cap started Eastside Adventure in September with seven women and now has 25 involved. Kendall said it was the plight of the busy, self-sacrificial mom that inspired her to start the boot camp.

“I stayed at home with my kids for six years and had lost the desire to workout. I forgot about myself. There’s a lot of women who need to boost their lives, pick it up a notch,” said Kendall, a Washington State University graduate with a degree in dance.

The mother of two received certification from the National Endurance and Sports Trainers Association and from Adventure Fitness in Big Bear, Calif.

The morning starts with a half-mile run around the trail, lunges, squats and stretches between the picnic benches. The women also work with weights, run two miles each morning and use yoga mats to do push-ups and other floor exercises. The camp is divided into four-week sessions. The next one starts March 14 and goes through April 8 … just in time to get fit for spring break, Kendall said.

And losing inches, pounds, even whole dress sizes is possible in one four-week session.

Upon meeting a client Kendall takes their body measurements, including their body fat measurements, and enters them into a computer program along with information about their goals and other characteristics. Then she evaluates their bad and good habits, encouraging them to give up one thing for the four weeks, maybe sweets – but certainly fast food – to help them lose the extra pounds.

“Nobody can go to McDonalds, no drive-thru food,” Kendall said..

When the four weeks are up she prints out a graph for the client showing their results in weight, inches and body fat.

“I’ve seen a ton of results,” said Lisa Downer of North Bend. “I dropped two sizes; since the beginning of the year I dropped 10 pounds. I’ve never been much of a runner and now I run. It clears my mind.”

Ages range from 29 to 66, including professional women and stay-at-home moms. Kendall encourages her students to come at least three days a week, the minimum commitment for getting results.

“Most are women in their 40s who stayed home with their kids and are just trying to get themselves back,” Kendall said.

But what keeps them coming each morning, braving the elements?

“It’s like a gym with no walls. Mount Si is right there, we never miss a day … rain, snow,” Kendall said. “A lot of it is the camaraderie of the women. They keep each other accountable though they come from all different realms of life.”

For Pat Kirker of Preston, going to bed each night at 9:30 p.m. to be ready for the early morning workout is a tradeoff she doesn’t mind.

“It’s so worth it … it’s nice to get it over with and Kim makes it feel like you’re out on the town having a good time,” said Kirker. “Halfway through my second session I lost 10 pounds and I have energy. I feel like I dropped 10 years.”

On Wednesday mornings the women do hikes up the logging roads of Little Mount Si or Mount Si, just to break up the week. And once during each session the women do a 5K walk/run together, such as the upcoming St. Patty’s Day Dash or various walks for breast cancer.

Kendall also has a 9:15 a.m. class for moms just dropping their kids off at elementary school.

A four-week session with a five days per week plan costs $299, while the three days per week package costs $199 – still much less than hiring a personal trainer.

For information on Eastside Adventure Boot Camp, visit www.eastsidebootcamp.com or call Kendall at (425) 890-5037.

Staff Writer Melissa Kruse can be contacted at (425) 888-2311 or by e-mail at melissa.kruse@valleyrecord.com.