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Within one minute, personal trainer Alex McMillan showed how to work five different muscle groups at different weight levels. And he did it with the same pair of barbells, a Bowflex product made by Vancouver's Nautilus Inc.

"Most people won't exercise with something they have to fiddle around with," McMillan said.

Nautilus showcased its fitness mission Saturday with Backyard Fitness Fun Day, a chance for neighbors to see the company's new Columbia Tech Center headquarters. The "backyard," consisting of ball fields and a track, will be open to the public.

To 17-year-old Jacob Garza, who boxes with the Vancouver Police Activities League program, the new compound is practically in his backyard anyway.

"I can run down here and meet the boxing team and start lifting and just run home," Garza said.

The day featured a morning fun run to raise money for PAL and for Clark County Youth Football.

Kristen Donaldson of Washougal came to run the 5-kilometer race and tour the grounds with her family. "It's wonderful they have something like this in Vancouver," Donaldson said.

Judy Sickles of Vancouver likes seeing sports in what was once an empty industrial site. "It's going to be great to drive by and see people playing on it," she said.

Sickles already owns a Bowflex machine. Though she likes the equipment on its own, it didn't hurt to have the company in her hometown.

"The fact they were located here was an added bonus," she said.

Sickles had her eye on a Tread Climber, a combination treadmill and step machine that also piqued the interest of Missy and Joe Hannon of Battle Ground. "She wants a treadmill and I like the elliptical," Joe said. "That's a very good compromise."

Personal trainer Michelle Tonkinson of Vancouver came to check out the industry's new toys and support a local business. "It's all really nice, very smooth," she said, surveying the equipment.

"It seems like every year they get better and better."

Maurice and Hazel Vermulen, visiting from Michigan's Upper Peninsula, marveled at a StairMaster ClubStride 5100 elliptical trainer. "There's even a place for my pop," Hazel exclaimed.

"Whoa, horse!" Maurice said during his turn astride the machine.

A fancy elliptical trainer would complement the other winter exercise option, Maurice said shoveling snow. "You know how winters are in the U.P.," he said.

"It would be great to have in the house."

Battle Ground's Andy Gingold likes Nautilus' goal of promoting fitness so much that he asked about applying for a job Saturday. But he's impressed he doesn't have to work there to work out there.

"To offer ... the athletic fields and the track not only for employees but for the public, that gets people more into getting out and exercising."

Justin Carinci covers neighborhood news and issues. He can be reached at 360-737-4006, or justin.carinci@columbian.com.