"Normally it's weekends of debauchery here, but I'm trying to practice some balance in my life, so I think doing this before the crazy F1 weekend is a good way to practice that," Summit told New Times at the event.
Only those with tickets for his Saturday-night performance or the club's Race Week event pass received an email with a link to register for the event. A lucky few snatched up the 75 available spots. The exercise class, which was planned for a month, was not advertised on social media or visible on the Dice app.
Before and after the workout, participants chatted with Summit, took sweaty selfies with him, and picked up complimentary merchandise from his music label, Experts Only.
Coloma Kaboomsky, a managing partner at Space, told New Times Summit used to spend his mornings dancing on the terrace at Space before he achieved international fame. "In brainstorming with John and his team, we came up with, 'Why don't we do a pre-Race Week training on the terrace?'"
When Rick Chavez, a Barry's instructor who trains Summit in midtown Miami, told the participating group to head downstairs and start running, a few people chuckled. That laughter was quickly replaced with heavy breathing as a stampede of 52 runners followed Chavez and Summit on the 0.8-mile route through Maurice A. Ferré Park and back to Space.
The 50-minute workout class was as intense and energetic as the tech house playlist booming over the terrace speakers.
Photo by Uma Raja
Summit, once known for his party persona and cheeky social media posts proclaiming "benders keep u hot & skinny," has recently focused on his fitness journey and staying sober.
"It's just awesome being totally clear-headed and not living a life of extreme highs and extreme lows," Summit shared on social media. "It's really helping my physical and mental health [to stay] passionate and motivated every day."
"You can enjoy dance music while nourishing your body," says Kamboomsky. "You can enjoy dancing without becoming a victim of the abuse of substances." He invites folks in the community to take a yoga class at Club Space, or to sweat out the toxins at an eight-hour dance marathon ending with a ginger shot and fresh coconut at sunrise.
"We all like to party, and we all like to have fun, but we all want to be here forever, as long as you can," says Summit. "I'm trying to be in this for the long run, not for the short run, and trying to rave for the rest of my life."
