Thinking outside the box for training....do we need a gym?  

What if I can't afford a membership?

This is a shot of a street in any neighborhood. At first glance, there’s nothing here of any value to anyone training, aside from a sidewalk that can be used to pound just to up the mileage. But let’s take a closer look, because I see something very different. First of all, my eye is drawn to that painted green metal frame that houses what I assume is a water/pump valve. That’s the perfect height for vaulting over. It’s also ideal for putting my feet on and doing raised push-ups. What about holding it on either side and doing side jumps over it? Say, 20 jumps each side without stopping?

Then I see a tree. How about running up to the metal box, vaulting it and then back-dodging the tree in the style of an NFL player side-stepping a tackle? Further along is a tree stump. About the ideal height for some box jumps, wouldn’t you say? How about taking a leap over it from a running start? If I fall, the soft grass around it will mean I won’t lose my skin on the asphalt. Again, I can do raised push-ups on there. If someone holds my feet and legs, I can do sit ups by hanging over the edge of it to increase the resistance. So there’s my core workout.

Further along, there’s another tree and the branches are tantilizingly out of reach. Want to bet me I can’t get up that tree and through that fork those branches are making? Maybe I can hold on to the branch limb and throw out a few pull-ups, too.

Jump down and I have another tree. How about another sprint towards it and another last minute side-step spin away?

Then there’s that curb. It’s uneven and is beckoning me to run along it with one foot higher than the other, each on a different level. I could run along that, sometime a foot on either level, sometimes both on one, sometimes both on another. I’d have to concentrate hard on my footing, making sure my balance is in control. Core and balance marrying together while I get a sweat on while running.

So let’s recap. I can run up to the metal box, vault it, run past the tree while doing a quick side-step while showing it my back, I run back around, grab the box with both hands and bring my feet over it 20 times each side. I sprint towards the stump and jump it, I throw out 20 quick push-ups or 20 sit ups if someone is there to hold my feet down. I stand back up, do some box jumps and then sprint towards the next tree and get through the branch forks, then again on the next one. I spin around and retreat back to the start using the curb as uneven footing, forcing me to pay attention to what could be slippery grass/mud on one level and hard concrete/asphalt on the other.

I could do that and in actual fact, I often do. There’s an entire obstacle course literally outside my front door. I won’t have spent a single penny and I have a gym 20 feet from my front door. A gym that targets cardio, legs, core, arms and balance.

So now let’s look at that picture again. Now look outside your house. Is there a gym or obstacle course there? Have another look. I bet there is. Get training. Use what you see around you. The course you will set out to conquer won’t be a clean, precise and sterile gym. It’ll be uneven, slippery, and dirty. Get comfortable with those conditions and we will see you achieving your goals!!