Forget the gym, train outside!
Lones participating in a CrossFit Sweat Shop workout at Civic Park in Walnut Creek
Best case scenario for me would be a “gym”, 1,500-2000 sq. ft. that is just an overhead shelter (25-30 feet high) with no walls. Placed in a field, near a lake, at the foothills of some mountains. The wall-less shelter would offer 360 degree views of nature, and the nearby lake could be used for combining swimming with barbell exercises. Unfortunately this isn’t possible within the city limits of Walnut Creek, and lugging barbells, bumper plates, dumbbells, kettlebells, a Concept 2 Rower, and a pullup bar structure out to Briones or Shell Ridge on a daily basis could be a bit cumbersome. However, with the location of CrossFit Sweat Shop being directly on the Contra Costa Canal trail, and a large roll up door that opens the gym to the outdoor world, workouts here feel nothing like those at an ordinary gym… and thank God for that! Televisions everywhere you look, stationary bikes, treadmills, and rooms packed with exercise machines make most traditional gyms a depressing place to be even for a brief period of time. California, and especially the East Bay, has some of the best weather in the United States… take advantage of it people!
Even across the pond, where the weather isn’t nearly as nice as it is here, people are feeling the same way. Check out this article titled, “How I broke out of the gym”
Post to comments your feelings and/or experiences with exercising outdoors.
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Monday’s WOD:
6 Rounds
6 Clean & Jerks
9 Knees to Elbow
12 Box Jumps
Walnut Creek 5K Turkey Trot Thanksgiving
Outdoors is the way to go. There’s just something about performing these functional moevements in an organic environment. It’s very peaceful and helps to cope with the intensity of the exercises.