Find a Fitness Route and Exercise Like It’s 1992
Today is a beautiful day and we’re off on an adventure! In the May issue of the Lifehacker Fitness Challenge, your mission is to find a fitness trail (sometimes called parkour) near you – they are often hidden in plain sight.
In case you don’t know what I mean, a fitness trail is a collection of outdoor workout stations, usually connected by a jogging track. Each station has simple equipment, such as a bar for pull-ups, or a set of benches at different heights for climbing, or a rack to lean on while you do a certain stretch. These routes were popular throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Some are still in good condition; others are overgrown and lie in ruins. Most likely, he is in the park next to you.
I found the footprint in the photo above by accident. It is in a less visited part of a public park and appears to have been built around 1985. It’s mostly functional. Originally there was probably a beaten track from station to station, but now you just have to wander a little to figure out where to go next. I used this several times before someone informed me that most of the “missing” stations are in the woods nearby. (This man did not follow me there and kill me. I survived and trained very well.)
So, this week go in search of your own adventure. Visit public parks, community centers and (depending on school policy) local schools. Ask longtime residents if they know of any fitness routes. Even if you don’t find a retro park, you can find other outdoor exercise equipment. Otherwise, there might be a playground or a set of park benches that are good for sports experimentation. Share your findings below or tag us and use the hashtag #lifehackerfitnesschallenge on social media.