Exercising in the park

First of all – when are the frickin’ gyms going to open? Not soon enough, anyway. Latest I hear is mid to late July.

Instead I’ve been exercising in the park, as my regular Thursday night weights class has decamped to the great outdoors. Right now, the rules in the UK are that groups of up to 6 people from different households can exercise outside together, as long as they remain at least two metres apart. Anything involving physical contact is not allowed and the less you share equipment the better.

Check out the view

The good part is, well, it turns out that exercising outdoors actually feels pretty good. Who knew that all those park runners were on to something all this time? What I like best is that any time you lay down on your back to do core work, this is the view:

Lovely sky and clouds and leaves. Obviously you could get that view without doing any sit ups, but I like to multi task.

Also it’s been great to have a reason to leave the house in the evening and mix at a distance with some new people. Fabulous as my family are, I do know their faces pretty well by now and it’s just nice to mix it up a little and reconnect with the wider world.

Exercising in the park – the down side

The worst part of exercising in the park has definitely been feeling so exposed. Every bugger out walking their dog seems to think it’s their God-given right to stare at the women doing squats by a tree. And don’t get me started on the men shouting out comments. This really boils my piss, and normally I am so chilled that my piss is practically at Frappuccino levels.

I’ve been a gym member for over 15 years, and never once have I experienced some random adding in their 10p’s worth to my workout. But outside, it seems, I’m fair game. Who do they think they are? It’s not exactly what they say that’s so insulting, it’s just the inherent arrogance that seems to give them the right to comment at all. Who bloody asked you mate? Piss off and stand two metres outside a pub until it opens.

Thankfully there was no unwanted commentary last night, plus a lot more people were exercising in the park. Are the two factors related? Maybe the arseholes have got used to us now.

All in all, though al fresco exercise is a great option for now, it won’t be for me long term. Soon as the gym opens I’ll be first in the queue to get back in there.