Playgrounds of the Pandemic

       About five months ago millions of people were challenged to maintain their physical fitness regimens as private gyms, public parks, pools, tennis/basketball courts, and other facilities were closed almost overnight. While they have partially and gradually re-opened, many of us continue to be apprehensive about fully utilizing them again ("use at your own risk as playground equipment has not been completely decontaminated"). For an unfortunate number, this has resulted in curtailing or abandoning their fitness regimens altogether, at least temporarily. This is not only unhealthy (both physically and psychologically) but completely unnecessary. The opportunities to maintain most fitness routines (with the exception of being able to swim/dive in an Olympic sized pool while closed) are only limited by our imaginations and willingness.

       Necessity, the mother of all inventions: Almost as quickly as the yellow tape obstructed entry to tennis courts, for example, I witnessed some preteens hitting tennis balls to each other in a parking lot, a piece of rope acting as the net. As public basketball courts were closed, I also witnessed an inverse in driveway basketball games breaking out. In my own case, when I was prevented access to the local high school track, I found I was able to continue the same workout in the high school parking lot, complete with bike/running lanes in the form of white lines for parking spaces, push up bars in the form of metal benches (very sturdy, very nifty), and even a flag pole serving as a finish line (in my imagination I'm now in the Olympics!). Which also reminds me of a scene from Rocky IV, where Rocky goes to the Soviet Union and is forced to create a gym from an antiquated barn in the frozen countryside while his opponent trains inside with high tech equipment. And the winner is...(spoiler alert!). Periodically, fitness magazines feature articles such as "The Hardware Store Workout" or "DIY Gyms", which also remind us that ordinary items can get you extraordinarily fit (e.g., a bag of sand, two buckets for water or heavy substance, some heavy rope, etc.).

       And the HIITS just keep on coming: Finally, a popular workout format, referred to as "High Intensity Interval Training", can be done just about anywhere, by anybody, and by any body (that is, without any equipment other than your own limbs). The possibilities are endless. No excuses regarding a lack of access. No boredom due to the variety. One of my favorites.

       So what's your flavor? What are we waiting for--let's get up and go!