Run Forest Run

Embracing the “out” in workout.

CrossFit took the fitness world by storm in the early 2010s. Requiring minimal space and only basic equipment, pop-up gyms sold tens of thousands of memberships nationwide. It was a great way to squeeze a hard workout into a small space and timeframe. But now, folks are taking it the other direction. What if instead of cramming into a tiny room with 20 other sweating bodies, we went into the wide-open great outdoors to work out? What if instead of spending thousands of dollars on fancy exercise equipment, we used what the natural world has already put at our disposal? What if we made a whole day of our workouts, instead of turning exercise into a banal part of our daily routines? This summer, we present to you: Forest Fitness. No membership required. But if you want to hire a trainer, drop us a line.

Deadfall Javelin
Kick off the workout with some flair. Find a nice, medium-sized piece of deadfall—something hefty but not hard to lift—and throw it as far as you freakin’ can. If you aim downhill, you can throw it farther. It doesn’t matter how far you toss the log, just how hard you throw it. This ain’t the Olympics; it’s the Custer-Gallatin National Forest.

Tree-Limb Pullups
One of the most thrilling exercises of Forest Fitness, this one will shred your biceps, lats, and core—all while scratching that primal itch to swing around in the trees. If you’re in a deciduous forest, you should be able to find a secure low-hanging live limb to pull on. Coniferous forests might be a bit spicier. You’ll need to climb higher up and risk a dangerous fall, or find a precarious half-fallen tree to shimmy onto.

Scrambled Legs
Better be quick, or your lower appendages will look like they just ran through a blender. Find the most nasty, deadfall-strewn swath of forest ground available, set a marker at each end, and fire through the course as fast as you can. Time your rests for interval training. It’s good to have a first-aid kit on hand here, as you’ll certainly slice your shin sooner or later.

Hard-Rock Squats
This one’s pretty simple: pick up a heavy-ass rock, hold it in front of your chest, and do sets of 10-20 squats. Keep your chest up, back straight, and heels planted. To finish with a bang, shotput the rock and shout explosively on your last rep. This ain’t the gym—you make the rules! Tip: for deadlifts, use a log instead of a rock. Trying to grip a rock in deadlift form will force an arch in your back, which could lead to an injury with an unexciting story behind it.

Field Frolics
When’s the last time you sprinted all-out, as fast as you could? Unless you play beer-league soccer or ultimate frisbee, it’s probably been a while. Find an open field—ideally with no obstacles or gopher holes—and sprint across. Shuttle back and forth for longer intervals. Get that heart-rate up above 160 and you’ll know it’s working.

Log Press
You can do any type of press with a log. Grab a big one and do a standing overhead press to work on balance and posterior arm strength. Or, find a fallen tree with few knots (unless you’re a real masochist) and have your friend spot you through some bench-press reps. Just make sure it’s not a piece of rotting wood, lest you barrage yourself with decomposing shrapnel and an array of creepy crawlies on the third set.

Got more ideas for Forest Fitness? We’re keen to hear ’em. Send in your favorite outdoor workout plans with some pictures to [email protected].