[Bump from 7-16-2018] I’ve written about a Backyard Olympics concept a few times over the years. I still think it’s fun. …Just do a bunch of different things near where you live and call it a good workout! Maybe keep track of how you do. Even have friends give it a try. But really the goal is to have fun with a variety of things when doing a simple backyard type of workout.
Here is a short-ish list of things I could easily do in the yard that wouldn’t take too long but which would give a good wide-ranging workout:
1. calisthenics: pushups, situps, chinups, dips, jump-rope, knee bends, crab walk, bear walk, somersaults
2. weights: curls, mil-presses, squats, clean’n’jerks, bent-over rows (one arm best)
3. trail run (1 mile)
4. trail sprint (200 yards, twisty section)
5. climb tall tree
6. cyclocross a few laps
7. rollerski around block
8. boulder toss
9. spear throw (into hay bales for accuracy and also for distance)
10. archery
11. airgun (pistol and/or rifle — incl a biathlon angle by continuing to do shooting b/w the following skipping and hopping — incl archery!)
12. skipping
13. one-leg hopping in yard all around the house, each leg
14. broad jump, vertical leap
15. hill run-ups at the sled hill
16. pull strong elastic bands attached to tree for several motions (poling/paddling/chopping)
17. log chopping with ax, splitting with maul
18. heavy bag, 3 rounds, thai kickboxing
19. shoot hoops, throw smaller rocks for distance and accuracy
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Here’s a longer list of options that would still work fine near and around our house:
1. calisthenics: pushups, situps, chinups, dips, jump-rope, knee bends, crab walk, bear walk, somersaults
2. weights: curls, mil-presses, squats, clean’n’jerks, bent-over rows (one arm best)
3. trail run (1 mile)
4. trail sprint (200 yards, twisty section)
5. inline skate around block
6. climb tall tree
7. mtbike ride on nearby trails
8. cyclocross a few laps
9. roadbike ride around bigger block
10. canoeing, poling (kayak rolling)
11. rollerski around block
12. boulder toss
13. spear throw (into hay bales for accuracy and also for distance)
14. archery
15. airgun (pistol and rifle — incl a biathlon angle by continuing to do shooting b/w skipping and hopping — incl archery!)
16. skipping
17. one-leg hopping in yard all around the house, each leg
18. broad jump, vertical leap
19. hill climbs — biking (clear view orchard hill near where we live) or running (sled hill down the street) (sadly, neither are very big)
20. pull strong elastic bands attached to tree in a wide range of motions (for ski-poling/paddling/chopping training)
21. log chopping with ax, splitting with maul (or tire pounding with sledge)
22. heavy bag, 3 rounds, thai kickboxing
23. 1/4-mi. swim at the lake
24. some ballsports — drive golf balls, shoot hoops, ball throw/catch, throw smaller rocks for distance and accuracy
