Would it be weird to workout on a playground?

KeshNZ
KeshNZ Posts: 73 Member
edited November 18 in Fitness and Exercise
We have a small park with a playground a block away and I've been thinking of heading over there on my nightly walks and doing a bit of a body-weight workout... I could do pull ups etc on the monkey bars, do a few laps of the park, do some jumps on the platforms and stuff like that a couple of times a week. It would be in the evening so it's not like there would be anyone else around. Plus I kind of like the idea of being a bit of a kid again and just having a play to see what I can do! Would this be weird?

Replies

  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    Not weird.

    A PT (physical training) instructor in the police academy use to run us around a playground gym set. Made us climb up slides and poles, do hanging monkey bar traverses , etc. Just have fun and be creative.
  • Out_of_Bubblegum
    Out_of_Bubblegum Posts: 2,220 Member
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FkLrz-MyRw
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    Not weird. And what's also cool (though I know it's not what you're asking in your OP) is that some parks are putting in outdoor fitness equipment! Stuff like this:

    https://www.caterham-independent.co.uk/images/stories/2014/June/04/Gymequipment.jpg
  • KeshNZ
    KeshNZ Posts: 73 Member
    ccsernica wrote: »
    Unless that's part of his routine of course. I think toddler-kicking burns something like 450 cal/hr.

    Omg I just had a vivid mental image of that and snorted out loud at my desk!

    I hear toddler tossing doesn't burn as many calories as dwarf tossing but it's still quite effective!
  • JoJosAnatomymfp
    JoJosAnatomymfp Posts: 178 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    I don't think it would be weird. I often see people working out at the park, using anything that's available to them. So long as you aren't kicking a toddler off the slide to make room, I think you'd be fine.

    Haha
  • HeliumIsNoble
    HeliumIsNoble Posts: 1,213 Member
    edited May 2017
    OP, I use playground equipment for vague pull-up attempts on my way home, as it's always empty at those times.
    estherdragonbat wrote: »
    Not weird. And what's also cool (though I know it's not what you're asking in your OP) is that some parks are putting in outdoor fitness equipment! Stuff like this:

    https://www.caterham-independent.co.uk/images/stories/2014/June/04/Gymequipment.jpg
    I started off using some outdoor fitness equipment just like that!

  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    I don't have anywhere to practice pull-ups other than the playground, so that's where I do it. I also do step-ups on the picnic tables.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    As long as it's the industrial grade equipment that can sustain adult weight, and not the home equipment that collapse under 80 pounds I don't see any issue.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    Depends on the park. The rules for the park around my house are you can't be in there unless you have kids with you.
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    Not weird at all....there are a ton of parks around my area that have playground equipment sturdy enough for adult use...sometimes I even swing after my workout :) ...The most awesome places are the trails with fitness "playgrounds" for adults.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    You can use picnic tables for incline push ups, Dips, Step up, stretches, etc. Have fun!
  • kenyonhaff
    kenyonhaff Posts: 1,377 Member
    Playground equipment is great for things like pull ups and such.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,165 Member
    edited May 2017
    I see no problem with it. The park near my house has a walking/running trail and it has some workout equipment. There are tons of people who come up and exercise there. There are even some classes that are being held there.
  • Sp1tfire
    Sp1tfire Posts: 1,120 Member
    If you're there in the later portion of the evening there probably won't be many kids there anyway. Seems normal to me.
  • STEVE142142
    STEVE142142 Posts: 867 Member
    Nothing wrong with going to the playground. The most important thing with exercises that you enjoy it and if you enjoy going to the playground they're bringing out the little kid in yourself why not you'll get better results.

    Also if you look at a place like Muscle Beach in Venice California some of the equipment they use there is nothing more than little kids playset but the bigger version
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    I'm going to be the dissenting voice here. If I saw an adult working out at the park near our house, I would think it would be weird. It would also be discouraging toward children that may want to play - "Oh, that grownup is using the playground."
  • KeshNZ
    KeshNZ Posts: 73 Member
    Jruzer wrote: »
    I'm going to be the dissenting voice here. If I saw an adult working out at the park near our house, I would think it would be weird. It would also be discouraging toward children that may want to play - "Oh, that grownup is using the playground."

    I would only be going there after 8pm - if you're sending your kids to the playground after 8pm I'd probably think you are the weird one!
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    If there aren't kids around. And I mean NO kids. Not one.

  • JetJaguar
    JetJaguar Posts: 801 Member
    Jruzer wrote: »
    I'm going to be the dissenting voice here. If I saw an adult working out at the park near our house, I would think it would be weird. It would also be discouraging toward children that may want to play - "Oh, that grownup is using the playground."

    I was going to say something similar. Actually, it's probably okay for a woman to work out at the playground, but not a man. With a guy, people would think he's some kind of weirdo or something and keep their kids away.
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    KeshNZ wrote: »
    Jruzer wrote: »
    I'm going to be the dissenting voice here. If I saw an adult working out at the park near our house, I would think it would be weird. It would also be discouraging toward children that may want to play - "Oh, that grownup is using the playground."

    I would only be going there after 8pm - if you're sending your kids to the playground after 8pm I'd probably think you are the weird one!

    In summer it's light here until well past 9, so you'd better believe there are kids at the playground at 8! We have to take advantage of our short but sweet warm season.

    JetJaguar wrote: »
    Jruzer wrote: »
    I'm going to be the dissenting voice here. If I saw an adult working out at the park near our house, I would think it would be weird. It would also be discouraging toward children that may want to play - "Oh, that grownup is using the playground."

    I was going to say something similar. Actually, it's probably okay for a woman to work out at the playground, but not a man. With a guy, people would think he's some kind of weirdo or something and keep their kids away.

    Yes, you are undoubtedly right about this.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I think if you're there with people- no one would notice- people train all the time in NYC in play grounds.

    And odds are if it's around dinner time- there wont' be kids- and it won't be too dark- and you'll be okay- I've done it not felt weird about it.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
    As a mother with kids, i would not think it was weird if i took my kids to the playground and saw someone working out there.
  • JetJaguar
    JetJaguar Posts: 801 Member
    mralexjones wrote: »
    JetJaguar wrote: »
    Jruzer wrote: »
    I'm going to be the dissenting voice here. If I saw an adult working out at the park near our house, I would think it would be weird. It would also be discouraging toward children that may want to play - "Oh, that grownup is using the playground."

    I was going to say something similar. Actually, it's probably okay for a woman to work out at the playground, but not a man. With a guy, people would think he's some kind of weirdo or something and keep their kids away.

    Especially if you have a mustache, a tanned trench coat on, and wearing glasses from the 1980s.

    "I am not a sex offender, officer. I just wanna work out."

    So you're saying I shouldn't wear my Unabomber cosplay outfit when I work out at the playground? Ohh, that must explain why the cops keep getting called on me...
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    Chef_Barbell wrote: »
    Depends on the park. The rules for the park around my house are you can't be in there unless you have kids with you.

    Same here, and mine has built in adult workout equipment . . . I guess for parents to workout while their children play - but I have tried it after playground hours. I doubt any issue would arise if you are really working out.
  • KeshNZ
    KeshNZ Posts: 73 Member
    Maybe I could go to the park dressed as the grim reaper or slender man and just scare all the kids away first!
This discussion has been closed.

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