Get fit while the sun shines
Two days without February’s usual inclement weather should have been enough to rouse from hibernation the part of your brain that craves exercise. Escape the tedium of the gym with these get-fit options that take advantage of the weather – while it lasts.
TOUGH MUDDER
Run by the special forces, Tough Mudder is an insane 12 mile obstacle course that promises to “challenge you both mentally and physically by testing your strength, stamina and mental grit”. The scheme has been running for some time in the US and will debut in the UK for the first time in May. The gruelling challenge – billed as the “toughest event on earth” – incorporates crawling through mud, carrying logs, swinging across monkey-bars and clambering up sheer walls.
The first event will be held in Northampton on 12/13 May. Go to toughmudder.com for more details.
GO APE
This “treetop adventure” is basically an assault course in the sky. It features a series of wires, bridges and ladders strung from trees, where you can test your head for heights as well as your overall fitness. The facility specialises in corporate events and claims to be an ideal team-building exercise – especially if your superiors suffer from vertigo.
Go Ape has facilities across the country and costs £30 for a single adult. Corporate events can be tailored to suit specific needs. Go to goape.co.uk for more details.
BRITISH MILITARY FITNESS
Calling itself “the most challenging, motivating and sociable form of group fitness in the UK,” this team oriented regime is, predictably, run by military fitness instructors. The hour-long classes have been developed over the last 12 years to squeeze as much out of you as humanly possible. If you are the kind of person who gives up on the treadmill without someone yelling at you, this is probably the right course for you.
Classes in Hyde Park cost £50 a month for unlimited classes, in addition to a £25 membership fee. Go to www.britmilfit.com for more details.
POWER LEAGUE
Now that the worst of the cold is over it’s time to dust off your boots and hit the five-a-side pitch. Football has been proven to be better for your overall fitness than going to the gym and it’s a great excuse to get together with your mates for the evening. Power League has pitches in Wembley, Old Street, Barnet, Croydon and Tottenham where you can either play a casual game or join a tournament to prove who has the silkiest skills in London.
Log on to www.powerleague.co.uk for more details.
URBAN GYM
Escape the boredom of the gym with these outdoor exercise classes in the heart of the City. Groups meet near St Paul’s, where they will be instructed in circuit-based training combined with short running sections. The sessions take place in the City but the firm promises to take in some unusual, hidden away spots: ideal for those who want to avoid bumping into the boss half way through your workout. All levels are catered for.
Prices start at £24 a month with a minimum 12 month contract. Go to www.ratrace.com for more details.