Who Else Does Outdoor sports?

I for one am not much of a gym rat. I used to run on a treadmill for 30-60 minutes and always found it increasingly harder to stay motivated because it is so BORING! I have been surfing since i was 9 years old (now 18) and i have to say, applying myself to outdoor activities is far more fun then being in a gym. Plus, i began hiking with my dogs which i do literally every day, even the days that i surf. Plus running on a trail is more interesting then on a treadmill zoning into a TV trying to sell me stuff that wont make me happy. There is something else about training outdoors that i find more alluring than being a gym is that it is simply mans devout to be outside. It is natural. We were once hunter/gathering cavemen. I feel more like myself than ever when commiting to a work out outside because it releases me from soceities witholding of body images, stature, and the cute guy running on the treamill next to me.
Just something i wanted to share and see if anyone else prefers the outdoors for their work outs like me!

Furthermore,  I wanted to hear abou tthe trails, hikes, roads you take or the activity you do when your doing your outdoor activity and how you feel.

Outdoor all the way, I HATE running in a gym. Not always easy over here, way too much traffic and pretty hot, but still much better than doing my thing indoors. I will start Kite-surfing next, should be cool:-))

I love going for long walks/ hikes. We just had two days of freakishly warm weather it was great. I went on a 5 mile dog walk and did a bunch of yard work yesterday. Normally I find the gym a bit boring. The ellipticals are not bad but I can’t stand the bikes or tread mills. It is nice to get out feel the wind and sunlight.

The only indoor thing I do is swim and lift. Running, biking, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, etc are the way to go!! I love being outside. My mind feels so much clearer outside. Not mention I get to take my dog, which is a HUGE bonus.

I absolutely love being outside!  I ride my horse almost every day as well as hike with my dog on the weekends.  Being outside is what keeps me sane since I have a full time office job.  The only thing I go to the gym for is my yoga and pilates classes which are a couple times a week. 

Hanno -
Kite-surfing looks like so much fun! I see them out all the time when i go surfing on windy, off-shore days. It looks like a definate arm work out! let me know how it goes!

Caitlinoftheplants -
i really like your name, what kind of garden do you have?? I prefer the elliptical also because i have long legs and being on a treadmill is awkward for me because i cant step as far forward as i would like to, or maybe my treadmill is just short ^_^

9Chrissie -- have you ever been rock climbing? i really want to try, there are many rock gyms where i live here in san diego

Julie--
O M G
you have a horse
 i am stricken green with envy, i have wanted one since i was a child. The closest i got was going to horse riding, summer camp for three years and riding the same horse owned by a mexican at my parents house in mexico. so unfair!

That is why I do cardio-core boot camp here in my community.  It is outside, rain or shine and I love it.

Me me me! In the summer I ride bicycles, both mountain and road. My current road bike has 15,000 on it! I've ridden my bicycle across the United States and I used to race mountain bikes.

Now, I do much more tame activities to fit into my schedule. I run in the summer, both on the road and on the trails of a nearby state park. I love to kayak. I do indoor rock climbing and walk at lunchtime when the weather permits. I also love to hike, and this summer when my father gets to the White Mountains (he's hiking the Appalachian Trail) I'll probably join him for some 4,000 climbs.

Id rather run outside and play sports rather than go to the gym but since it is cold out now im forced to hit the gym. As soon as it gets warmer i will be outside all the time

Given the option, I will be outside every time.  Running.  Biking (road and mountain).  Swimming.  Kayaking.  Hiking with my dog.  Rock climbing.  Camping.  I love all of it.

 However, despite our current heat wave (70 degrees in January!?!--I so can't wait to get off work to go running), DC winters can be pretty harsh, so I am occasionally forced to suck it up at the gym instead.  Luckily mine is decent (complete with a rock wall), so I shouldn't complain too much.

I don't like gyms at all, the air, bacteria, sweat of so many unknown people... brr. I like exercising alone, except my bike trips into the unknown.

I cycle daily and run almost every day and when the weather permits it, I go hiking, play badminton outside, rollerskate and kick hacky-sack.

I hate the awful air we have in my city in the winter, though. Thick fog all the time and all the city pollution are terrible. I normally run across some field at the brink of the city where are no cars, but the air is still bad since my city is located in a hollow
On the other hand it's the same air in the gyms, except that it smells of sweat rather than exhaust gases.

I live in Michigan (although heads up Skinnylea because I might be moving to San Diego) and one of my goals this winter was to make the long cold winter more fun.  My husband and I got snowshoes and tons of winter and night gear so we can continue to run the trails even in the cold dark winter.  In the summer I rock climb, mountain bike, ride horses, sail, and RUN RUN RUN!  This year I am training for my first 50 mile trail run and hopefully will qualify for Boston this spring! 

 

No gym for me, either!  I would much rather have the fresh air and outdoor scenery all around me than a bunch of sweaty, strange people any day!

With the exception of strength training, I do everything outdoors.  My favorite activity is road cycling, though I won't be doing much of that for the next couple of months, until it's warm enough and light enough for me to be able to do it safely in the evenings.  The main route for my cycling takes me through country and farmland, and it's beautiful any time of the year.  My favorite memories of it are watching the sunset paint the sky, and once, when the wind was at my back, a hawk was gliding about six feet away from me, level with my shoulder.  Can't wait for it to be spring again.

Now, I walk and run.  It's just on a 3.5 mile route around my neighborhood, but it's still fun to do and it's safe.  Nice to be the only one out there, and recently, it was neat to see everyone's holiday decorations without flying past them in a car.  And on my cool down block, while I'm walking, there's a friendly black cat who always comes to say hello. 

Until they can duplicate these experiences in an indoor environment, I will say "No Thanks" to the gym. :)

Great post, btw, I've loved reading everyone's responses.

I have a gym membership but for lifting purposes only.  I play rugby year round and bike when I can as well.  Playing organized sports is always fun if you're the outdoor type.  I play softball and volleyball when time permits as well.

If it's warm enough, I'd rather be outside! I run, walk, take the dog on jogs (a whole different workout, he's not great at the 'heel' command), rollerblade, bike (short rides and super long ones), volleyball, ultimate frisbee, softball. Those are the things I love to do at least semi-regularly (haven't rollerbladed in a while). Unfortunately, IL weather is way too cold at least 4 months out of the year (we had a 70 degree swing in the last few days!). Then I"m mostly treadmill and indoor volleyball.