# "Fitness trails" and the people who use them **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566 "2017-09-17T19:58:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/1 "2017-09-17T19:58:39Z")
These things: > **[Fitness trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitness_trail)** > > A fitness trail, trim trail or parcourse consists of a path or course with outdoor exercise equipment or obstacles installed along its length for exercising the human body to promote good health. The course is designed to promote physical fitness training in the style attributed to Georges Hébert. In general, fitness trails can be natural or man-made, located in areas such as forest, transportation rights-of-way, parks, or urban settings. Equipment exists to provide specific forms of physiol... Cities of all sizes appear to have at least one. Most that I see have fallen in to disrepair. Have you ever used one? More than once or twice? Do you know anyone who does? How about your friends over in Europe (they were originally developed by a swiss guy), do they use them with any regularity? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/2 "2017-09-17T20:04:30Z")
I have a friend from my gym who does parkour to keep up with his 18 year old son. The guy is in his 60’s, and is in better shape than most 20 year old guys I see. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/3 "2017-09-17T20:20:46Z")
NM Your link shows a different kind of trail than the kind I was thinking of. ---
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/4 "2017-09-17T20:46:20Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > NM > Your link shows a different kind of trail than the kind I was thinking of. In the link the upper photo\* represents exactly what I am asking about. \*I just notice that the pic is from a park ten minutes from where I live. So I am now aware of three of these trails with 15 minutes. [Note that nobody appears to be using the equipment] ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/5 "2017-09-17T21:41:01Z")
I walk such trails, but I don’t use the exercise stations. But I have certainly seen people doing that, so, yep, people do make full use of these trails, at least hereabouts. I think it’s a nifty civic improvement, and I’m sorry to learn that some have been allowed to decay. (An exercise station of this sort, if dilapidated, could be dangerous. Bummer.) ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/6 "2017-09-17T21:42:37Z")
There are a few along some of the beaches in Sydney. They do get used, but not as much as they get jogged past. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/7 "2017-09-17T21:51:18Z")
There’s one along the bike path on the Esplanade in Boston. There are always people using it when I run or bike past. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/8 "2017-09-17T22:43:26Z")
I use one 2-3 times a week. Primarily the parallel bars and pull/chin-up bars for upper body and core/abs training. I wish the one I use had a bigger variety of stations for parkour type workouts. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/9 "2017-09-18T04:06:18Z")
Every kind of people you can imagine. Old, young, in shape, horribly out of shape, all races and anything else you can come up with as a descriptive. I enjoy the darn things myself, and the occasional out-and-out obstacle/confidence course and I’m basically 60, overweight, have some health and physical issues and all. I’m smart enough not to overdue it and I have done them for so long that I know the techniques and risks — but I just enjoy the darn things. ---
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/10 "2017-09-19T12:45:21Z")
We have several walking/running/biking trails in my neck of the woods. Much of our old railroad system was removed and turned into statewide (WV) “Rails to trails” I actually have one that runs right behind my house. There are no obstacles or additional exercise equipment, but it makes for a nice walk. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/11 "2017-09-19T13:48:26Z")
Fitness approaches come and go, and this was a trend around here (SF Bay Area) back in the 80s. We still have them, but you don’t see them being built anymore. “Everyone” is joining CrossFit these days. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/12 "2017-09-19T14:25:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > (snip)“Everyone” is joining CrossFit these days. Or at least they’re talking about CrossFit. Incessantly. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/13 "2017-09-19T14:39:41Z")
There’s one at a park near here, where I often walk the dog. It’s been there for decades, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen an adult using the equipment (kids treat it like any other playground equipment). I keep thinking that one of these times I’ll go through the whole course just to say I’ve done it, but it’d have to be when I was there without the dog, and I’m pretty much never there without the dog. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/14 "2017-09-19T16:42:46Z")
> [@Weedy](#): > > There are a few along some of the beaches in Sydney. They do get used, but not as much as they get jogged past. This is my experience as well. Light use in most places, but the “equipment” is pretty robust and it’s a nice sign of a civilized society. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/15 "2017-09-19T16:51:09Z")
There is a pretty tough one on the base in Winnipeg, if anyone wants to give it a whirl. I have done a few “confidence courses” (they use that now instead of obstacle courses) while in training. It’s fun and really tough. The one in Shilo was sort of famous for _looking_ easy. It was not. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/16 "2017-09-19T17:06:36Z")
In my limited experience with being at parks with workout stations; I have found more of them to be in disrepair than in actual working order. Either through age or vandalism. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/17 "2017-09-19T17:10:32Z")
They had these set up on the MUT path along Martine Luther King Drive (formery West River Drive)- a bunch of them fell into direpair and were removed, but they seem to be replacing a few of them. They’re not doing anything to fix to horrendous condition of the trail, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/18 "2017-09-19T17:11:55Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I walk such trails, but I don’t use the exercise stations. > > But I have certainly seen people doing that, so, yep, people do make full use of these trails, at least hereabouts. ^Exactly what I came in to say. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fitness-trails-and-the-people-who-use-them/796566/19 "2017-09-19T18:00:25Z")
I use one about 4 days a week. It’s more basic than a ‘trail’, but I love doing body weight exercise. I’m in my mid-40s and most strenuous exercise leaves me sore for a couple of days. Body weight stuff is a lot easier on me. I will admit that there aren’t that many folks that use it. Plus, it’s really cold here for about 5 months a year. I see a lot of people who’ll do a station or two for fun and then leave, but I secretly hope they’ll like what they did and maybe try to take fitness seriously.