The great outdoor workout

Find out why people in the US are abandoning gyms, and taking to exercising in public spaces and iconic spots instead

When college-rowing buddies Bojan Mandaric and Brogan Graham vowed to stay in shape post-graduation, they didn't want to shovel out hundreds to join a gym. So they returned to one of their most gruelling college workouts: the stairs at Harvard Stadium.
Five years later, there are nearly 800 others running those steps with them at 6.30am every Wednesday. Their routine, known as the November Project, now has thousands of participants and free workout clubs in 20 cities, capitalising on what's become a popular fitness trend, with other groups and individuals also gathering in iconic spots to get their sweat on.
Sites include national monuments, historic landmarks and other public spaces around the country, ranging from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, to New York City's Gracie Mansion, the historic home where the mayor lives.
The mountains of stairs and wide stone platforms at these sites are ideal for box jumps, step routines and tricep dips. Often, the workouts must be held at dawn before the tourist crowds arrive with selfie sticks. But the scenic views these landmarks offer cannot be rivalled by looking out the window of a non-descript gym.
"It creates a sentimental way to connect with your city," said Mandaric. "There's a romantic component to it, you're working out, endorphins are flowing, you're meeting cool new people."
In Pennsylvania, the hot spot is the Philadelphia Museum of Art's front steps - best known for the famous scene from the movie Rocky where Sylvester Stallone's character culminates his morning jog and jumps triumphantly. CoreFitness' Lauren Krinis' 6am class draws about 45 people.
"It really is fun to watch people who think, 'I could never run up and down the stairs,' who then go run it four or five times and do a full boot camp class or yoga session. It's probably one of the most motivating places you can work out," Krinis said.
Some parks have imposed restrictions on fitness groups, requiring classes to be free or banning classes above a certain size. National Park Service officials say parks can play an important role in contributing to health and encourage their use for exercise, but many memorials and monuments have areas where jogging and group workouts are not allowed, in order to "maintain a reflective and contemplative atmosphere".
At the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Joe Hendricks' free workout on Saturday mornings had been drawing a few hundred people. But two years ago, he said, the city ordered groups with more than 20 people to limit sessions to Sunday only.
Now, roughly 200 join him for a Sunday workout that includes everything from backward crawls up the bleachers to exercises where you carry your partner. Hendricks, 53, leads the workouts alongside several other fitness groups and soloists at the sandstone monoliths where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains.
"It's really a workout mecca for Denver. It's just so energising to have so many people around you, and real motivating. People are high-fiving each other. Most are working out much harder than they would on their own. A lot of people are terrified to join a gym because they're afraid of feeling uncomfortable and this is a nice place with a wide variety of people," Wagler said. "You're not just going to show up and find everyone super fit and super lean."
But some visitors have complained about runners and walkers at the monument. "We do not want the grounds to be an outdoor gym. It is disrespectful to the president," McKinley site director Joyce Yut said in an email.
On a recent Wednesday at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, one of the nation's most popular tourist destinations, 39-year-old Mary Kusler was pushing her way through a vicious circuit of 17 times up the steps. "It reminds you of the beauty of DC, of the calmness before the craziness of the everyday life here in DC," said Kusler, who's been working out at the memorial for two years. "The people are what you come back for. The stairs and the getting fit in the process is an added bonus."
It's a sentiment that is echoed by other workout groups. Hendricks met his wife of five years at his Red Rocks boot camp.
"It's almost become like a social group," he said. "This summer alone there are nine weddings happening of people that have met at my group."
- AP
Five great walking spots in the UAE
Fitness enthusiasts in the UAE are often seen brisk walking in air-conditioned malls and in the long metro links. Despite the heat, the outdoors aren't completely out of bounds. Spots to head to in the early morning or for a sunset stroll:
1.   The Shindagha Area, Dubai: Nothing like a stroll around the historical neighbourhood at sunset. If you're up for a longer stroll, go around Bastakiya, towards Shaikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, and end up at Dubai Creek to see seagulls swooping down at sunset.
2.   Abu Dhabi Corniche: A lovely spot for a jog, the corniche forms a curve on the western side of the main Abu Dhabi island. It's a popular spot for the fountains and park areas. Not just for walkers and joggers - cyclists love it, too.
3.   Al Mamzar Beach Park, Dubai: There's nothing like walking alongside water. The other beaches are lovely too. Visit JBR, and Kite Beach on Jumeirah, if it's not too long a drive from your home.
4.   Buhaira Corniche, Sharjah: If you're going down this route, brace yourself for bumping into people you know. There are groups of regular morning and evening walkers to wave to.
5.   Zabeel Park, Dubai: Watch out for the cricket ball that might come flying your way on a Friday morning. A gorgeous park where winters also mean barbecues and farmers' markets. Two rounds of Zabeel Park is enough cardio for 24 hours.
- Nivriti Butalia