8 Super Alternatives To Sweating In The Gym This Summer

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With warmer weather on the way, and it being bright past 10pm each night, it’s time to start making the most of our summer evenings..

We know that when you finally leave the office the last thing you want to do is hit the gym, especially if it’s nice out. With that in mind we’ve compiled a list of eight ways to exercise outdoors for the summer months..

Tag Rugby

Playing a team sport means you’re less likely to skip out on training sessions cos you don’t want to let your team-mates down. Plus, tag rugby is really fun to play if you gather a good gang. There are loads of different leagues in Dublin, so you’re sure to find a location close to home.

READ: 14 Stereotypical Characters We’ve All Encountered While Playing Tag Rugby

Outdoor High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Contrary to popular belief, these exercises do not have to be completed on the treadmill in the gym. Just about any open space will do, and if you have to jog to get to one even better. Take a look at our list of 16 places in Dublin to do an outdoor HIIT workout for location inspiration.

Watersports

It might sound a bit extreme for after work in the evening, but if you’re lucky enough to live by the sea you should definitely take advantage of your location! Surfing is great provided you can get the waves, and for calmer weather stand up paddleboarding (or ‘supping’ to people in the know) is amazing fun.

Ultimate Frisbee

No longer just a piece of plastic you bring along to the beach, the humble frisbee is now regarded as a legitimate sport when the word ‘ultimate’ is placed in front of it. There’s plenty of ultimate frisbee action in Fairview Park each week for the summer, and you can register a team through the ‘Irish Flying Disc Association‘. No, seriously..

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Open Sea Swimming

Look, the water’s never going to be tropical but it certainly warms up a little bit as the summer months go by. Heading out to Seapoint or Sandycove to do a few lengths will leave you feeling refreshed, if a little freezing. But if you’re really serious about swimming, you can join a club like the Half Moon Swimming Club at the Great South Wall and swim competitively with them.

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Tennis

Whether you’re a member of one of Dublin’s many tennis clubs, or if you just use your local park’s tennis courts, tennis is another fun way to get active in the evenings. It’s an extra bonus if you have a like-minded pal who will come along to play against you, hopefully presenting you with a bit of a challenge. The only issue here is that when Wimbledon rolls around, you’ll both be so glued to the television that leaving the house to play tennis will prove tricky.

Outdoor Gyms

Dotted along the seafront of both the southside and the northside of the city, these are pretty nifty additions to the coastline as well as suburban playgrounds. Perfect for anyone who likes running, you can stop mid-jog to perform a round of circuits before continuing on your way. The best part? No monthly gym membership to pay!

Softball

In terms of team sports, softball is up there with tag rugby for high levels of fun accompanied by a reasonable amount of exercise.The 2015 Softball Season is already in full swing, but teams in parks across Dublin are always happy to welcome newcomers. Just make sure you read the differences between baseball and softball before you head along to training…