Up here in Canada we go through some pretty severe winters so when the snow melts (yes it does actually melt for like a week) we take advantage of it and get outside. Unfortunately, the gym rats are always right there, in the gym instead of enjoying the weather. In my opinion, everybody needs to spice up their workouts and with the nice weather it's time to head outdoors and have a fun workout!
Since most people just lift weights, "do the machines" or use some silly piece of cardio equipment to achieve their fitness goals, assuming they have goals that is, I recommend doing something totally different when you train outside.
Number 1 Hill Sprints . They improve power, speed, leg and ankle strength, are safer than flat sprints for hamstring pulls, and will burn fat like crazy!
Regular sprints. All the benefits of number 1 but with a slight risk of hamstring issues, especially if you haven't ran in a long time so warm-up slowly here. 400-800 meter distances done all out are best for fat burning. Shorter distances for power.
Chin-ups, dips, pistol squats and Push-ups at the park. Hey, the old monkey bars at the playground never get used by all the fat kids anymore so it may as well be you! If you are cool enough like me to have Blast Straps too, then attach them to the bars and get a great strength workout. Play around and see what other exercises you can think of, you may surprise yourself.
Outdoor kettlebell, barbell or dumbbell session. These are great! Bring your trusty weights to the park or backyard and have at it. For added fun and excitement throw your kettlebell as far as your can in all different kinds of ways. You will improve power and fitness at the same time. For crazy fun wrap a rope around the handle then swing and throw the kettlebell like a giant hammer throw. OK, please do not kill yourself or anyone else with this workout method. It is great for the "core" muscles and for overall power but is pretty dangerous. I mostly just get thrown to the ground on the third rotation so two rotations and a throw are enough for me.
Sled Dragging. The guys at Westside Barbell have written more and better material on this than I ever will so read their stuff. I used my trusty sled a lot when I was powerlifting and can tell you it will improve your posterior chain strength without beating you up. Plus, it is a great fitness tool that does not involve any real impact on the joints.
Sandbags and odd heavy objects. I bought a sandbag from IronMind and it is freaking awesome! You can make your own with a duffel bag and some little sandbags but I like the real thing after tearing through 2 duffel bags. Anyways, pick it up, carry it, throw it, press it, whatever. Just play with it for 30-45 minutes and you will feel like a Viking Warrrior! Warning though, the first time I cleaned my sandbag I forgot that all the sand inside the bag will fly to the back as your heave it over your shoulder, and by fly I mean fly! When I threw it to my shoulder with all my might, the momentum was so strong that the bag literally threw me in the air backwards as if I were doing a back flip! Unfortunately I am 6 feet tall and was kind of fat at the time so "flipping" did not happen. Needless to say I landed on the back of my head and kissed my knees pretty hard. After I regained my vision I realized that this thing needs to be treated with respect. So even if your sandbag is heavy, stuff it full of light fluffy material to prevent too much shifting of sand from end to end unless you know what you are doing or have more common sense than I. Other than a sandbag, heavy rocks, logs or anything else that looks hard to lift will do as long as you are working and playing hard.
Combine 1 or 2 of the above ideas. Sprint up a hill and bang out 20 push-ups. Carry a sandbag across a football field and sprint back. Be creative and don't be so bogged down with sets, reps, percentages and all that. I know a guy who brings a calculator to the gym to make sure everything is perfect. The only problem is, for two years his lifts didn't move while the "crazy" powerlifters got stronger. The difference? The crazy guys practiced a steady diet of hard work and variety, so give them a try!
Since most people just lift weights, "do the machines" or use some silly piece of cardio equipment to achieve their fitness goals, assuming they have goals that is, I recommend doing something totally different when you train outside.