fitness trail

A fitness trail, or "par course" (from the French parcours meaning course) consists of a path or course equipped with obstacles or stations distributed 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 physiological exercise, and can consist of natural features including climbable rocks, trees, and river embankments, or manufactured products (stepping posts, chin-up and climbing bars) designed to provide similar physical challenges. The degree of difficulty of a course is determined by terrain slope, trail surface (dirt, grass, gravel, etc), obstacle height (walls) or length (crawls) and other features. Urban par courses tend to be flat, to permit participation by the elderly, and to accommodate cyclists, runners, skaters and walking. The new concept of an outdoor gym, containing traditional gym equipment specifically designed for outdoor use, is also considered to be a development of the par course.

History

The original parcourse was invented in 1968 by Swiss architect Erwin Weckemann with support from a Swiss insurance firm ^[1]. Hundreds of courses were built in Europe by 1972.^[2]

Courses built in the United States in ensuing years included:

• 1976 "Parcour" exercise trail in County Farm Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• 1977 Bruce Jenner Trail in the Lake County, Illinois Forest Preserve District.

In New Territories, Hong Kong, Lion Rock Country Park was established in 1977 featuring 15 exercise stations.

Examples

• Prince George County Parks and Recreation Chernikoff Fitness Trail, Maryland, US.
• Maintained list of Parcours Fitness Trails in the Puget Sound area, Washington State, US.
• Queens Park Fitness Trail, City of Invercargill, New Zealand.

Fitness Trail Equipment Industry

Standardized multiple-station equipment packages for par courses is available from several manufacturers, including Columbia Cascade, Fit Trail, GameTime, [http://www.outdoor-fitness.com Outdoor Fitness Equipment, and TriActive America.

References

Outdoor Fitness Equipment

See also

• Free running
• Parkour
• Obstacle course
• Outdoor gym

External links

• Parcourse Redux Mike Grudowski. Outside Magazine. May, 2000. Photos, examples.
• Parcourses - Where have they gone? Heather Long, Families.com. 28 Jul 2006.
• Old-school exercise is par for the course Jeff Nachtigal, Bakersfield.com. December 11 2006. Photos.
• Par Course Exercise - Outdoor Fitness for Everyone James M. Evans, Senior Fitness Association.

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