As an avid fitness enthusiast with a touch of adult onset ADD, I am always looking for new or different ways to test my body. I’ve never been much for the monotony of lying on a bench and pushing weight from my chest week after week, nor have I truly been successful in sustaining repetitive cardiovascular exercise such as long-distance running or swimming. I’m the kind of guy who thrives on change and keeping my mind as engaged as my body when exercising.

You see, during much of my childhood to early adult years my physical activity took place in the forests of Northern California. I’d race from tree to tree, duck under low-hanging branches, climb strong limbs and jump over creeks or stumps or whatever obstacle lay before me. Each time I headed out to the backyard for a “run,” the course was always different, which forced me to “stay in the game” or risk injury.

The combination of fresh air, the constant need to adapt to the changing terrain and the feeling of freedom was more than enough to sustain several hours of exercise. I didn’t have to adhere to scheduled hours (although things would get a bit dicey once the sun set), wait for equipment, or pay fees to get fit. Upon moving to Southern California, I yearned to re-create the fitness experience of my youth.

So about a year ago, as I trained clients in and around Morley Field, I noticed a few exercise stations and I decided to investigate further. I did a little Internet search and discovered a sort of obstacle fitness course, the Perrier Parcourse Fitness Circuit, made up of about 18 different stations. I mentioned this to a fellow fitness-minded friend and we decided to try it out.

The Parcourse – or fitness trail – began popping up in the mid to late 1970s as the popularity of exercise started to gain steam. At its peak in the mid ‘80s, it’s estimated that some 4,500 of these outdoor “gyms” littered the U.S. landscape, and it was unlikely that you would go through the course without running into hordes of like-minded exercisers. Though each seems somewhat different from the next, the typical fitness trail includes around 18 stations that are scattered over a considerable distance. The Parcourse in Morley Field covers 2.5 miles. Each station includes a sign post that explains how to complete the task and the number of recommended repetitions based on the user’s fitness level. The trails include a healthy mixture of strength, flexibility, balance and cardiovascular training for a well-rounded workout that can test the limits of even the most accomplished exerciser. When each station is completed, the user can walk, run or jog to the next.

I consider myself to be a fairly fit human being and approached the Morley Field Parcourse with great confidence. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I figured I would be able to tear up the “outdated” course and then head off to the gym for a “real” workout. About an hour or so later my buddy and I were exhausted. I felt as though I had worked just about every muscle in my body, and we both quickly decided that we would run the course on a regular basis.

Soon, word spread among our friends and there were times when we’d have as many as 10 people walking or jogging the course with us. Some were regular enthusiasts, although the majority had not exercised consistently. As a personal trainer, I was thrilled to share this experience and help inspire others to fitness. Nine months later, this rag tag group still heads out to the Parcourse – and more recently the Olympic Game Course in Mission Bay – for some fresh air, sunshine and a challenging workout. The group has become addicted, and like the boys of Endless Summer, we plan to spread out over San Diego in search of the perfect fitness trail.

The discovery of these fitness trails has helped me elevate my own potential while enjoying San Diego’s outdoor beauty. I have found that my gym-based workouts have been enhanced by the variety and challenge of the Parcourse, as it has served as a method for strengthening my mind, heart, body and soul. It has also provided my friends and I a way of doing something healthy as a group, and supporting one another as we each attempt to achieve our own fitness goals. One of the great things about these trails is that they allow the exerciser to get back to the basics, which is a welcome alternative to the sometimes complicated nature of today’s programs. And for those of you who, like me, suffer from exercise-induced ADD, you’ll find the fitness trail a breath of fresh air.

For a map of the Morley Field Parcourse visit http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/graphics/morleyfitnessmap.jpg