5 stunning spots where you can do a workout outside in Edmonton

We’ve all been looking for innovative ways to workout recently that don’t involve hitting up our usual gyms, yoga studios, and spin classes that have been on hiatus.

But if you’ve done enough indoor YouTube yoga workouts to last a lifetime, it’s time to venture outside for your daily fix of exercise. And when better to soak in the natural beauty our city has to offer than this time of year?

We’ve teamed up with Hydrator to find the best spots around town where you can set down your yoga mat or dumbbells.

Ever since the pandemic hit, the Vancouver-based healthy sports drink company has been encouraging people to be as creative as possible in their exercise routines. In its campaign as the unofficial hydrator of physically-distanced workouts, Hydrator been supporting exercisers across the city, whether they’re doing squats holding their pup or joining a backyard bootcamp.

Plot a course to any of these five stunning outdoor spots where you can get your sweat on.

Rundle Park

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This expansive park, located on the north bank of the river, is dotted with viewpoints and wide trails that make it easy for you to keep your distance while getting outdoors. There’s also plenty of options for exercise; sports fields, multi-use trails, picnic sites, a golf course — you name it, it’s here. Juggle a soccer ball or jog around the lake before birdwatching among the park’s many feathered inhabitants.

Argyll Park

Perhaps most well known for its outdoor velodrome, Argyll Park is a quiet destination in southeast Edmonton. Since June 2, visitors have been able to ride on the track again. If you prefer to get around on your two feet rather than two wheels, stroll or jog through the tree-covered trails that line the park. There’s even a baseball diamond if you and a pal decide to toss the ball around.

William Hawrelak Park

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Many concert-goers are familiar with William Hawrelak Park, and while big gatherings are no longer in the plans for summer 2020, that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy this vast green space. Roll out your yoga mat along the lakeshore or cycle around the trails (there’s 68 hectares to explore, after all). To make a day of it, you can book a picnic table and rehydrate after your workout with a few close friends.

Capilano Park

Hoping to exercise with your furry friend this summer? Capilano Park should be your destination. This spot is home to an off-leash trail where you and your pup can play and get active together. It’s also a little less crowded than some of the other spots in the River Valley, making it a relaxing place to destress, unwind, and get your sweat on.

Louise McKinney Riverfront Park

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Travel just south of the Shaw Conference Centre and you’ll find yourself in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park — “the front door to the river valley parks system.” Perhaps the best feature of the area is the breathtaking, unobstructed river views. Watch the water flow by as you do your own yoga flow and feel at one with the natural splendour of our city.

You’re probably going to get pretty thirsty working outside in the summertime — as opposed to your climate-controlled living room.

 

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A post shared by Hydrator Elite (@drinkhydrator) on Jun 29, 2020 at 5:31pm PDT

Hydrator is designed (as the name suggests) to help you hydrate while working out. The replenishing drink is made with real fruit juice and no artificial ingredients.

It’s the only sports drink created by a naturopathic doctor and it contains a more complete electrolyte formula with three times more electrolytes and 30% less sugar than most sports drinks on the market.

Check out Hydrator’s website to find out how you can replenish after your scenic Edmonton workout. If you enter promo code HYDRATORHIVE, you’ll even get 20% off your order!