Perhaps a backyard gym

When -- oh yes, when -- our house gets built, I think I'd like to put up a few ''training devices'' in the back yard.

I thought of this today, as I went on a (solo) Slushie Run and passed a parking-meter like device that's about shoulder-height. (Well, my shoulder, anyhow.) I thought it would be fun to leapfrog over it -- but realized that maybe I should get back into shape, first, and practice a bit on something that height.

As often happens, my mind creatively wandered over the possibilities of backyard training equipment: similar in concept to some of the Shaolin-ish gung fu training set-ups, like in the photos I have here (sources: http://www.shaolin.co.za/ bedfordview/ bedfordview.htm and http://shifupics.metcn8.com), but not as formalized.

Things that would help keep me limber and able to do youthful-type things -- as needed -- and help prevent me from seizing up as I approach middle-age.

In addition to a small grassy hill, maybe waist-high, with a tree growing in the center (I've wanted a little hill like this for several years now; for leaning against and contemplating; being on a hill means that the grass will be non-soggy year-'round), I'm a-thinkin':

• A single pole or stump, about shoulder-height, for practice leapfrogging


• A pair of stumps with a rope strung fairly tightly between -- about waist-height for jumping over like one would jump over a fence


• A horizontal bar, about lower-ribcage height, for practice fence-vaulting over (assisted by putting myhands on)


• A moveable (but stable) small wooden platform, about a foot high, with a horizontal bar about head-height and a few feet away so I can practice leaping at the hohrizontal bar


• Actually, I guess I will have a few stumps, in an oddball pattern, for practice leaping from one to another


• Bars or horizontally-strung ropes at various heights, for me to jump up and ''tag'', as well as to jump up and grab


• Platforms or stumps of various heights for me to jump down from


• Some way of marking horizontal distances on the grass (but nothing people would trip over, or get caught in the lawnmower) for practice in jumping horizontal distances


• A wall, about mid-chest height, for practice hefting myself up onto


• A ten-foot wall, to practice scaling
  

The kids would probably have fun with these things, too... ;)


--GG