by Brian Robitaille
Steve Duperre interviews Brian Robitaille
SD: We've known each other for several years now and I know that you are a very busy guy. You often take trips out of town to hike, mountain climb, motorcycle tour, mountain bike, or snowboard. When you are traveling, do you ignore the bodybuilding side of your training until you come back to town?
BR: Generally, yes. Mostly because what has pulled me out of town is usually incompatible with gym training. Either because I actually can't make it to a gym (like winter camping back-country on a snowboard outing) or that post- exercise stiffness associated with weight training would make that other activity most uncomfortable.
SD: When you travel, do you go out of your way to find a gym?
BR: If I am traveling for recreation purposes, then I don't. Otherwise, I try to find something nearby (like the hotel that I'm in). Unfortunately, drop-in fees of many gyms are quite expensive, so often I just "make do" with the tiny hotel gym.
SD: Are you able to train as hard as you would in the gym?
BR: A new gym is kind of like sleeping in a strange hotel bed: it's just not the same as "home". So I'd say the gym experience isn't quite the same. But, more often than not, I would instead do some sort of out-of-gym routine with whatever the surroundings provide. In fact, there's a children's "jungle-gym" just around the block from here. Let's take a walk over there and see what exercises we can "invent"!
SD: All right, let's go! So tell me, can someone's fitness level improve with these kinds of workouts or are they just maintaining?
BR: I treat these playground-type sessions as purely maintenance: so that when I return to heavy training back in my home gym, I am able to jump right back into the old routine without having to take a couple of weeks to gradually increase the intensity levels (as I would have to if I completely slacked off).
SD: When you travel, do you continue with your regular training schedule and train one body part at a time or do you train the entire body?
BR: I will usually compress these maintenance sessions to cover one-half or even full body, so that I free up time for the other activities.
SD: I can easily see you doing push-ups for your chest and pull-ups on some monkey bars in a park to train your back. Are there any other exercises that you could easily do to target these areas?
BR: Yes there are. But instead of talking about them, let's do them instead. We're only a couple of minutes away now from the playground, Steve. Do you see it?
SD: Since you don't have dumbbells or a barbell handy, it must be difficult to target areas such as the biceps and the triceps?
BR: Yep. Sometimes, the surrounds just don't provide you with an adequate bicep/tricep isolation. But, creativity goes a long way. Let's see what we can come up with.
SD: A couple years ago, you went to Hawaii for 3 weeks and told me that you managed to get a workout on the beach in the morning. What kind of workout could you possibly do on the beach?
BR: A fun one! Most of the wedding party that I was part of joined me for several "Ed Allen" sessions under the palm trees on the sandy beach. I basically had everyone partner-up and lead them through circuits of upper- back towel-pulls, push-ups (hands elevated on piles of sand), ab crunches, sumo squats, walking lunges, bicep-tricep towel pulls, etc. Once we finished, we'd all run off and ply in the surf. Now, that's a great alternative to the local gym!
SD: OK, we're here. So, what can we do?
BR: Well, we have a sling-type swing. I think we can do some ab crunch-type exercises.
SD: Hey, I see a way to do push-ups that will also involve the shoulder girdle stabizers. I'll show you.
SD: OK, let's move on to the play structure …
BR: Not so fast, Steve. I see another ab exercise on this swing set.
SD: Not bad, Brian. Say, can you do some abs on this structure?
BR: Oh, yes. It's just a bit awkward to initially get into it, but then the
"Rocky" style of sit-ups will certainly impress the 8 year olds!
BR: Hmm, this is a bit of a stretch, but I think a shrug-type isometric can also be performed on this cargo net.
BR: All right, I see the monkey-bars … let's do some chins.
BR: This particular set-up allows an alternate grip.
SD: And, of course, the narrow-grip version.
SD: Brian, what can you do with these stairs?
BR: Inverted push-ups some to mind ... kind of simulating an inclined bench press.
BR: And, also a decline version.
SD: I see that you can use the monkey bars to do dips.
BR: I'm on it!
SD: Hey, while you're up there, do some inverted rows.
BR: To simulate a kind of t-bar row? OK
SD: So, where can we work our calves?
BR: The usual place: a step.
SD: What about leg exercises?
BR: a split lunge can be achieved from the steps.
SD: Hey, be careful ... your stance should be longer - you are straining your
knee.
I see a bench ... do some one-leg presses.
BR: Like this ?
BR: Steve, try deep knee bends on that wobbly-stairs.
SD: Kind of like those popular Bosum ball squats, right?
SD: Brian, here's a challenge: lower back.
BR: Hmmm, that's a toughie. If I can get to help me, then I can do some low-back extensions.
SD: Ok, just let me set the camera timer ...
BR: Turn about is fair play, Steve. Can you come up with some bicep and tricep isolations?
SD: OK, bicep first.
SD: How's this for triceps?
BR: Well done, Steve! We're running out of light, so let's head back.
SD: Brian, thanks for showing your travel-training tips ... who knew that a simple play structure could offer up so many valuable exercises?!
Biographies
Steve Duperre is a personal trainer in Ottawa. He is an experienced competitive bodybuilder and has been a life-long drug-free athlete.
Brian Robitaille is a personal trainer in Ottawa, and is also a natural athlete. Brian endorses InterACTIVE Nutrition® to family, friends, and anyone else who will listen.