The weekend is finally here, which means it’s time to kick back, relax and enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation. If you’re trying to get in shape this season, weekends are also opportune times for squeezing in a great workout. Those two days off can be well spent at the gym or undertaking a high-energy routine, but you probably won’t feel like pushing yourself too hard on your vacation from the office.

Here are some fun and easy exercises you can do that are not only enjoyable, but will also blast off several hundred calories per hour and the best part is, you can squeeze them into your weekend schedule with ease:

1. Rollerblading. Rollerblading is a great total body workout, a challenging routine that will get your hamstrings, thighs and glutes in great shape! Just strap on a pair of rollerblades and a helmet, and head out to an area skate park or biking trail for a fun calorie-burning activity.

2. Boating. If you’re the outdoorsy type, hit the lake on a canoe or kayak for a great upper body workout. Not only will you be giving your core muscles and abdominals a wake-up call, but you’ll also get a killer adrenaline rush that will keep you pumped all weekend long.

3. Cross-country skiing. Head out to the nearest ski park for a fun cross-country skiing adventure across the trails. You don’t need real snow to make the most of this adventure that will give your upper and lower body a serious challenge. This activity also burns several hundred calories per hour.

4. Running. If you’re used to hitting the treadmill all week, take your activity outdoors and go for a long run at an area park or down a biking trail. The change of scenery will do your body – and mind – some good, and you can team up with a friend or group of runners for a fun, calorie-burning adventure.

5. Swimming. Hit the pool for an energizing and fun workout that will get your body in tip-top shape. Swimming is a great way to give large and small muscle groups a vigorous workout, and it’s also a fun routine to look forward to each week.

Rollerblade Lightning II!!!

In Alabama there is an indoor-outdoor skate park that is calling your name. It is the Ramp-N-Speed Indoor/Outdoor Skate Park. Here you will find a great collection of indoor and outdoor skating structures that allow you the chance to learn new tricks and prefect old ones. This park can be found at 1200 Alton Drive in Birmingham, Alabama.

Ramp-N-Speed Indoor/Outdoor Skate Park – The Basics
Ramp-N-Speed Skate Park offers the best of both indoor and outdoor skate parks. The interior park offers boxes, a 15-foot vertical wall, a 6-foot mini ramp, a hip to a 6-foot mini ramp and a 4-foot spine. Outside you will find a twelve foot vert ramp, several launching ramps, rails, boxes, a triple hip and quarter pipes of various sizes. While this park is packed with great skating features, it is not a bowl park.

Ramp-N-Speed Indoor/Outdoor Skate Park – Rules and Hours
During the school year, Ramp-N-Speed Skate Park is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. During the rest of the year, the park is open Tuesday through Thursday from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

This park only has a few simple rules. To start with, you will need to sign a liability waiver before you can skate here. Next you are required to wear a helmet while skating. Pads are option, but recommended. If you don’t have your own helmet and pads, you can rent them here. To prevent rashes from the pads, wear a long-sleeved shirt under your elbow pads and long pants under your knees pads. Also, don’t forget to put on a pair of shoes that have skid-resistant soles.

In addition to skateboarders, bikers and rollerbladers are also allowed in the park. Since there is a mix of sports going on here, you will want to keep your eyes open and be aware of who and what is around you. Also make sure you don’t try to cut anyone off while skating. This can be dangerous and bring the fun mood of the skate park down.

I lived in California for more than five years and must admit it’s still my favorite state. For enjoying the great outdoors, you can’t beat California. When it comes to 5K and 10K races, California also has some of the best. The Human Race of Silicon Valley in California is a really fun 10K and 5K race, which this year is in its 16th year. I’m a huge charity nut, so one thing I love about the Human Race is that it’s all about raising money for nonprofit organizations. Last year, The Human Race raised $400,000 through a pledge system – runners asked people to pledge to pay a certain amount of money for every kilometer they ran. One hundred and fifty nonprofit organizations could do their work just a little bit better because of the generosity of people and the stamina of the runners in The Human Race 5K and 10Ks.

The Human Race in Silicon Valley has four fun runs – a 10K and 5k run, a 5K pledge run and, the most fun of all, a 5K Dog Walk. It’s such a relaxed environment, too. You can bring your kids, strollers, skateboards, rollerblades and even scooters, so you don’t actually have to run the course if you don’t want to. And don’t worry about wiping out if you hit a dog, because dogs have their own race course (with their owners too, of course)!

Another fun thing about The Human Race of Silicon Valley is the number of teams that sign up. In past years there have been Vietnamese youth teams walking, Santa Clara employee groups, animal rights teams, wheelchair teams, music and art association teams and tons more. If you think you can get a team together for The Human Race, do it. It is more fun, and you’ll end up motivating each other to finish. Plus, at the end you’ll get pizza. Now that’s enough incentive for me.

This year’s The Human Race is on Sunday May 9 with runs starting between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. The races are run in Mountain View, California, and entrance fees are between $10 and $35, depending on age. Children under 12 are free if they walk or run with a paying adult, so a family of four can do the whole run for the price of two adult registrations.