Hi there!

Ever since I have done various cardio activities, gone to the gym or done home workouts, I have always pondered, “What could this be useful for? When am I going to need a movement similar to a skull crusher to save me from impending death?”

Obviously, lots of exercises simply build up strength and flexibility in general, so they are inherently useful. But the isolated form of the movements or activities: are they good practice for specific situations? This is something I dwell on as I plough [plow] up and down a lane in a pool, or do 10 reps of back squats.

Here are some thoughts on some forms of exercise:

Cardio:

• swimming, hiking, running, cycling, and to some extent, rowing (if you have a boat and oars): these are all good ways to get away quickly from something scary, or move quickly towards a place of safety.

• bouldering: similar to the above, but when you need to climb away from or towards something, eg you are at the bottom of a canyon and a herd of cattle is stampeding towards you.

Weight training:

• pull-ups and muscle-ups: when you are hanging on for dear life to a windowsill or cliff edge, you can pull yourself to safety.

• deadlifts: you need to move a big rock that is covering a drain, which is your escape route.

• bench press: a zombie is on top of you trying to eat your brains. You can shove them up in the air and then…hurl them away?

• overhead press: you are rescuing hobbits from a window ledge at around shoulder height and you need to pick them up and place them on a roof, which they can’t reach with their little legs and hobbit feet.

• squats: I draw a blank.

Anyway, just for fun, and if it’s allowed: what other specific problems, real or otherwise, are you in training for with your routine?