Beach vacations are supposed to be all about relaxing and having fun. We initially thought it might be cliché to write an article about simple beach workouts that wouldn’t interrupt this relaxed vibe. I even had plans to create such content for an upcoming piece, complete with photos and videos, but those plans changed the moment we arrived at the beach.
We decided to visit Fort Desoto Beach near Tampa, FL, which is often touted as one of the best beaches in the country. The entrance fee was just $5 per vehicle, and we thought, “This is going to be fantastic; super cheap and supposedly super beautiful!” We got out of the car, and as we walked toward the beach, everything looked promising. However, as soon as we rounded a corner past some scraggly trees and sand dunes, we were greeted by a surprising sight—dozens of dogs everywhere!
It wasn’t just a couple of dogs; there were at least 30, each with its owner nearby. Somehow, no one had informed us that it was bring-your-dog-to-the-beach day. Still, we all love dogs, so we thought we could handle it. We set up our beach gear and began contemplating taking some photos for the workout article. But the sheer number of dogs on the beach was astonishing.
We decided to cool off in the water, and that’s when we heard someone repeatedly shouting, “BRUUUNNNOOO… BRUUUNNNOOO.” It turned out Bruno was an old dog who wasn’t taking orders from his owner and was just wandering around, minding his own business. Bruno seemed great until he positioned himself between us and the shore and decided it was the perfect spot to relieve himself. With water rolling back to us, bringing Bruno’s mess along, I was done with swimming for the day.
I figured it was time to just relax and catch some sun. But when we got back to our towels, they were covered in sandy, wet paw prints, thanks to Bruno who had been all over them. Bruno really was a good dog, just doing his own thing, even peeing under a couple’s umbrella next to us—not once, but twice. Despite loving dogs, I was in no mood for any more canine encounters.
Between dealing with Bruno’s antics and the whole situation, working out was the last thing on my mind. I was shocked at the number of dogs and had to verify that we were indeed at one of the best beaches in the United States. According to my smartphone, we were at Fort Desoto Beach, but then I realized we were in the designated dog beach area. The dogs weren’t in the wrong place; we were! Realizing our mistake, we quickly packed up and headed to the correct part of the beach.
When we finally arrived at the proper beach, it was breathtaking. White sand, clear blue water, and gently rolling waves made it easy to see why this spot is considered one of the best in the country. We enjoyed the rest of the day taking in the beautiful scenery and sounds of rolling waves, seagulls, and relaxed beachgoers, completely forgetting about the workout plans.
The main takeaway wasn’t about getting a perfect beach workout; it was about truly relaxing and recharging my mind, body, and spirit. As I returned home, I felt refreshed and ready to elevate both my business and fitness aspirations. Sometimes, it’s okay to skip the gym and the workouts to focus on recharging yourself. Just remember to do a bit more research before heading out to avoid any unexpected surprises. And maybe next time, you’ll avoid hearing someone repeatedly call out for their dog, “BRUUUNNNOOO… BRUUUNNNOOO!”