diy · garage gym ·Sep 11, 2017

Garage Gym of the Week: Bill Morway

What is your name ? Bill Morway
How old are you ? I will be 55 in October
Tell us a little about yourself :I live in Antioch, IL.I am a 1984 graduate from Central Michigan University where I also played baseball. Making workout stuff is kind of a passion. I started doing that in High School because I could not afford to buy any equipment. Maybe I will have a product out in the marketplace soon. I was issued a U.S. Patent for a fitness product invention in August of 2016 and I am currently exploring how to bring it to market.
How would you describe your training style? Old School - Compound movements, functional movements, strength movements.
How would you describe your fitness/strength level, currently ? For 55 I am happy with it. As long as I can still squat, do pull ups, push a weighted sled, swing kettlebells, I will consider myself fortunate.
What are your fitness/strength goals? Stay mobile, stay flexible so I can workout, play golf, etc. . . and push myself when I do workout so I know when I am done that I really did some work.
Describe your garage gym. As you can see, not a lot of store bought stuff. I enjoyed the challenge of coming up with my own "stuff" or copying others people's "stuff " that I liked. It is about the work, not the equipment.
Who works out in your garage gym? Primarily me and my 28 year old son, who is fortunately a fan of the concept and gets after it out there. And believe it or not, occasionally one or more of my daughters who come to squat and push the weighted sled. That is Cool! Surprisingly though, not very many people take me up on the invitation to come by and have a workout.
Why did you build a garage gym? To be able to workout out in the fresh air and sun while cranking out music. The primary thought was . . . what can I keep in there during the Spring and Summer that I can haul out the back door of the garage and do the work outside. I still use my basement gym as well, the basement space just becomes the permanent gym when outside is no longer an option.
What is your favorite piece of equipment in your garage? Probably the push sled. If you haven't done it lately or ever, it is the one piece of equipment that will kick your a** no matter how good of shape you think you are in. If you push it (pardon the pun), for weight and distance, you will probably not need to do anything else that day.
What piece of equipment was a waste? Nothing out there is not frequently used.
What is the next piece of equipment you are going to get? I think battle ropes would be another good outdoor exercise.
How did you build your garage gym? As you can see, it was more about what would be cool to do outside. Other than the pull up bars and hanging dip bars, nothing else is really attached. It was more about what can I buy or make that can be moved outside when it is workout time. When it is time to start using the garage for parking cars (which is soon), all the toys will be tucked away until next Spring.
Do you have any tips for anyone else looking to build a garage gym? I think I am pretty fortunate to be in a place that has a separate back garage door that opens out into a huge yard.Regardless of what you have to work with, just make something that you will use and hopefully the neighbors will be OK with the workout music . . . might I suggest "Wherever I May Roam" by Metallica 😀