Tom Rowland | The Deck of Cards Travel Workout | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 337

Tom Rowland, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, professional fishing guide, and fitness enthusiast based in the Florida Keys, reveals his ultimate travel workout system that fits in your pocket. Whether you're navigating airports, staying in hotels, or guiding clients in remote locations, Tom's deck of cards method delivers a complete workout in just twenty minutes—no gym required. In this Physical Friday episode, he breaks down exactly how to assign exercises to each suit, scale the difficulty up or down, and eliminate the morning uncertainty that kills most workout routines. The secret isn't the cards themselves—it's the mental game Tom plays the night before.

The Four Suits System That Works Anywhere

Tom's system is elegantly simple: spades are burpees, clubs are push-ups, hearts are sit-ups, and diamonds are squats. The number on the card tells you how many reps to perform. When you flip a four of clubs, you knock out four push-ups. A nine of diamonds means nine squats. Face cards—jacks, queens, and kings—all count as 10 reps, while aces give you a choice between 11 or 1, depending on how hard you want to push. Tom keeps plastic decks in his truck and every travel bag because they withstand sweat and won't fall apart. The joker cards add an element of surprise—Tom uses them for bonus exercises like running around the parking lot or doing 10 pull-ups. The complete breakdown of the suit assignments starts at 2:32.

Scaling the Workout Up or Down

What makes this system brilliant for travelers at any fitness level is its scalability. Tom explains that you can make it easier by counting face cards as 5 reps instead of 10, or treating aces as 1 instead of 11. This cuts the total volume substantially without changing the structure. On the flip side, if you're looking for a serious challenge, Tom suggests going through a double deck, doubling all the rep counts, or trying his personal favorite: making all red cards burpees and all black cards push-ups. That variation delivers approximately 197 reps of each exercise. Throw in some runs between rounds, and you've got a workout that rivals anything you'd find in a gym. Tom explains the scaling options at 4:17.

The Night Before Decision That Changes Everything

Tom reveals that the real power of the deck of cards isn't just the workout itself—it's what happens the night before. When he travels, he sets the deck out on the table before going to bed. That simple act is a decision: in the morning, he's going to grab that deck, walk out the door, and get his workout done. This eliminates all the morning uncertainty and decision fatigue that derails most people's fitness routines. There's no waking up wondering what to do, no wandering around a hotel gym looking at dumbbells trying to figure out a plan. The decision is already made. Tom emphasizes that this pre-commitment is the key to staying consistent on the road. Tom's night-before strategy starts at 5:07.

Why Tom Always Carries Multiple Decks

Tom doesn't leave fitness to chance. He keeps a deck of cards in his truck, another in every travel bag, and knows he can grab one at any airport if needed. The plastic decks are his preference because they hold up to sweat and repeated use. This redundancy ensures he's never caught without his workout tool, whether he's on a remote fishing trip, staying in a hotel, or working with clients. The deck is so portable and versatile that it's become his go-to fitness solution for life on the move. Tom's enthusiasm for this method is clear—it's not just a backup plan, it's his primary travel strategy. Tom discusses his deck placement strategy at 2:12.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I can't tell you how many times this deck of cards has saved my fitness routine on the road. When you're traveling constantly like I do, whether it's for fishing trips or podcast recordings, the biggest challenge isn't finding time—it's eliminating that morning uncertainty. The deck solves that problem completely.

What I love most is how this system meets you where you are. Feeling fresh? Go hard with the double deck or the all-reds variation. Had a tough day guiding? Scale it back with lower face card values. The workout adapts to your energy level and schedule, which is exactly what you need when you're away from your home gym.

If you struggle with consistency on the road, try this for a week. Set that deck out the night before, make the decision before you go to bed, and watch what happens. Email me at podcast@saltwaterexperience.com and let me know what exercises you assign to your suits—I'm always looking for new variations. This one's worth your time.