My favorite way to exercise is
Running!
My typical weekly routine is
Summertime: 3-6 miles, 3-6 times per week
Wintertime: treadmill in the basement. Ugh! But I refuse to run if it's colder than 40 degrees outside. Hurts my ears.
How I got started
In high school, I wanted to join the cross country team but I thought you had to be really good to be part of it. I think I started running on my own my senior year, mostly on trails in the park near my house.
It became a regular thing in college, and I've just continued since then (I'm 35 now).
I'm not fast, but if I'm consistently getting out there, I can go pretty far. My longest run was a half marathon.
Why I love it
I love finding my rhythm. I love getting lost in the music on my iPod. I love how you feel if you've had a good run in the morning. That high stays with you all day. It's the best stress reliever ever.
It's also cheap, as far as sports go.
Advice
- Take it slowly. If you're not in good shape yet, start by walking. Then run a block, walk a block, run a block, walk a block. Sooner than you think, you'll be running the whole way.
- Use an iPod (or similar). The music will motivate you. Sometimes I run an extra mile just to hear a good song.
- Dress in layers so you can peel them off as your body warms up.
- Plan a route using MapMyRun.com. If you've visualized your run before heading out, I think you're more likely to stick with the full course.
