More reasons for X-training

If you do the same stuff all the time it gets very, very boring. Years ago my sister decided to get fitter and did exactly the same half-mile walk every day for something like four weeks. And then stopped (well, who wouldn't?) and didn't exercise again.  She did pretty well to stick it for as long as she did.

At the moment I'm having fun at an aerobics class for those of a more mature persuasion (it's called "Baggy T-shirt", which I think is REALLY insulting and inappropriate, but there you go). Last week we had a very dishy young male teacher who divided us into two groups, the Jets and the Sharks, and made us advance towards each other kicking and punching (no actual physical contact). It definitely wasn't boring.

Running is a bit different. When you're out training, particularly alone, most of the work goes on in your head. Other runners - back me up on this please! Of course you need to work on your breathing and your leg muscles and your posture and all the rest of it, but it takes a particular mind set to get out and keep going.

If you're just starting running, a couple of things are important:

1. Don't overdo it. You may feel that you can keep going, but at first you need to build up very gradually. Otherwise you get injured or overtired, or simply fed up.
2. Remember that it will probably take ages - weeks, possibly months - before it starts to be enjoyable. And even when you've reached this point, it isn't always ...

So why do it? Good question.