Yes, I’ve tried a rowing machine a few times but I find it too difficult to get into the kind of mind-clearing rhythm that I get into with running.
Cheers
@seakayaker that’s great and sounds like you have it all figured out - the exercise classes have clearly made a big difference. I’m probably about 15 years younger and have always been a runner so I hope my joints have plenty of years running left in them.
I like the solitude of running so not really one for classes but I have done yoga in the past and that was brilliant. I’ve never felt so fit & flexible as I did when I was attending weekly yoga classes. Work got in the way but one day I’ll pick it up again.
Enjoy your exercise!
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Ha ha! I could run in that.
I’ve been on a (fairly dedicated) fitness kick for the last 15-20 years and over the years the exercises have changed (I don’t really run much anymore, used to run half marathons and 10ks a few times a year) but I’ve kept the discipline of regular workouts.
I was doing a class once a day; either spin or a weights-based group exercise class (e.g. Les Mills bodypump), or when travelling free weights or treadmill/exercise bike use. Making a commitment to exercise every day and sticking with it, even if it’s only a few press ups and situps in a hotel room does embed it into your routine and becomes easier to stick with.
With this year’s situation I’ve got a bunch of decent weights and a decent spin bike and am using Les Mill’s on-line service. Monday to Saturday I spend an hour a day working out, it helps manage my ‘moods’ and fools me into believing I can eat exactly what I want.
Keep thinking about a return to running, and I live on a farm with a nice tarmac 400m circular track that I could use. If I did return to running the music would be what I always listened to when running:
Chemical Brothers: Dig Your Own Hole/Exit Planet Dust/We Are The Night.
The Clash: The Clash/Give 'em Enough Rope / London Calling.
Guns ‘n’ Roses: Appetite for Destruction/The Spaghetti Incident
Jet: Get Born
The Prodigy: Experience/The Fat Of The Land/Music For The Jilted Generation.
The White Stripes: Anything!
Throw in a bit of Zeppelin and Sabbath on occasion and that’s just about my running playlist.
Must admit… I do miss using a gym though, this solitary exercise lark isn’t quite the same!
I cycle outdoors and when not just doing to coomute the motivation is completing the chosen route. Walking likewise. No music because that would be unsafe cycling, and possibly walking (and I have simply never had the habit). No way can I run - something I have always hated. Gyms are a complete no-no, since the physical and mental humiliation of PE at school, ensuring I will never willingly enter something called a gym. I have a cross-trainer at home, bought some years ago to improve fitness for skiing, and I would use if I couldn’t leave home: but the only way to keep,going is to put on an engrossing film.
@PaulD – I hope your legs hold up. I ran for years for exercise and can relate to joy in the solitude while running and the euphoric feeling after finishing a run. I stated when I was 18 in the military and best I ever got was 6 minute miles. My last race was when I was 48 after being challenged by a group of younger guys at work. After training on a treadmill for several months I ran a 10K road race on asphalt and cement roads and it kicked my butt physically. Years of running, playing basketball and racketball were fantastic but in my 50’s and 60’s spent more time using my upper body for working out on open water. My knees and shins feel a heck of a lot better. Current exercise regime includes working with weights, resistance bands, various planks along with aerobic walks and stair climbing.
Life is grand!
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I always thought you were regularly kayaking. Is it not the case?
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Yes, sticking to a routine is so important. Great running music choices. Sabbath will occasionally make it onto my playlists as well. Cheers.
- Morning Yoga in silence 5 days a week. Swimming now that’s it warm enough. Walking and gardening. Air guitar to rock. Bike doesn’t get used enough.
Now, I need to dig out those first two Iron Maiden records I have and warm up the turntable 
Thanks, some good music recommendations here. As for headphones, agree that going wireless is the best and I swear by my Apple Powerbeats.
Enjoy your running.
Playing LPs instead of streaming assists fitness too especially if it is a 45rpm version. 
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I think you must be confusing me with someone else. Never kayaked in my life!
Does anyone use a Keiser M3 bike?
Interested in your thoughts.
I was writing to Seakayaker …curious you thought it was you. A bug?
A bug in my thinking I guess!
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I used one in a spin studio I used to visit.
It was (I think) one of the best spin bikes I’ve used and I have used about half a dozen different spin studios over the years.
It uses a magnetic brake rather than a friction brake which was (probably one less thing to wear out).
The display was quite good in terms of what it showed (power, speed, totals for workout)- many spin bikes are very spartan. But this display might have been an option since it drove a ‘leader board’ in the spin studio.
Hope that helps.
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Thanks Stephen. 
“I always thought you were regularly kayaking. Is it not the case?”
…I still get the seakayak out on the water on occasion just not at the frequency when I was younger. For awhile 20 years ago my wife and I lived in a floating home and would get out on the water frequently. Early morning paddles before work was easier then going for a morning jog. Still have the opportunity to take out daughter and grand daughters on short excursions when they visit which is on hold until the COVID pandemic passes.
Also many day trips around puget sound and camping trips on the Inside Passage on the northern end of Vanouver Island and British Columbia. Seakayaking is a lot of fun and great exercise so if you have never tried it go ahead and give yourself a treat.
I attached a picture of the house (a quick snap with my iPhone from a framed photo on a table) with my daughter who was visiting during a school break
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