Looking for an incentive to get off the couch and put those muscles to work you never knew you had? How about a group athletic shin-dig? Sounds nerdy, I know, but whether it’s running, swimming, or whatever, exercising with other people is A LOT more fun than by yourself. Here’s some events to get your mind in the sports mindset and your limbs a-movin’.
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1. Live Well FREE Weekly Walk/ Run.

• Every week! (In case you’re worried, it technically says until January 1, 2011. Phewph.)
• Live Well Chiropractic & Pilates Center
  5553 West Pico Blvd
  Los Angeles, CA 90019

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2. NIKE Run Club at The Grove.

• Again, a nice, routine weekly deal: Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.
• NikeWomen Store, The Grove
  189 The Grove Dr.
  Los Angeles, CA 90036
• Can’t make it Wednesdays? Come Thursdays, also at 6:30pm, at:
• Niketown Los Angeles
  9560 Wilshire Blvd.
  Los Angeles, CA 90212

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3. The Brentwood Run.

• Not weekly, but this event happens Sunday, May 25. Sure to be nice weather by then, in other words, perfect for a morning jaunt. : )
• San Vicente Blvd. at Darlington Ave.
  11640 San Vicente Blvd.
  West Los Angeles, CA 90025
• Details, courtesy of active.com:

“This is a Memorial Day Weekend tradition attracting more than 2000 runners and walkers of all ages. The unique out and back coral tree lined course goes along San Vicente Blvd. It is scenic and flat. New this year…chip timed scoring…Food and drink and ongoing music awaits the finishers. Proceeds benefit the Westside Family YMCA.”

Food, drink, I’m sold. Scenic, flat? Sold again. Music? And charity? I am in. And anyone else should be, if they’re hesitant about doing a big run, because with all these incentives, you’ll forget about those sore hamstrings and keep running!

• One downside, you do have to pay. But this is the case with most organized run where you get all the perks I excitedly listed above. Prices are as follows: $28 if you register by May 18. $35 if you register between May 18 and the start date. And kids are just $15.
• Where to park? On streets nearby, or at the West LA VA for $5.00. Also, this is close enough to UCLA that you could buy a one-day pass for one of their lots. Around $8. Then you could jog over to the start for your warm-up! Smart thinking, right?

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Some tips for those new to running or walking (I know, I know… sounds stupid. Who is new to walking? Well maybe we know how to walk, as in, stroll from our car to the elevator, but I mean walking for fitness. As my fourth grade P.E. teacher insisted, power-walking can be a very good sport to partake in! So because it’s a sport, it is intelligent to take measures you would for any other sport, like these three very important things to get in the habit of doing:

• Staying hydrated. THE most important thing. In life. Seriously. I’m obsessed with water, it does so much for you, I don’t care what the last LA Times Health article said last Sunday (that water actually doesn’t have any proven health benefits), I still love water. And you should learn to love it too. Even if it takes buying one of those silly, but hey, very smart, “flavored” waters to get you to chug the stuff, that’s fine. Vitamin Water sure is popular, and actually does taste good. Just get the fluids (and not soda fluids like Coke, which I’ve heard actually de-hydrates you) into you your system. When?
  • before
  • during (in moderation, not drinking non-stop as you run. That, my friends, leads to side cramps and yes, can lead to over-hydration. No good.)
  • and after physical activity.

And just all the time! Getting in the habit of having a bottle of water with you (well don’t need to get obsessive, but you get the point) will mean you’ll probably have less of an urge to grab a soda because you a) will be hydrated and won’t be thirsty, B) will have a drink in your hand, so won’t be able to grab that Dr. Pepper, and C) will realize how much cooler it looks to have a pretty Evian bottle in your hand then a big, flashy metal Rockstar can.

• Wearing Sunscreen! Self-explanatory. No one wants skin cancer. Good ‘ole Neutrogena has always been one of my favorites.

• Stretching. When you stretch before a work-out, aim for more dynamic, moving stretches like swinging your legs forward and back or twisting your torso right and left, to warm your muscles up while loosening them. After, try to hold each pose for longer periods of time, which will provide a deeper stretch while cooling you down. What to avoid? “Bouncing” when you stretch. Instead, hold the stretch, and gradually push yourself until you feel a pull, but not until you feel pain. Would you rather just see a friggin’ video? I’ve found some free ones here. Let’s see, what else. Oh, if you’re really cool like me, you might try stretching at all times and any time of the day. Like in the elevator, or while waiting at a cross-walk. Or when you’re bored. Or reading. Love stretching with all my heart! Okay, I sense it’s time to begin bringing this post to a close. Like now. Yay for fitness!

Photo by davefitch

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