How cycling into Austria turned me into an exercise fan
Exercise hasn’t always been a priority.
While in boarding school, I opted out of sports. Instead, I drove the launch for the crew coach and painted stage sets. Maybe I was copying my grandmother who used to tell us how she took sunbathing as a sport during her years at Bryn Mawr.
Movement was so much the enemy that I even chose a dormitory that was linked to classrooms via a tunnel. Heck, the most exercise I got was walking to a field to sneak cigarettes.
By the time I was 17 and finishing junior year, I was unfit, chubby, and insecure.
That summer I traveled to Munich to take German language classes. One weekend, a handsome older guy invited me to go mountain biking. I accepted.
We began cycling in a quaint Bavarian village an hour south of the city. Peddling through lush valleys and forests, the going was hard. I was winded, but my new friend was encouraging.
A few hours later, his map showed we had crossed the border into Austria. If we returned on the road, as planned, we’d risk encountering guards who would ask for our passports. As we had forgotten to bring them, we opted to turn around and retrace our steps.
Back at the village, we sat in the beer garden and enjoyed a cold drink. I was elated. I had ridden a bicycle into another country!!!
Something inside me stirred.
When I returned to school a few weeks later, I joined the cross-country running team. Despite still smoking, I lost fat and gained muscle; my focus, mood, sleep, and energy improved.
Today, I notice the quality of my life increases when I exercise. No matter how distracted or anxious I am, I can change my state by a quick workout and feel revitalized and relaxed.
I prioritize movement by scheduling it. It’s non-negotiable. (Oh, and I no longer smoke, in case you were wondering.)