sounds, she flies out of bed, blends up a fruit smoothie, and heads out for a
ride. The difference? She hooked up with an informal group of 15 cyclists who
meet on a street corner three days a week in suburban Los Angeles. Now her
rides are so much fun that Suzanne doesn’t even mind sitting in traffic for 50
minutes to get to the starting point. Plus, by riding with a group of cyclists
who are much faster than she is, Suzanne has become a much stronger biker.Whether you join a bike club, a hiking group, a swim team, or a soccer
league, you’re sure to gain inspiration from your workout buddies. Don’t worry
if you’re the slowest one in the group; just do as much as you can handle.
Eventually, you’ll catch up with the rest. Don’t sweat it, either, if the group isn’t
friendly right off the bat. Some groups can be cliquish, and it takes time to
break in. If you keep showing up, eventually you’ll be one of the gang. If you
don’t have a group of friends who are interested in working out, check with
your local running or cycling store or search the Internet for the name of your
town and terms like workout group.Work Out with a Buddy
If you can’t find a local club that fits your schedule, set up a workout schedule
with a friend. When Liz’s friends Patty and Ann trained for a triathlon together,
they met at 4 a.m. every morning for a bike ride, followed by weight lifting
and yoga. On the weekends they did their runs and swims together. This went
on for six months until they completed the event successfully. Both say they
couldn’t have done it without the other’s support and companionship. “The
only way I could get my butt out of bed at 4 in the morning was knowing Ann
would be there, too,” says Patty.Join an Internet Fitness Community
Not everyone can find workout partners in his neighborhood. But thanks
to the Internet, you can gain inspiration from fitness buddies across the
country — or even the world. Several fitness Web sites have forums where
visitors can chat with like-minded exercisers and develop strong bonds with
one another.Some sites even help you find an e-mail pen pal with similar interests and
fitness goals. For instance, at the Fitness Jumpsite (www.primusweb.com/
fitnesspartner), you can post an ad describing your exercise pursuits and
what you’re looking for in an e-mail fitness buddy. Postings run the gamut —
from a single mom in Australia wanting to lose 50 pounds to a North Carolina
college student needing inspiration to lift weights instead of hanging out all
night in his dorm downing pizza and beer.Chapter 27: Ten Ways to Stay Motivated 381