I would like to get myself to run every day but find it boring. I find myself counting the minutes or miles until I can finish my running workout. This is too bad, because I think running is a wonderful thing in theory. How does one make running more enjoyable? Is it possible that running and I just aren't a good match?

Yuck! Why would you endure a workout you hate?! Life is too short to waste your time ticking off miles and minutes. Let me ask you a question: How many times have you skipped working out altogether because you couldn't bear the thought of running? I thought so.

With so many types of workouts and activities to choose from, there is no reason to put yourself through the paces of something you loathe. Choose a workout that fits your personality. Running is good for people who like to spend time alone, who don't like a lot of technical equipment or rules and regulations and who aren't prone to joint injuries.

If you're susceptible to injury, then walking is a good choice. If you like the water, try swimming, aqua-jogging or aqua-aerobics. Cycling is great for people who dig gear and specialized clothing. For those who crave the company of others when working out, an aerobics class or some sort of organized team or group is the ticket. Or, if you like a combination of all of those things -- then do a combination of all of those things.

Now, if you absolutely feel you must run, there are some strategies you can use to help make it more interesting. Try one or two interval workouts a week. For example: After warming up, alternate periods of fast running with easy jogging. Start with 4 or 5 30-second intervals, and gradually over a period of a few weeks increase to 6 to 10 2-minute intervals. Finish up with a cool-down. You can also try some hill sprints: Find a moderately steep hill and, after warming up, sprint for 30 to 60 seconds up the hill and then slowly jog down to the bottom. As soon as you reach the bottom, begin your next hill rep. Repeat this 3 to 5 times. Gradually increase (over a period of weeks) your workout until you can do 10 intervals of 60 to 120 seconds. Don't forget to add a cool-down at the end of each workout. Both of these workouts can be done on a treadmill as well. Make sure you're doing some sort of easy aerobic activity at least two additional days of the week, be it walking, jogging or cycling.

And speaking of the treadmill: For some people, the ability to watch reruns of Law & Order or the top 10 on MTV solves the boredom problem. However, for others the treadmill makes things even worse because it is literally going nowhere fast. Personally, I find the treadmill a good venue for working on running posture and technique. Try this exercise: Tune into each part of your body and to your body as a whole as you go through a head-to-toe checklist of your body posture, breathing, footstrike and so forth. For instance, start at the head to make sure it is centered between your shoulders, then move down to your shoulders to make sure they are relaxed and gently pulled backwards rather than stooped and rounded forward, and so on till you reach your feet and notice how they are striking the ground. When you do this, you really learn to listen to your body and, because running becomes less of an effort and more enjoyable, the miles and minutes seem to fly by. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

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