By Bruno Zalubil
It is cold. It gets dark early. A good book sounds like the best way to relax after work. It is still half a year until your summer trip to the beach.
But, what if . . .
. . . a few nights a week you went to the fitness center?
. . . you played squash every once in a while?
. . . you walked to work a couple times a week?
Pretty quickly you’ll start feeling more awake and like you have extra energy. By the end of the month, your clothes will start to feel looser. In three months people will start to notice and you’ll need to buy new clothes. And, by summer, when you go on that weeklong vacation, you’ll hit the waves with a sculpted beach body.
It’s easy.
* * * * *
Of course, it is not easy.
Losing weight, making time, eating right — all of it is a challenge that requires persistence and discipline. Some people make New Year’s resolutions. Some pick another random day to start a new exercise routine. Others, like me, use the impending summertime as motivation.
The latest trend for body-weight / body-image management in the Czech Republic is running. When I first arrived more than a decade ago, there were few runners; now I see people jogging everywhere.
There are a lot of great places to go for a run throughout the city of Brno and nearby. And, importantly, there are a lot of local races that you can use to motivate yourself. Here are some favorites that are good to put on your schedule:
Saturday, Jan. 20 — Winter Run Brno, Komec in South Brno, 4km or 8km. Click here for more information.
Saturday, March 17 — 73rd Running of Beh Luzankami, 8km for men and 6.4km for women. Click here for more information.
Sunday, April 22 — Brno Half Marathon, 10km or half marathon. Click here for more information.
Brněnský běžecký pohár has several local races through the winter. Click here for more information.
There are also several longer races that attract an international crowd, including the Prague Half Marathon (April 7), the Prague Marathon (May 6), the Karlovy Vary Half Marathon (May 19), the České Budějovice Half Marathon (June 2) and the Olomouc Half Marathon (June 23). Click here for more information.
I find that the act of paying the entrance fee provides enough motivation for me to train for and run in races.
A little bit of work and discipline, starting now, and you’ll be sipping cocktails on the beach with a new sense of pride.
(By the way, now maybe a good time to book your summer holiday.)
