Printed in the Surrey Mirror Newspaper in response to a question on The Great North Run 05.

The four deaths in the Great North Run highlighted the dangers of activities that are generally considered to be healthy. However, what the Great North Run really shows is the need to be prepared for what you are going to do in life.

Have you ever kicked a football around or played games on the beach at the weekend and not been able to walk on Monday morning?  Well this is your body reacting badly to unaccustomed stresses.  Simply, your body adapts to be efficient for what it needs to do.  This means that if you sit at a desk or in the your car for much of the day your body will become very efficient at sitting. Conversely, if you regularly engage in activities gradually building up the intensity you will be prepared for what you want to do in life, be it a half marathon, a Himalayan trek or Freddie Flintoff style beach bowling!

Unfortunately you cannot store fitness.  Keeping fit and healthy is not something you can do for a while as a hobby.  You need to build fitness and healthy living into your lifestyle for a lifetime.  However, you can engage in many different, varied and fun activities changing them as your life changes and as you get older.  This can bring great enjoyment to yourself, others and keep you fit and healthy.

By Ollie Martin BSc ACSM, Take Shape Personal Health & Fitness