Running your way to better health

I came to the realization this morning that among all of today's appliances and machines, the elevator is by far the most infuriating.

As I rushed to the elevator that I expected would carry me to the highest floor of my dorm building, I was followed closely by four Hopkins students who promptly pressed the buttons for stops on floors one, two, three and four.

Forget it, I'll take the stairs, I thought, glaring at their backs and pushing towards the elevator door. Who the heck takes the elevator up just one floor?

The answer is, a lot of people. Let's call this tendency to avoid any extra physical exertion the "elevator attitude." It's especially prevalent among hyper-stressed Hopkins students who are convinced that they cannot possibly spare an extra minute or two from their overbooked lives to devote to physical activity between orgo labs and bio lectures.

The "elevator attitude" gives us an excuse to avoid stairs at all costs and to skip the trip to the gym in order to squeeze an extra hour of sleep out of a busy day. But be warned! Possible side effects of the "elevator attitude" include climbing stress levels and weight gain. For those of us whose most rigorous physical activity consists of vigorously typing out a reading response paper or sprinting to beat a competitor to an unclaimed desk on M Level, an attitude adjustment is in order. Here are a few simple and easy ways to improve your fitness while at school:

Climb the stairs

For students living in one of the multi-story dorms or apartments that surround Hopkins's campus (that is, everyone who does not live in the AMRs), the elevator is always an option. But do yourself and fellow elevator-riders a favor next time you return to your room and take the stairs instead. It's a small change in habit that will cost you on average only a minute or two out of your day, and you'll improve circulation, burn a few extra calories and work your calves, quads and glutes in the process.

Take the scenic route

It's growing sunnier and warm every day. Instead of making a beeline for your first class in the morning, try taking a longer route and squeeze in a short walk. Again you'll burn a few extra calories and de-stress before your next class.

Play an intramural

Join a team or find a partner. It's a lot easier to make the time and find the motivation to exercise if you have a teammate or a partner counting on you. With spring comes a myriad of intramural offerings, such as soccer, basketball, inner tube water polo and volleyball that you can join. Or, if you prefer running or working out in the gym, find a partner with the same level of fitness as yourself who will push you to work harder.

Run

Running is one of the most efficient ways to burn calories. The next time you think about sitting down to watch a TV sitcom, try going for a short run instead. Try to run or run-walk for at least 20 minutes to start out with, and build up your mileage as your stamina improves.

The neighborhoods around campus, specifically Roland Park, Guilford and Druid Hill are truly picturesque, especially in the spring time. Using a Web site like Mapmyrun.com to create your own running route will let you plan your route ahead of time and will give you an idea about how hilly your running route is.

Life at Hopkins is most often fast-paced and intense, but don't let your body suffer as a result. Take advantage of some of the enjoyable fitness opportunities college living provides, and you'll be happier and healthier.