Energy Express by Marilynn Preston

My friend Bobby is bored with his summertime workouts. It could be the heat. (His shoes had a meltdown in Central Park last week.) It could be because he's wildly competitive and pushes himself way too hard. It could be because he's in a mindless rut, running 5 to 8 junk miles every day just because he can't think of anything else to do.

This column is dedicated to all the Bobbies out there who are burned out and don't know it, who need to shake up their summertime routine with something new, something fresh, something unexpected ... something special from Preston's Bag of Tricks for Beating the Summertime Blahs:

Work out in Water. Summer is the perfect time to dive into pool training. I'm not talking about swimming laps — though that's good, too. I'm pointing you to the growing number of water aerobic classes available at YMCAs, health clubs and community centers. Granted, some pool classes are for overall conditioning and not targeted to specific sports. But some are.

Targeted, vigorous, sport-specific water workouts can make you a faster runner, a higher jumper and a more competitive golfer or tennis player if you find a good trainer who knows the right exercises for you to do. If you can't, make up your own.

Get a buoyancy belt — I love my Aquajogger, but there are other good brands out there, too — and imitate the motion of your sport while you are suspended in the water. The resistance of the water will build strength and increase flexibility in the precise range of motion you use on land. Suspended in water, you can run, cross-country ski or practice your backhand, and part of the wonder of water workouts is there's no stress on your joints.

Walk Backward. It may look goofy but you can reverse a downward slide into boredom and add muscle, too, by walking (or running) backward. Of course, you have to be careful. Duh. Either do it with a pal who faces forward and guides you, or keep sneaking peeks to make sure the path is clear.

Why backward? Because it moves your joints in the opposite direction, which balances muscle strength and increases flexibility. All these things will help make you a better person — this summer and throughout the year.

Gather Friends and Fire up Your Brainpower. Boredom is banished when you do something new with people you like. So gather some friends, and brainstorm about a sport or activity that you've never done before. Pitch in on a croquet set. Or take a train or bus 10 miles out of your neighborhood and walk home. Or concoct a scavenger hunt, all biking, all the time.

There's no limit to the possibilities: Why not hire a badminton teacher for a day of instruction concluding with a tournament for prizes? Or organize a team and run, bike or swim for charity? Competitive kite-flying? Midnight bowling?

Take Four Lessons. This is a variation on the one above, but it's a solo act and digs a little deeper into who you are and what sport or activity you dream about but haven't been able to make a reality. Take a moment, breathe deeply, and let go of any fear or laziness that's been holding you back.

Have you always wanted to take a stab at fencing? Wall-climbing? Swing dancing? This summer, give yourself the gift of four lessons or classes in an activity that you've only fantasized about. Maybe it's the tango. Or aikido. If you don't have a secret longing, do yoga — and you can thank me later. Commit to four lessons: One to get started; two to come back to; three to relax and enjoy; and four to give you an entirely new perspective on life.

Self Challenge. If you do the same workout at the same pace, summer day after day, you are bound to get bored. That's why people hire trainers (or share them), to come up with new challenges, new routines. This summer, I challenge you to challenge yourself. If you're a walker or runner, add sprints, experiment with routes that include challenging uphills, or buy a heart rate monitor to tell you when you're in your target zone so you can keep yourself there for a good 20 to 30 minutes per session.

ENERGY EXPRESS-O! A GOOD SPORT ALWAYS KNOWS THE TRUTH

"Someone's boring me. I think it's me." — Dylan Thomas

Marilynn Preston — fitness expert, personal trainer and speaker on healthy lifestyle issues — is the creator of Energy Express, the longest-running syndicated fitness column in the country. She has a website, http://marilynnpreston.com and welcomes reader questions, which can be sent to MyEnergyExpress@aol.com. To find out more about Preston and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2010 ENERGY EXPRESS, LTD. DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.