Audiobooks At the Gym

by Emily Roberts on June 4, 2013

Exercising at the gym mostly consists of doing repetitive motions for periods that are longer than we’d like, right? And usually in a place where the décor is industrial. Walking on a treadmill or riding an elliptical bike involve pretending to be on a journey, except that the view doesn’t change – and it wasn’t much of a view to begin with!

Audiobooks are great for two things. First of all, a good workout book helps with motivation, and motivation isn’t always strong for many of us. Secondly, a well-read story transports us from our actual, mundane situation to somewhere in our mind. Seattle PI discusses the value of a good narrator, with a wide variety of suggestions (not all, it should be said, manly in taste):

http://blog.seattlepi.com/happilyevenafter/2012/01/26/the-ultimate-motivation-for-working-out-audiobooks/

Julia Sweeney (who I shall assume is not anyone’s dad)  has a fine piece in the Guardian about audiobooks and the treadmill:

“I own a treadmill. My treadmill goal is simple: burn 500 calories. To do this, I need to be on the treadmill for one hour; 60 eternity-long minutes. And then I have to do it again and again, four or five times a week, every week.”

Her recommendation is audiobooks – in her case, about Keith Richards!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/01/treadmill-exercise-audiobooks

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