Best Way to Get Fit Without Noticing

Behold, all you snails out there, you, too, can become fit in a few
months. Sign up in March and prepare for a June “fun triathlon” at
Pleasanton’s Shadow Cliffs. The event itself is fine, but it’s the
journey, not the destination, that makes it worthwhile. The Berkeley Y
delivers expert and enthusiastic coaches in swimming, biking, and
running. They work with everyone, even the slowest of pokes. The
twice-a-week practices breed camaraderie, and after awhile you hardly
notice you’ve pedaled your unathletic body from downtown Berkeley to
Inspiration Point. Plus there’s the screaming pleasure of flying back
down again. Participants this year ranged from a Berkeley High senior
to a couple of grandmas. And it being Berkeley, the group included
therapists, laser scientists, an opera singer, and a law professor, all
pushing themselves and coated in sweat. If you’re a member of the
Berkeley Y ($99) and you pay your monthly fee ($62), the cost to
participate is $155. For the way it transforms your body and your
lifestyle, it’s a steal.