It is amazing what we will do in the name of charity. I knew a group of girls who even went skydiving for charity. That's right; people will jump out of planes all in the name of raising a few bucks for a good cause. The thing is, doing something for other people is often more motivating than doing something for yourself. This is why exercising for charity is a great way to workout.
This past weekend, I walked three miles around downtown D.C. and got to see the beautiful cherry blossoms and monuments. I even got up before noon to do so! The question is what could have possibly motivated me to get up by 10 a.m. on a Saturday and start exercising, and the answer is the annual Multiple Sclerosis Walk. It is definitely not typical of me to wake up early to exercise, but friends and family had donated lots of money to ensure I did so.
Charity walks have become very popular in recent years. Over the past year I may have gone on a walk for every major cause I am interested in. Not all walks depend on raising money. Many causes hold walks as a way to bring people together and put forth a unified front. For example, you could easily go out Tuesday evening in support of "Take Back the Night."
Another great aspect of exercising for charity is that it is a good excuse to get all of your friends together and working out. I remember I did one walk about a year ago and it was gloomy out and pouring - typically not an ideal day to work out - but I was with a bunch of my friends and it turned out to be a great time. I ended up getting in both my workout and time with my friends on a day when I probably would have convinced myself that I would risk melting if I dared to go outside to exercise.
Walking is not the only exercise for charity you can do. If you just want to push it a little harder for instance, most of the walks offer a running race as well. If you are sick of the whole walking and running thing altogether, you can't escape quite yet. There are a variety of exercises you could do for good causes.
In June, the American Diabetes Association will host the Tour de Cure, a bike ride that takes place around the country. D.C. riders can bike in Reston, Virginia. The races range from 12 to 100 miles, which is perfect for any level of bicyclist, even for people like me who have difficulty getting comfortable on a bike seat for even 12 seconds.
Just recently, AU hosted a "Stop the Violence" indoor soccer tournament on campus to benefit D.C. Scores. The proceeds from this event went toward enhancing the academic and athletic development of D.C.'s students.
For yet another charity-oriented workout, you could register for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation's annual golf tournament in June. The event takes place at the Andrews Air Force Base golf course and helps raise money for college scholarships.
There are many ways to workout that do not involve an afternoon at Jacobs Fitness Center. Sometimes we all need a good cause to get us motivated and there is no reason this cannot apply to our workouts. As the weather gets warmer, consider doing a walk or another event for charity. And hey, if you can't find one you like, you can always create your own. I can picture it now: The Darcie Walk - proceeds go toward paying Darcie's rent (donations welcome at all times).
