Marathon Training

Feeling weak?

Need some exercise?

Well, here's a workout plan you can follow at home without joining a gym or buying any expensive equipment. In fact, all you need is an open space and some sacks of potatoes. And, this program is easily modified to increase its intensity as you begin to get into better shape, again, without purchasing more equipment or listening to the nagging of a "personal trainer."

First, find a comfortable place to work, preferably a flat surface where you can stand with plenty of room on each side of you. The kitchen works. And even though theoretically, the den or even the bedroom might work as well, many prefer the kitchen to avoid moving the potato sacks (aka, the "exercise equipment") around the house.

Grasp firmly in each hand one of the 5 pound potato sacks, and carefully rise to a standing position. Bend your knees, not your back. Once you are standing, feet firmly planted on the floor, extend your arms out from your sides perpendicular to your body and parallel to the floor so the potato sacks are dangling at arms length from your torso. Maintain that pose as long as you can, up to one full minute, and then, once you have exhausted yourself with this routine, eat the potatoes. Follow this routine for at least two weeks until you can do it effortlessly.

After two weeks exchange the two 5 pound sacks for two 10 pound sacks, and work your way up to holding them for a full minute.

After two more weeks, exchange the two 10 pound sacks for two 50 pound sacks, and follow the same routine.

After two more weeks, exchange the two 50 pound sacks for two 100 pound sacks. At this point, a month into your regimen, you should be able to extend your arms perpendicular to your body holding the two 50 pound potato sacks for more than a full minute. Some even play roudy music and boldly raise and lower the potato sacks in rhythm. Look how far you've come!

After you feel confident at this level, go ahead and put one large potato in each of the sacks, and continue the progression.