"Why climb a hill? For me it is partly the challenge – the physicality of a large hill is uncompromising and simple, you climb it or you don’t – but also their beauty, the solitude, the unknown paths. I love the physical exhaustion of climbing after a day of work, of mental fatigue and too much coffee which leaves me jittery. The hills offer an antidote, the steep slog requiring little concentration, save that of avoiding cows and putting your feet in the right place to ensure you do not slip. In some ways I feel that hill walking is the opposite of writing, that the physicality of one is the antithesis to the cerebral nature of the other, and that is why they complement one another so...

...solitary evening walks are healing, a cleansing of the soul, drawing a line between the workaday world and the night time, the land of stories, relaxation and sleep."

- Hope W.
Swanston, Edinburgh
Via Why I Love...Hill Walking

"Prior to motherhood, I was much more ambitious [about running] — integrating speed workouts or hill repeats, interval training, and long runs on the weekends. For now, the simple process of just running without a strategy is cathartic and satisfying...

This year, I entered a new age bracket in both life and road racing, shifting my fitness goals to enhance my future health and simply revel in placing one bunion-clad foot in front of the other on the road, up a mountain, or in the woods. If all goes well in the next 30 years, maybe I’ll be the one to provide inspiration to that tired mother on the race course who just wants to keep moving."

- Charity M.
Via her story on the New England Journal of Medicine's blog, In Practice

"I move to stay strong for my grandsons!"
- Susan

"Skateboarding alters your perceptions of urban space forever. Bland 1960s architectural eyesores become a creative challenge awaiting skate exploration. With the streets as your playground, loyal friendships are formed – a wolf pack of sorts – with whom you roam, hunting out new challenges and opportunities...

Why? Because, there are no short cuts in skateboarding, it’s the long hard less travelled road that leads to personal experience, creative focus, depth and inclusion. As a creative subculture, skateboarding is big business for sure; marketed and sold to the masses, but, the ability to flow confidently on a skateboard is no easy feat. There are no easy downloads or cheats into this brotherhood. To succeed at anything of worth, you need patience and dedication - skateboarding is no different.

- Kevin E.
Via Why I Love...Skateboarding

"Because I love being in nature and the mountains."
- Tom

"Movement is my way of getting energy to challenge myself in all aspects of life. I can´t imagine a life without some kind of movement, both physical and mental!"

- Patrick R., 29
Västerås, Sweden

"Running has changed my life in so many ways I can hardly list them all. I have more energy. I have made dozens of new friends, run races with my wife and my five oldest children as well as my brother, started a local running group, inspired others to run and lose weight, gotten a job connected to running and a number of writing opportunities."

- Pesach S.
Passaic, New Jersey
Via Runner's World

"So I can move with my boys and keep up!"
- Bobby and Melissa M.

“I’d rather go along knowing that at least I gave it a shot…yes there are physical limitations, there are physical obstacles and challenges if you want to do something bad enough, you will find a way to do it. it doesn’t matter if you are disabled, differently abled, or able-bodied - everybody, anybody. If you want something bad enough and you are willing to put in the time, effort and energy and have a don’t quit, never give up attitude. Any thing is possible."

Chris K., 37
Calgary, Alberta Canada

P.S. Chris used his long board to successfully finish The Scotiabank Calgary Marathon in 4:23:12!!