For some folks, running, swimming, biking, and general exercise comes as natural as breathing. But there is another type of athlete out there…the princess. A princess avoids excessive sweating, hopping, and jumping. We tire easily and can drive others’ around us nuts.

We don’t mean to whine, we just don’t have the athlete’s mentality and yet we know we need to exercise to promote mental and physical health. I have never liked working out…so having kids (who are now grown) who are athletic and competitive is so hard to understand. How come theygot the “workout chip” and I didn’t?

The best thing to do is to get a trainer…a professional…who will hold you accountable. This is easier said than done. Only a certain type of person can put up with, and motivate the reluctant “Princess” athlete. I have been lucky to find such a trainer (after going through several others, I might ad). The key: keep a sense of humor!

The only way a princess can get though an entire 1-hour training session is to negotiate. Through the bargaining process I have found that I end up training most muscle groups and can do it with the exercise I don’t mind doing. The hard part now is running. I hate it! My calves hate it! It can be so boring! However, I am determined to complete my 4th 5K this October. Don’t laugh, but the goal is not to take an hour! The trusted trainer says 15-minute miles are my goal this time. I have a suspicion that this is just the beginning of having to whittle the time down further for the Turkey Trot in November.

Being a princess is not easy, it is a curse, but those of us who fall into this category truly admire what the rest of you can do so effortlessly. Have patience with us…we really are trying.