When we were young (remember that?) and our limbs were lithe and strong, our lungs were clear and robust, and our energy was boundless?

Well, catch your breath and come back to the present. It's really not so different.

You can't turn back time, but you certainly can reversebthe aging process by strength-conditioning and cardio-vascular exercise, as our media is so fond of informingus these days.

There's a pill for nearly every ailment you can think of, and there's an exercise for every muscle group in your body. Everyone is either at the gym, about to go to the gym, or feeling guilty that they never have even been to a gym.

Let's face it: These media mongrels have us by the scruff of our necks.

Or do they?

Now, think back again: Remember how you used to run, not walk, nearly everywhere you went, and didn't think a thing about it?

And can you remember that running was actually something you thought of as "fun"?

The best things in life are still free, and you, too, can find that lithe, lean muscle in your legs and arms that kept you flying like the wind through all the summers, springs, winters and autumns of your youth.

There are a lot of books about running. It's curious that something we just did naturally as children should have to be explained to us in such detail now that we're adults. We know people don't forget how to run, just like they never forget how to ride a bike.

Don't like the idea of running? Check out http://www.upandwalking.com for information on walking as exercise.

Sure, you may fall off the bike or get winded while sprinting to the end of your driveway, but you CAN still do these things!

Forget all the how-to books: Just listen to your body; it will always tell you when you've had enough, when to stretch, when you need water, and all the other essentials.

You can recapture the sense of fun and general well-being you had as child. It won't come to you as easily, but once you get past that barrier and break into what all avid runners refer to as "The Zone," you will be absolutely amazed at what your body can still do. And, at the same time, you'll also be reaping the many health benefits of this activity you took so for granted as a child.

But we never thought, as children, that one day our bodies would slow down or that we'd have to do things like watch our cholesterol levels! We were too busy running!

And remember -- the best part about running was taking that break, lying down flat on the grass, arms and legs askew, staring at the clouds.

So, you'll be glad to know: That part hasn't changed, either.