I hate to exercise. In fact, I don’t even like the word exercise. The definition I found was, “activity that requires physical or mental exertion, especially when performed to develop or maintain fitness.” To me that sounds like a whole lot of work. Work is what I do 40 hours a week, every week. Not something I joyfully look forward to.

I realize that some of you freakish people out there enjoy exercising. You enjoy going for a five and a half hour run just because it “feels good.” I don’t know what kind of sickness or disease has been genetically passed down to you, but I hope my children and grandchildren never have to endure it.

Now, I am aware there is an upside to enjoying exercise. You stay thin and in shape, and sure, you probably live longer and can walk to the fridge without stopping for a rest. However, this is not enough motivation for me. When the alarm clock goes off two hours earlier than normal, I need a better reason than my protruding midsection to get me out of bed. And even though that button at the top of my pants looks as if it is hanging on for dear life, I still cannot muster enough will power to exercise.

Finally, I ran across this sport of mountain biking. I’d heard of it before, and after I experienced it for the first time, I was hooked! I loved it – even though it made me feel all of the horrible things I felt on my previous occasions of exercising – the pain in my chest, the taste of bile in my throat and the throbbing muscles. But when it was over, I realized I couldn’t wait to do it again. I actually enjoyed it. I found something that requires physical exertion and maintains fitness, and is fun at the same time.

However, mountain biking is not exercise. I refuse to refer to it as such because bad things happen to equipment I buy for exercise. Take for instance my running shoes that I spent $75 on last year. Yesterday I mowed the grass in them. And the weight set I bought while under the inspiration to “bulk up,” well, it’s now being used to hang laundry on by my wife. I don’t want my bike to become a permanent fixture in the basement next to the Ab Roller.

Needless to say, my mountain bike is not what I use for exercise. It is what I use for fun, and 6 a.m. just happens to be the best part of the day to do it. Sure, the pain during a ride is starting to subside, but that’s just because I am getting better at riding, not because I am getting in shape. With my complete lack of self-discipline, it scares me to think of what will become of my love for this sport if I ever start thinking of it as something I need and should do. Mountain biking is something I want to do. It is something I look forward to doing. No exercise required.