People who belong to gyms or fitness clubs have built-in sources of support for being physically active. It’s easy to strike up a conversation with someone at the gym about the extra mile you walked on the treadmill or your efforts to bench press another 20 pounds.
Solitary outdoor exercisers don’t have such a natural base of support. But people who walk or run—and are serious about it—tend to gravitate to others like themselves. Some companies sponsor teams to enter local races, and serious amateurs often find themselves discussing workouts around the lunch table.