At age 16, Jothy Rosenberg lost a leg to cancer, and at 19, a lung. But with amazing courage and true grit he has become an accomplished athlete, and along the way has raised more than $100,000 for cancer research.

More than 5,000 cyclists took part in the two-day 2009 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge— a charity Bike-a-Thon that’s become the biggest and most successful athletic fundraiser in America and has raised more than $275 million for cancer research and treatment.

It can be the most important move of the day—simply starting your workout! It’s comforting to know that even the best athletes in the world sometimes have trouble getting out the door. Some tips from Uta to help you take that magic step on days you don’t feel like working out.

Uta answers questions from young people about how to get started on a healthy lifestyle that will help you look and feel the way you would like to, and can help assure you of greater happiness and confidence.

One of the great things about aerobic exercise is how sharing a workout with a relative stranger can create an instant friendship.

Celebrated 1976 Boston Marathon champion Jack Fultz, who teaches sport psychology at Tufts University, shares his thoughts on how to measure your successes—and be truly happy with your accomplishments.

A workout at any time of the day is great. But those at the bookends of the day are special not only visually, but also in how they give meaning to the hours that lie before and after them.

Those of us who work out regularly have a vested interest in a healthy environment. After all, enjoying nature is one of the great attractions of outdoor exercise, and who wants to fill their lungs with polluted air?

This article was written by Take The Magic Step™ team member Scott Douglas, a runner since 1979 and a writer about the sport for almost as long.

Should we feel obliged to put our workouts toward practical ends?

When you think about something being fun, you usually picture yourself smiling and laughing. But there’s a whole other aspect of fun that gradually gets revealed to you when you’re fit.

Bill Rodgers won the Boston and New York City marathons four times each and was ranked #1 in the world three times. At 58, his competitive juices still flow. But more importantly, Bill has become an elder statesman and ambassador for the sport of running. (This interview was posted in October 2006.)

This article was written by Take The Magic Step™ team member Scott Douglas, a runner since 1979 and a writer on the sport for almost as long.

Whether you want to lose 10 pounds or run a marathon, setting realistic goals is the key to staying motivated and getting the most from yourself. In this interview Uta shares the mental and physical tools she uses to inspire her.

After an impromptu workout with Uta, Take The Magic Step’s™ Mike Reger was inspired to capture his thoughts.

By Uta Pippig
Even champions were once beginners. Here Uta describes her early running days: Running is an awesome sport. It has the advantage of keeping you fit without requiring much equipment: a pair of running shoes and somewhere to run are enough. Just set aside some time to run, and if you can find someone to run with, that’s even better.

Did anyone ever ask you, “What do you think about while you’re running?” I know I’ve been asked that question many times. My answer is always the same—it very much depends on the pace of the run.

I love running—it’s as simple as that. What more can I say? Without a run, I’m not really myself! If I don’t run for a few days, I really start to miss it.