Tomorrow, Friday, May 15, is National Bike to Work Day. People all across the country are encouraged to ride a bicycle to work instead of driving. Part of the motivation is to promote a more environmentally friendly lifesty1e but perhaps the most important reason is to get more people to incorporate exercise into their lives. It's no secret that the majority of American adults are overweight, and a steadily increasing percentage of adults are categorized as obese. In some cases, this is the result of specific conditions or diseases but in the majority of cases the problem is caused by a combination of poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Cycling to work won't take care of the poor eating habits (though it may encourage people to eat better, to be able to handle the extra physical activity) but it would serve to increase the exercise that bike commuters get on a regular basis.

(Decreasing gasoline use has another benefit: Less money for President Ahmadinejad of Iran and "President for Life" Chavez of Venezuela. Both of those guys get money from oil revenue as a result of petroleum product consumption worldwide, even when we don't buy petroleum directly from those countries. So there is a national security component to energy conservation too.)

Many cities across the U.S. are hosting local activities on Friday morning. These include gathering spots near work centers where bike commuters can get water, healthy breakfast snacks and live entertainment. Some locations are also holding raffles where you can win various prizes including a new bicycle.

Run an Internet search to find out whether there are organized activities in your area. Even if there aren't, consider taking part in the day anyway and ride your bike to work (or to school, if you are a college or high school student).

May is also National Bike Month in the U.S. Regular exercise and good eating habits are essential to maintain a healthy weight and body composition (muscle and body fat percentages). They will also result in a better outlook and a longer life for most people. (Exercise can't prevent car accidents, unfortunately.) Don't be one of those people who puts themselves into a Type II diabetic state because of all the potato chips, high-fat fast food, sugary soda (or worse, high-fructose corn syrup) and couch sitting. If you have children, be a good example for them by getting into better shape. You don't have to be a champion cyclist, just someone who incorporates moderate exercise and healthy dietary practices into your day-to-day life.

I do have to admit that I won't be biking to work but that's because I'm still saving up the money to get a decent road bike. But I have been doing plenty of work on the stationary bike along with regular swim and run workouts (and strength training) in preparation for the Olympic-distance triathlon this fall. I'm also entering a few road-running races this spring and summer to get my feet wet into the world of competitive athletic events, including my first 5K race this weekend. I'll post more about that in a few days.

One more note: June 3 is National Running Day. Everyone is encouraged to run (or walk) that day as part of another effort to promote healthier lifesty1es across the country. If you have never run consistently before, it may be better to walk on that day. I'll write up a blog post about some basic running tips for beginners before that date.

Stay fit and healthy and enjoy the warm weather (at least those of you in the Northern hemisphere).