There is nothing stated, implied or even mildly suggested by this article that the only course to fitness is to run. In fact I state it quite clearly: I want you to MOVE. I write a great deal about fitness; in this particular piece my neighbor was asking me about running. Therefore that was the topic. Before you put words in my mouth that aren’t there, Lauren, I respectfully ask you to reread the piece first. My aunt didn’t run, she swam. I write about all kinds of sports, all kinds of movement. I honor your right to interpret a piece as you wish, but if you are going to speak about me in the third person in your comments you might also do “this author” the respect of reading the piece more carefully. I also did not state that anyone should force themselves to do something they hate or which gives them pain. I love to run, I dislike the heat. However for the work I do in the world I have to train for extreme conditions. Part of my discipline is to prepare for the heat of central Africa or Egypt and this is how I do it.

Please do not misquote me. When you write in the comments you are speaking directly to me as the author. I am not “the author.” You’re talking to me, and in this case you’re choosing, as is your perfect right, to take my comments out of context and to stretch them like taffy to make a point. I make the same kinds of points in plenty of other articles.