They're man's best therapists, too
By Paula Rath Jeff widener | The Honolulu Advertiser
While a dog is said to be man's best friend, a four-legged creature also can be an ideal fitness partner. The buddy system works as an added incentive when the tail is wagging and pooch insists on being taken out for exercise. That's certainly been the case for Michael Hershberger of Kailua.
When an auto accident sidelined him from running, Hershberger took up swimming. However, it wasn't until he taught his dogs, Piku and Warf, to swim that he got hooked on water sports.
Name: Michael D Hershberger.
With his dogs, Warf, a 1-year-old border collie; and Piku, a 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier.
Age: 41.
Profession: Emergency-room nurse.
Height: 5 feet 11.
Weight: 171 pounds.
Workout habits: Swimming daily, from Kailua Beach boat ramp to Flat Island and back. Long walks with the dogs, about 2 miles a day.
When and why I started working out: "I have always exercised, all my life. I used to be a runner, but after a car accident in 2004 that ruptured a tendon in my right ankle, I was unable to run anymore due to the pain. ... I was not exercising very hard, and started to gain weight and lose muscle tone. ... Then I was exposed to, and contracted, meningitis while working at Straub Emergency Room and was in bed for three weeks. After that I decided that ... I had to be in better health so my resistance would be higher. I started swimming with my dogs. I taught Piku how to ride the boogie board and Warf how to pull her and started swimming with them, slowly building my stamina and endurance, till we now swim out to the island and back without breaks."
My good foods/bad foods: "My good foods are sushi, raw vegetables and fruits, chicken, baked fish, rice and noodles. My bad foods are chocolate and ice cream."
My biggest motivator: "Being able to go to the beach every day with my dogs, playing with them on the beach — this helps decrease my stress level. Seeing the effects exercise has on my personal life and my overall outlook on life, not to mention decreasing my body fat."
My biggest roadblock to fitness: "Waking up at 6 (a.m.) every day and getting in the 'cold' water, the Portuguese man-o-war and people who dislike dogs on the beach."
What saves my sanity: "Playing with the dogs and seeing them happy."
My next challenge: "Teaching Piku to ride on the back of my mountain bike and Warf to stay with us when riding on the trails. Continuing to rehab my ankle to the point that I can run again and then attempting a triathlon."
Advice for those in the same boat: "Exercise and pets are the best ways to improve your life. You get into shape, increase your endorphin levels, and decrease stress."
Advertiser Staff Writer
Michael Hershberger, of Kailua, and Warf (pulling Piku the bodyboarder) get a good workout every morning at Kailua Beach.
