Health Hero – Alex Durrant
Question & Answer Session
Q
What do you do to stay fit?
A I’ve been
swimming every morning for over 30 years. I also like walking. And
now I’m over 60 I can swim for free. I can also get free bus
travel, but I actually prefer to walk if the weather’s good. It’s
only if it’s raining that I might hop on a bus. Sometimes, when the
weather is really cold, I go to the gym instead of the pool.
Q
What’s your favourite time of day to exercise?
A I like to
swim at 7am because it’s quiet and you don’t have all the children
around. I tend to go for a long walk in the evenings. You always
meet someone to say hello to.
Q
Has your exercising inspired anyone else?
A Over the
years I’ve taken my own children and the neighbourhood children
swimming. Some of the neighbourhood children emigrated to
Australia, and when they came back for a visit they looked me up!
Q
Why is exercise important to you?
A Swimming
helps me with my back.
Q
How has exercise helped you in your life?
A If I didn’t
exercise I’d go mad. Now I’m retired, I’d just be sitting indoors
looking at the four walls. I might even be six feet under!
Q
What do you do to motivate yourself to exercise?
Mondays are still the hardest time for me to
get motivated – it was the same when I was working. But instead of
having a lie in I say to myself ‘come on!’ and I get up and go. I
just get up and enjoy myself.
Q
What would you say to someone who was interested in taking up
regular exercise?
A Go
for it! And find your own way to exercise. For instance, my friends
think I’m mad to go swimming in the winter. But for me it’s the
best time. I really enjoy it.