Get moving! Sunday is Active Nation Day

I run. I row. I swim. I walk.

I exercise to stay fit. I exercise to relieve stress. It’s my therapy.

I never run to music. (I know, I know)  I always sing to myself when I swim and grunt to myself when I row. And yeah, I’ll admit it, sometimes I talk to myself when I walk.

I may be a lifelong athlete, but I’m far from a professional. Sure, I swam competitively for years and have run – and rowed – with some Olympic-level athletes. I’ve competed on the world stage in more than one sport. And I’ve tackled some of the hardest courses on water and on land.

row2Rowing with Genesee Waterways at worlds in 2010. I’m bow.

But I’ve never considered myself anything more than a recreational athlete.

And I am thrilled with that.

No matter the exercise, no matter my place, the result is the same – a happier and healthier me. I hopped on board when I learned about Active Nation Day, launched in 2012 by the Aussie-based fitness brand Lorna Jane to encourage women live an authentic and active life.

This year – the day is Sunday, Sept. 28 and marks the day’s global debut as Lorna Jane will be hosting events across the globe for y’all to learn and take part in a specially choreographed fitness routine.

I’m loving that an Australian-based company is taking the fitness world by storm and has inspired the #LJMove movement. And why? In part, it’s because I’ve been Down Under more than once. Why’s that you ask? Well, my sister lives there!

sissiesAt a beach in Cairns while visiting in 2007

And while I’m there, I typically run, swim, walk and hike. In fact, on my last trip I was training for the LA Marathon and ran daily, and that included early-morning training runs and laps around Sydney Harbour.

sydney runSince #LJMove is a Aussie-inspired movement, meet my favorite place to run when I go to Sydney. Yep, the path near Royal Botanic Gardens and opera house.

bridgeWhen in Sydney, I run laps across the Harbour Bridge, pictured here. I did a 10-miler here once. LOTS of laps on the bridge.

To take part in the #LJMove competition and potentially win a $1,000 gift card for Lorna Jane clothes and accessories, post a video of you – or a friend, or several friends – doing the dance move on Instagram.

Wanna win those bucks? Of course you do. So here’s what you need to do to make that happen.

Check out the website to see where you can learn – and perform – the group dance en masse. Locations vary from Bondi Beach in Sydney to Santa Monica, Calif.

Download the Lorna Jane App. from iTunes nor check it out on Google Play.

Now dance and have fun! You may be a winner!

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What’s your go-to activity? What inspires you to get moving each day? Tell me in the comments.