I was waiting in the ticket line for "Brideshead Revisited" the other day — making time to see great movies is part of a healthy lifestyle — when I spotted evidence of a wonderful fitness trend I want to encourage: regular people, out walking, in city streets, using hiking poles.

In this case it was a man and woman — mid-40's, casually dressed, L.L. Beanish — and they were happy to tell me they go everywhere with their poles: on the flats, up and down streets, into and out of malls and, of course, hiking the various trails that surround their town.

Very cool. And here's why:

Hiking poles add upper-body action to any walk you take. You burn more calories and, over time, if you're bold enough to walk vigorously and venture out to uneven terrain, you can significantly develop your overall strength and flexibility.

Even better, for the zillions of Americans who pop painkillers for nagging pain, walking with poles takes a significant amount of stress off your knees and lower back.

And the older you get, the more you need them because hiking poles give you more stability and balance, especially going downhill or climbing up city curbs and building steps. An older guy in line with me told me he gets twinges of vertigo from to time, and walking with poles gives him support and security.

"If I didn't use my hiking poles, I wouldn't walk," he said, "and if I didn't walk, I'd be dead." He clutched his heart and shook his head, and I thanked him for sharing.

Beach Running: The Gritty Truth

It's never too late to learn to run on a sandy beach. Not only does it look good, it feels good, extra good, energized by the sky above and the sea below. But please! A few things to consider:

— Running on unstable terrain (soft sand) — with or without running shoes — engages the muscles of your feet and legs in new and subtle ways. Beach running can make them stronger — a good thing — or it can stress them to the point of pain — not necessary. In sports, in life, certainly in beach running, the key is moderation.

— At the start, run on the hard, wet sand near the water and gradually work your way over to the uneven, soft sand. It's a good idea to alternate between the two — think of it as interval training — switching back and forth between the hard workout on soft sand and the easier workout on hard sand. Watch for the slant of the beach. Too much tilt — stressing just one side — can cause problems. This is true in all sports and political journalism.

— Cool down with a barefoot walk, wiggling your toes in the sand, pushing out at your heels, stretching from the soles of your feet all the way up your inner leg, flexing and bending at the heel. All these moves open up the channels of energy in your feet and legs, and help them get stronger and less vulnerable to injuries. Running for fun, for fitness, should never give you any pain to beach about.

Post-Olympic Celebration: One Life Changed!

Can the 2008 Beijing Olympics improve the health and sassiness of an older, non-athletic woman who lives in Tacoma, Wash.? Read on:

"Dear Marilynn, Thank you for your inspiring article on finding your own inner Olympian. It was "food for thought," as I tend to procrastinate, eat too much and don't exercise enough, especially as I get older. And speaking of "older," perhaps that topic could be addressed in a future article, in relation to expectations.

Dara Torres is vibrant and driven, yet at 41 years old, spoken of as an "aberration." Perhaps if people would stop putting others "in boxes," more would excel. Age discrimination is alive and well, if you accept it. And those who don't become Olympians, or maintain their physical and mental abilities, despite what society says the "senior" norm should be. Thank you for stirring me up, for providing the words to move me into action, maybe even to be sassy, like those gymnasts I so admire and want to be! I'm going to start by stretching ever so gently, and then advance to standing on my head . . ."

Thanks for stirring me up. Go now and change. Start today. Have your "best" time.

Energy Express-O! On Gold Medal Procrastination

"It's the start that stops most people." — Don Shula

Marilynn Preston — fitness expert, personal trainer and speaker on healthy lifestyle issues — is the creator of Energy Express, the longest-running syndicated fitness column in the country. She welcomes reader questions, which can be sent to MyEnergyExpress@aol.com. To find out more about Preston and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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