Excerpted from "A Year of Health Hints"
365 Practical Ways to Feel Better and Live Longer
Imagine the pride you'd feel if you could tell people, "I swam the English Channel." As remarkable as it may sound, you can
achieve such a feat, without leaving your hometown. Here's how: Assuming one lap equals 60 feet, keep track of how many
laps you swim and convert that figure into miles once a week. The English Channel is 21 miles wide which is the equivalent of
1,848 laps. Looking at it that way, you'll swim the channel in no time. (The Atlantic Ocean is another matter, however.)
You can apply this motivational tool to walking, bicycling, stair climbing, or running. Using the following table, decide on a
goal--climbing a well-known mountain or skyscraper, swimming a famous body of water, walking to a faraway city. Then
figure out the distance and get moving.
Distance Guide for Exercise Goals
| Stair Climbing--Peak or Building | Distance | Equivalent* |
| Mt. Everest | 29,028 feet | 49,762 stairs |
| Mt. Rainier | 14,410 feet | 24,703 stairs |
| Empire State Building | 1,250 feet | 2,143 stairs |
| Eiffel Tower | 984 feet | 1,687 stairs |
| Swimming--Body of Water | | |
| English Channel | 21 miles | 1,848 laps |
| Lake Michigan | 118 miles | 10,384 laps |
| Mississippi River | 2,348 miles | 206,624 laps |
| Atlantic Ocean | 4,150 miles | 365,200 laps |
| Walking/Jogging/Cycling--Route | | |
| New York City to Chicago | 831 miles | |
| Boston to Seattle | 3,123 miles | |
| Miami to San Francisco | 3,147 miles | |
| Great Wall of China | 3,950 miles | |
*One stair equals approximately 7 inches. One lap equals 60 feet; 88 laps equal 1 mile. Check the length of your swimming pool.