There's a reason that running is my chosen sport. It's easy, it's cheap, I can do it anywhere and I get the most calorie-burn for my time. Most importantly (for me), it requires absolutely no rhythm, coordination or flexibility (You won't find many flexible runners as running is the cause of short, thick, fat, tight muscles).

And, yet, I found myself at Nautilus Fitness & Racquet Club this morning trying to salsa and merengue to the latin beat. I'm reviewing a "Zumba" class for a "what's new in fitness" article in our next issue of Her Times magazine and wanted to try the class for myself.

It was hysterical, and it was all I could do not to laugh out loud (at myself) more than a few times. Check out this You Tube video (don't ask me why the instructor is wearing a 1/4 of a shirt...) for an idea of what the class is like.

Instructor, Peggy Schwab (who was a blast) made me deliberately shake things I never, never, never like to see shaking. In fact, I spend good money on expensive running clothes just to keep these things from doing the wiggling and jiggling she was openly encouraging.

Despite my complete lack of dance skills and that fact that I also have trouble discerning my right from my left -- which meant I was always turning in the wrong direction, too -- I had a no trouble keeping up with the cardio portion of the class and I barely broke a sweat.

That's due, in no small part, to my core fitness level from running.

Running -- and the cardio workout it provides -- is a solid foundation for any exercise program.