[burnedouthacker]

From experience, I would say activities like painting a house, or gardening aren't a substitute to running in every aspect; sure, they can clear up your mind, but you won't experience an improved cardiovascular and respiratory health, or even a "high".

[tjpick]

I like to "garden" using a chainsaw. That's a pretty good workout.

[thwarted]

When I lived in areas that had a lot of snow, I enjoyed the workout of shoveling snow. Always felt fantastic doing it and afterward, so much so that I'd often fantasize about shoveling the entire neighborhood if I had enough time.

[swah]

Seen this? http://www.shovelglove.com/

[burnedouthacker]

This reminds me of the ex Google programmer who switched to a job in the lumbering industry: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/c1rcu/iama_person_with...

[bilban]

Problem is with that type of regime, you'd end up with no garden left and some really annoyed neighbours.

[tjpick]

the closest neighbours are several hundred metres away, and the garden is large and located in a very fertile area. It only gets attacked like that a couple of times a year. It's not something you'd do every night after work.

[bilban]

Oh to be able to run around a garden with a chainsaw. Sadly I like in a block of flats, and you'd be glared at for smoking outside. Lucky you.