Geoff Berlin, formerly one of Balkin's regular partners, seconded that opinion. He realized how dedicated they were when he changed jobs and tried to start a similar group at a new location. When I said I wanted to get a 6 a.m. racquetball game going, everyone looked at me with blank stares, Berlin said. The discipline of this group is unparalleled. Balkin said, Whatever you do that requires effort, people will drop out.
People think there's a magic to it.
But you've just got to keep punching. The buddy system Working out with someone can be a big motivator to stay in shape. Just ask Alex Pruitt. For 13 years, he has run with his friend Mike Hickenbottom three nights a week. Their regimen began when Pruitt worked at a lumber company.