LIFE' S A BEACH
We’re all familiar with the slow-motion running scene from Baywatch. But while it’s a summertime classic, for some guys emerging from a long winter, their cleavages tend to be bouncier than Pamela Anderson’s, with rippling abs about as convincing as one of the original TV show’s ridiculous storylines.
However, in a plot twist worthy of prime time, it turns out that running on sand isn’t only an excuse for sexy cinematics – this simple but effective exercise is in fact a core part of real lifeguard training and fitness. Ahead of the start of every summer season, teams dressed in red and yellow busy themselves with physical preparations to be in peak condition and patrol beaches all over the world. There’s even a series of fitness tests they need to pass – including an against-the-clock beach run – to prove their ability to do the job. If they don’t meet the requirements, they’re stood down, so the jeopardy is actually quite high [queue the 90s synth music and training montage].
To find out more, we spoke to some of the
