Stay fit - businessmen's sports

There are many sports that can be practiced in Budapest, but we have focused on those that are either very popular or very simple to arrange. Since getting rid of weight or simply staying in shape is one of the most important factors, we have indicated the calories burned for each sport – all numbers according to edzesterv-online.hu.

Bicycling

(About 1,000-1,300 calories burned per hour at an average speed of 32 km/hour)

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the first two-wheeled rider-propelled machine was invented by Baron Karl von Drais de Sauerbrun in 1817, but it took more than a century to become “chic” for businessmen. The real problem with cycling and work is the sweat, so you always have to have access to bathrooms before meetings. If you wear a suit, you need to transport it safely, or have one in your office ready. Another problem is finding safe cycle routes: in Budapest there are only 187 km of designated bike lanes, compared to 880 km in Amsterdam, according to cycle activist group Critical Mass (www.criticalmass.hu).

Boxing

 (700-1,000 calories/hour)

“Boxing is not a sport, but a state of mind. It’s a liberating, carefree masculine game,” said Zsigmond Adler, one of the most famous of Hungarian boxers. Whatever you call it, it burns a serious amount of calories and also allows you to blow away frustration. There are several boxing clubs in Hungary, Zuglói Boxklub being one. “Boxing is a very popular sport for Hungarian businessman who were not really practicing any kind of sport when younger. Besides getting rid of calories, it’s also a perfect sport to learn how to defend yourself, which is why it’s one of the favorites for businessmen,” Tibor Bodori, Zuglói Boxklub’s boxing coach told the Budapest Business Journal.

Running

(900-1,300 calories/hour)

If you are a woman, or don’t really fancy getting bruises from boxing, good old running is still one of the best sports in Hungary. Of course, it can be practiced almost everywhere, still, try to avoid running on concrete, as it damages the joints in your leg. The best running tracks in the capital are on Margitsziget, but if you live far from the island, running in small forests, like Káposztásmegyer’s “Forest of Wolves” in Újpest (district four) is also quite a nice experience. You can find the best running tracks on www.futoterkep.hu. If you are more serious about running, there are several events in the capital: Nike’s Budapest international half-marathon will be held on September 8. Registration can be done via www.futapest.hu.

Squash

(700-1,000 calories/hour)

Squash may seem like a modern sport, but it older than you might think, having been invented in Harrow School out of the older game of rackets in around 1830, according to www.squashplayer.co.uk. There are six squash clubs worth visiting in Budapest, says www.budapestinfo.hu: Gold Center; Aktív Squash Club; Mammut Squash; Zugló Squash Club; Hotel Griff Squash; and Rózsadomb Squash Club. “About 50% of our casual squash players are businessmen”, Tünde Budai, a coach at Zugló Squash Club, told the BBJ.

Running upstairs

(900-1,300 calories/hour)

The busiest managers are all aware that one of the best and also cheapest “sports” is simply skipping the elevator and running up or down the stairs.

Gergely Herpai