Fitness

My Workout: Jim Merlis, executive

A former party guy finds a fitter body—and a happier family—through karate

By: Amy Levin Epstein
[ Updated: Aug 22, 2008 - 3:39:26 PM ]

Exercise never used to be a problem for Jim Merlis. The head of publicity for Geffen Records spent his 20s and 30s running after rock stars like Kurt Cobain and Mary J. Blige. But the higher he climbed on the corporate ladder, the more his job revolved around schmoozing—both over cocktails and big, heavy dinners. “I was staying out until 4 and eating lavishly catered meals,” says the 41-year-old, whose meat-and-martini lifestyle caught up with him in 2001. “I weighed myself one day, and the scale stopped at 190. I looked terrible.”

Merlis took up running to shed the extra pounds and yoga to protect his joints. More recently, he started karate classes at the United Studios of Self Defense in Santa Monica, California. He credits karate for strengthening his legs, and he used it to prepare for last month’s New York City Marathon. Here are three rules Merlis used to turn from schmoozer to marathon man. They’ll work for you, too.  

RUN BEFORE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES MOUNT Once the clock strikes 7 a.m., Merlis’s day revolves around other people—his wife, kids, clients, subordinates, and supervisors. So he makes sure to devote the early morning to himself. He’s out the door by 5:15, running the fitness trails around Santa Monica. By the time his children wake up, he has already logged four 10-minute miles. His route takes him two miles uphill and two miles downhill, mimicking hills along the New York City Marathon route.

CROSS-TRAIN WITH FAMILY The inherent danger in a regular fitness routine is that it’s routine; once the thrill is gone, you’re at risk of falling off the exercise wagon. Merlis discovered that karate not only broke up the boredom of his everyday workouts, but it also kept him motivated because it meant so much to his 66-year-old father, George, and 7-year-old son, Jasper: “Karate brings three generations of my family together. My son loves it so much that I never miss a class. Even when I’m tired, he pushes me to go.”

HIRE SOME HELP Merlis’s first marathon was a disaster. “I started walking after mile eight,” he says. So he hired a trainer who specializes in marathon preparation. Merlis now runs four days a week, and on his off days, he does these drills to improve his muscle power and running technique:

High Knees Jog 40 yards, lifting your knees toward your chest. Repeat four times. Rest 30 seconds between sets.

Forward Bound Stand on your right leg, holding your left foot off the ground. Squat slightly, then jump forward and land on your left leg. Pause for three seconds, then jump forward again and land on your right foot. Continue for 40 yards, one leg on the ground at a time.