Fun (and challenging) beach workout: Paddleball

I am firmly of the opinion that working out can be fun. I'm the idiot grinning at the end of a race, not because I did so well, but because I had a blast. I laugh when I push my muscles until they give up. I truly enjoy it.

Not everyone feels that way -- notably, my husband. When we went to the beach a couple weeks ago, he wasn't interested in going for an oceanside run in the morning, and he wasn't about to join me for push-ups by the pool. However, I had no problem getting him off his feet for a game of beach paddle ball.

This is our favorite game at the beach, and it's a great workout, too. The paddles and a ball only cost around $5 or so, and we'll play for an hour at a time. Believe you me, we play hard, huffing and puffing and sweating. Our record for consecutive hits is 110, and that kept us diving all over the beach. We only quit at that point because I developed a severe blister from the paddle. Ah, sports injuries.

I'm not sure we follow the right rules -- we pretty much make up our own -- but we get really competitive just the same. Anyway, there are loads of fun ways to work up a sweat without feeling like you're just "working out." What are some of your favorites? And how much of a workout do you think you get doing it?