Dave Daniels of Kailua has one strict guideline when choosing a fitness activity: It's gotta be fun.

His idea of fun, however, might sound grueling to "normal" human beings. He did four triathlons last year and completed the "Cycle to the Sun," 36 miles up Haleakala.

He also spent the outrigger canoe season paddling for Kai Poha and was a team member for the Queen Lili'uokalani Canoe Race, an 18-mile course outside Kona. Naturally, he was in the "Iron" division, which allows for no changes in crew for the entire race.

Daniels enjoys the social aspects of sport, spending time with friends. His latest endeavor is salsa dancing; he is taking lessons at Hot Salsa Hawai'i in Manoa.

Daniels has always been active. He was a ski instructor, bike messenger and semi-pro soccer player. He came to Hawai'i 18 years ago to windsurf, fell in love with the Islands and never left.

Of his choice of sports, he said, "I do it as long as I'm liking it." When it stops being fun, he goes on to the next sport. Why? He has an innate competitive spirit — and loves "the endorphin buzz."

Name: Dave Daniels.

Age: 46.

Profession: Senior art director, Milici Valenti Ng Pack Advertising.

Height: 5-feet-7.

Weight: 142 pounds.

Workout habits: "I try to get into the gym or do something fun outside at least every day. I figure the more I can do to stay in shape during the week helps prevent the weekend injuries also. Right now I'm training for the Xterra World Championship, so sometimes I'll do some training in the morning and after work as well."

When and why I started working out: "I've been doing sports and exercise all my life in one way or another. I can remember when I was 3 or 4 and my mom would be working out to Jack LaLanne on TV, and I'd be rolling around on the floor next to her doing the same exercise."

My good foods/bad foods: "I love food, so it's all good. In general I try very hard to keep to the healthy stuff, but life is short, and there's a lot of good food out there to eat."

My biggest motivator: "I have a few motivators. I like staying in shape because I can eat and drink more. It clears my head out so I can see things more clearly. There's also that post-workout buzz, which is cool because I don't think endorphins have been outlawed yet. Plus, high cholesterol runs in the family so it helps me keep that in check."

My biggest roadblock to fitness: "I always try to make some time for the gym, or something else fun unless I'm just lazy or I have a date."

My next challenge: "The Xterra World Championships in October and salsa dancing, which I think is harder." (Note: The Nissan Xterra World Championship on Maui involves a 1.5K ocean swim, 32K mountain bike ride up Haleakala and 11K trail run.)

Advice for those in the same boat: "Have fun!"

Reach Paula Rath at prath@honoluluadvertiser.com.