Doing boring rote movements sucks. There are lots of fun ways to exercise.

Exercise doesn't suck, land use policies generally just don't prioritize good places for the fun kinds of exercise.

Find a better way of exercising.

There is something out there that suits, surely. Sometimes it’s just a step removed.

Play soccer twice a week. It's high intensity cardio, normally 60-90 mins tops. Sometimes beers after. And actually fun. Even in a coed league or an adult (min age) league. It's a great time. Bonus points - you'll possibly look more athletic if you keep at it long enough and don't over indulge in those beers!

> The problem is that doing it sucks

I really dislike running for running's sake. But I love inline skating. Did a 20km route yesterday, did 43km a fortnight ago (which was admittedly too far for where my stamina is at). One of the things about skating (and this would also be true for cycling) is the different perspective it provides if you normally get around your local area in a car. You get to see the same places from radically different angles, depending on what paths are suitable to the mode of transport. Just going slower on or next to the road you get to see more detail, but footpaths and other tracks are often (possibly not the right terminology, but) 'off the beaten track'. In inner suburban Melbourne (whilst holidaying there) I chanced upon a relatively unpopulated footpath alongside a river / drain that took me 15km into the city, and it was (in parts) both peaceful and beautiful, despite really not being that far away from main roads / highways / freeways.

A lot of people like cycling, can be done individually or in any sized group.

Tennis is mostly individual (although an opponent is required), but I play in a team and enjoy the combination of singles, doubles, and an overall team result.

Football, soccer, rugby can be physically brutal, but are team sports that have a (forced) social aspect if that's an unmet need. Volleyball is a bit less intense. Table tennis. Lots of options for different sports that cater to different levels of physical stress.

Find a local park that has a basketball ring and just shoot hoops with yourself regularly. It at least gets you out of a chair and moving both arms and legs.

If you don't (think you) like any of those things, then you gotta do the hard yards to find that one rare thing you do like. It could just be something that you can find an appropriate level of progression that gives you 'that feeling'. I think that's what got me into skating late in life - I was terrible at it as a kid, but kinda forced into giving it another go as an adult, and within a couple of hours I was already better at it than in my childhood. It was a sense of accomplishment achieved in a relatively short term (= addicted? maybe).

Find your healthy addiction.

Kettlebells are the perfect middle ground for me. Dynamic movements, easy to incorporate strength gains, very little floor space required and one kettlebell is enough to get started. After a few years of kettlebells I feel like my lower back is made of titanium.

Downside is there is a fairly steep learning curve to use them without injury.

Cycling too.

The standard being 20kgs under weight, skin baked like old leather, and a previously broken collar bone.

But, nothing beats it.

So this is why 30/40 yo track athletes look older than their age mates? Right.

Nonsense. Running at an Olympic level and pushing the boundaries of what we've evolved for might leave its mark. But that is not what is being talked about here.