Taking It Outside

I might have to do it.

Trying to watch some really boring news show while sweating away on the treadmill, I decided this.

Plus, everything sorta feels worse on the treadmill: the sweat is sweatier, the aches are stronger, the cramps stay for longer.

Maybe because there is nothing else on which to focus?

I did another 4 miles at 8:49, though. All I could stand. Plus, I started getting some wrap-around cramps from my back, around my right side and into my abdomen.

Likely just back cramps but it made me nervous! So, after 4, I walked a bit then did 20 more minutes on the bike.

Getting a social fix this afternoon, I actually went to History's house to make gnocci. I think I might have to try to go on that Wednesday morning run.

Fingers crossed that nothing seizes up........

There are More Advertisements.......

.....Than News Stories on the Morning News

Really. It was amazing. A quick clip or two, then a series of 4-6 commercials.

Wow. It starts not being worth the squint factor.

For I do need to squint to read the subtitles, even working out about 3 feet away from the TV.

But, these musings and music got me through 4 (?) miles on the treadmill.

I say 4 (?) because I don't trust the speed or the distance on that thing. It said I was going about 8:49 but I'm pretty sure I was going a lot slower.
I'll pretend I was running that fast but I just don't think it likely.

Not after no running and Thanksgiving.

Then, 25 more minutes on the recumbent bike to flesh out my hour.

Fingers crossed that my back/butt won't hurt too much tomorrow.

Sadly, I'm relegated to the treadmill for a while. It's easier to get off of it if my issues flare up.

Better than being in the chill and having to walk home with muscles seizing up.

But I miss my vitamin D. Must find another way to get outside.

Proposed plan to prevent craziness creeping during finals:

swimming, trying to aquajog, treadmill every other day and some biking to add on to that.

That might prevent the excessive weight creep, too.
With stress and no caffeine, I tend to turn to sugar. Eeeek!

The Treadmill-a.k.a. The Death Machine

The dreaded machine.

I approached it carefully, with a sinking heart.

"Do I really have to work out today?"

Suddenly, I felt sick and hungry at the same time.

I couldn't possibly run right then! Inconceivable!

But my colleague was waiting expectantly on the next death machine over.

So I step on, sadly, clutching my stomach.

And pressed a button.

It didn't work! I was saved!

Unfortunately, we tried again. Darn that macho side of me!

Why couldn't I just say, "eh. I don't feel like working out anymore. See ya later!"?

because I'd feel like a weenie.

Or, more of a weenie than usual!

So onto the working death machine I went.

See, these things kill you with boredom.

What seems easy outside becomes horribly taxing inside.

What flies by outside becomes like an eternal damnation inside.

I once did 12 miles on a treadmill. At one time.

It took three treadmill switches, an iPod, and a close-captioned tv to do it.

Does that mean that I don't really like running? That, maybe, I like the scenery and the outdoor excitement despite the running?

Or is treadmill running really running?

After all, you are looking at a wall, trying not to fall off the sides-at least, those of us who can't run in a straight line - and trying not to run into the front of the machine.

I've decided that the women who saw their arms in front of them when running likely started jogging on the treadmill.

I know my arms start doing this when on the death machine-I'm trying not to hit the front.

Ouch!

At least this time, ten minutes in, I was able to chat with my colleague.

Who was running almost as fast as me.

He started running from total sedentariness eight months ago.

Sigh.

I'm a bit out of shape.

But we hung on for at least four miles, if the readout can be believed.

I claim more.

I know I'm out of shape and hate the death machine but 8:06 to 8:26 miles shouldn't be that hard-feeling!

Am I in denial? Maybe.

But considering over half the treadmills didn't even work because they had been abused so badly, my story has legs!

And I'm sticking to it.