The Dreadmill...

Yesterday I decided it was finally time to suck it up and join a gym.  I hate running on a treadmill, but since its so damn dark outside at the end of the day I feel I have no choice (and I have yet to figure out how to get up any earlier to run in the morning - and no, an alarm clock doesn't do the trick, neither do the stupid lamps the doctor told me to use).  When I run outside at night and its dark I almost always get close to being hit by a car.  I wear reflective clothing, a headlamp and a blinky light and I run on the sidewalk.  I'm not invisible, but people do not pay attention.  Most of the time its people coming out of driveways that almost hit me, and its incredibly scary.  I have also almost been hit in an intersection, while I was in a crosswalk, while I have a green light.  So, needless to say, I need to have the option of going and running on the treadmill.

Last night I downloaded a 7 day pass to 24 hour fitness (which is about 2 blocks from my apartment).  I went in and was greeted by a very friendly sales person.  He showed me around the gym and wasn't trying to push me into buying a membership.  He told me to go ahead and workout and if I wanted to join to come back and see him.  And that was that.  It was nice not to be assaulted by a sales person trying to force the gym on me.  I wanted to try it at least once before I bought a membership.

I found an open treadmill quickly it was about 6pm, so I was grateful that it wasn't more crowded.  And then about 5 minutes into my run the fire alarm went off.  Really?  The fire alarm?  Clearly the gym does not agree with me, as my first workout in a gym in forever started off with having to leave and wait outside for it to stop going off.  After about 3 minutes outside the manager said it was just a test and to come back in.

I found an open treadmill and started running again.  It was a boring run, the treadmill always is.  But, I was able to get a run in and be done with it.  The fire alarm went off two more times while I was working out, and once after that.  It was a little ridiculous, but, we weren't told to stop working out after the first one.  So, I decided to sign up.

I found the nice sales person who showed me around and got myself all signed up.  I am now a member of 24 hour fitness, and I have a place I can walk to when I need to get a workout in.  Next up I need to try one of their classes, maybe spin...

As for the title, "The Dreadmill" well, I hate the treadmill, so the name dreadmill seems fitting.  Its funny, when I first started running I was kind of scared to run on the street.  I didn't know how I would pace myself.  The treadmill is kind of mindless and easy and you don't really have to think about pace/speed.  Then, once I joined Team in Training, and I started running outside I grew to despise my time on the treadmill.  Being outside is so much more lovely and interesting.  Yes, I have to think a little bit more about my pace/speed, but I think its made me a stronger runner.  I dread the treadmill because its boring and inside and not interesting at all.  And, most of all I dread it because I don't have to think or even really try all that hard.  It's just a way to get a workout in.  But, running on the treadmill will help me relish the runs I do complete outside, so that's a good thing.

Check out my fundraising page and find out what inspired me to start running in the first place.  And, if you have a dollar to spare please think about making a donation and help me find a cure for blood cancer and get to Alaska...
http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/anchor11/ewallersco