I began the day yesterday bummed that my treadmill was failing beneath my feet. With a chug back and a shove forward, I knew my four-year-old, tried and true (to this point), fitness buddy was about to give me the slip. Luckily, I popped off before it had a chance to slam me back against my office wall. The time code on the dashboard noted I had run a whopping 3 minutes. I guess I should have paid more attention to the “Lubricate Belt” warning I’d been pressing through for weeks during the startup mode. Something was seriously wrong with my running companion.

I’m fortunate to have an extremely hands-on husband who can fix just about anything that gets broken around here. And, if after he investigates the issue and discovers he’s stumped, he always seems to know precisely where to go to get help. This treadmill interlude was no exception. Within minutes of placing a call to the manufacturer, then the fitness store where purchased, then back to the manufacturer, we were on the road to have a technician come out… IN A WEEK OR SO! What? How am I’m going to live without my treadmill for a week? To make matters worse, it’s the second week of the new year and I just started my annual cleanse. I’m on a detox-fitness roll. Why now?

Seconds later, I decided to take a step back from my impulsive reaction to my ailing exercise pal to consider how fortunate I am to look out of my window and see a glorious cloudless, blue sky. After a chilly start, highs of the day would reach a glorious 73 degrees. Any guesses as to where I’m lucky enough to call home? Since I can’t hear your answer through my post… I can if you leave me a comment (I promise to reply). Or, we can keep things a mystery and leave it to your imagination. Suffice it to say, it’s a perpetually warmer-than-country-average kind of place. Given that, I can imagine another question that might come to the reader’s mind:

If it’s so wonderful all year long where you live, why do you even bother running on a treadmill? 

The answer is, I have a treadmill in my home office to expedite daily fitness and make running an integral part of my schedule as if it’s just another thing I have to accomplish in my office each day. I can work in a quick 20-30 minute run before the family gets up–to get my brain and body moving fluidly. Next, I can check back in with my patiently waiting office-mate, and jump back on for another half-hour spell after the kids are off to school. Then, I can report back with my bud and log another session to cap off the day. Sound like a lot? Maybe. But since becoming a distance runner as a 13-year-old, I’d guess you’d say running’s kind of my thing.

That said, a realization began to dawn on me: My thing began as a road runner, not a treadmill hound, so the kick in the pants that happened today is actually a glorious reminder: Running is really about being outdoors, letting the sun’s vitamin D bathe your skin, and filling your lungs with fresh air. Ok, was this planned by the cleanse gods? This redesigned exercise scenario could not have occurred at a more appropriate time. I’m taking my annual cleanse to a new level. Thanks, treadmill! Get well soon, but take your time. 😉

Copyright © 2019 María Felicia Kelley