Walking outdoors is one of my favorite things. Since I've moved two states away from my workplace and now drive three hours each day, and because I have two young children who need me to be home with them (and who cannot keep up with Momma on our hilly country roads), I had to buy a treadmill in order to fit walking back into my life.
The beauty of having a treadmill at home is that I can do my favorite thing at home while the family still sleeps at 4 in the morning, when it is just too dark and scary to go outside. This morning I got on the treadmill, turned on my ipod, and walked, ran, and danced (you've GOT to try this!) the morning away. It was blissful, and I was elated by hour's end.
I have never liked going to a gym and exercising in front of strangers...you KNOW they're looking at you! To me, it is an uncomfortable situation, and the few times I did go, I always quelled my instincts to move the way I really wanted to move, because I didn't want to draw attention from creepy onlookers.
THIS morning, however, when I was on that fantastic machine, I was boppin' away, my arms going this way and that, not caring how much shaking was goin' on in the rear when I ran, not caring if I looked silly when I pumped my arms--it was total freedom. I even sang out loud and clapped to the music (our home gym is in the basement, so my sleeping family could continue their slumber undisturbed). It felt so good, too, that I kept it up for 70 minutes and "covered" 4 miles--I haven't been able to do THAT since I was single in my 20's.
Life is good.
