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July 08, 2005
My Life as a Hamster
I got in 15 miles today, 11 and 1/2 of which were on the treadmill at the gym. :P (The other 3 and 1/2 consisted of running from work to the gym -- twice -- and from the gym home, plus a short add-on for which I was rewarded by a coating of gnats). I ended up sleeping in this morning (surprise, surprise) because I woke up at 3 and didn't fall back to sleep until 6:30 or so. I really wanted to double, though, so I did my first workout on the treadmill at the gym at lunch. I ran the 3/4 of a mile to the gym to save time then did 5 and 1/4 mi. on the treadmill (7:45, 7:30, 7:15, 7:00, 6:45) for 6 miles.
I was all proud of myself for remembering to bring soap and shampoo with me this morning. Sadly it didn't occur to me to bring a towel. So I got to be the weirdo standing buck-naked in the locker room wiping herself dry with paper towels. Definitely not one of my life's most comfortable moments.
I was feeling a bit guilty about not getting in to work until practically 10 (my friend H. with whom I walk to work every day had alarm clock issues this morning) and then taking an hour and 20 minute lunch when my boss suggested I go watch the Friday afternoon movie (apparently Friday is "movie day" at work; in theory they show a different movie every Friday, though this was the first one they've shown this summer), "Chicago," appropriately. Since I had absolutely nothing on my desk to do and I hadn't seen it and had been meaning to forever, I went (albeit feeling like a total schmuck). I really enjoyed it. I would like to dislike Renee Zellweger, but she's really beginning to grow on me, between this movie and "Down With Love."
After the movie, it was time for workout #2. I ran to the gym as warm-up, lifted for 40 mins. or so (feeling incredibly wimpy using 10 lb. dumbbells; they had nothing between 10 and 15 lbs. and I didn't want to jump right into the 15 lb. weights since I can't remember the last time I lifted. I decided it would be better to use lighter weights and do more reps... it did occur to me, though, as I was working my way through my sets that my 60-something mother -- she'd kill me if I revealed the exact number -- uses heavier dumbbells than I was using), then returned to the treadmill.
The only available treadmills by this time were Woodway treadmills. Has anyone ever run on one of those? Everything seems to be at exactly the wrong height for me, so I kept bumping my elbows and knuckles on the treadmill. Then, when I'd been running for about a mile and a half something really embarassing happened: I somehow lost my footing. I'm not sure exactly how it happened. I may have bumped an elbow or my knuckles yet again and it threw me off... or my foot may have slipped off the front edge of the treadmill (because of the way the treadmill is designed, this is something that I kept having to watch out for)... or I may have simply tripped over my shoelaces. But suddenly I was clinging to the bar in the front of the treadmill and trying to keep from flying off the back. I finally thought to jump so I was straddling the treadmill belt and the guy on the treadmill next to me hit the stop button for me. Utter mortification. Once I got the treadmill going again, I plodded through 4 and 1/2 more miles then ran home, giving me a grand total of 9 for my second run of the day.
All in all, I got some quality work in today so I'm happy. And I know for the future to avoid the Woodway treadmills.
Posted by alweiss at July 8, 2005 10:02 PM
Comments
I love treadmill running - and I seem to do a lot of it - but one of my greatest fears is falling off of one! I have never run on a woodway, but I will definitely avoid them now. I am a big fan of "True" treadmills and Life Fitness.
On another note, I would love to meet up for a SLOW jog along the lakefront! I can go as long or as short as you want. Also, I run with Universal Sole every now and then . . . tomorrow we are heading to Palos to run 16 miles. Let me know if you are interested in joining in any of these runs.
Posted by: bridget at July 9, 2005 02:20 PM
Wow, I'm glad you didn't get hurt on that awful-sounding treadmill. I fell off a treadmill once because I was so engrossed in a basketball game. I was lucky, though, because I just landed standing on my feet, behind the treadmill. The treadmills at my gym have a wall right behind them. That scares me!
I hope you and Bridget get to run together, I've been hoping you'd meet ever since you moved to Chicago!
Have a great weekend!!
Posted by: Alison at July 9, 2005 10:35 PM
I ran in a Woodway treadmill once but just for a bit and it did feel weird. They are supposed to be the most advanced treadmills ever but I guess it takes time to get used to how different they are.
Posted by: Nanda at July 11, 2005 11:25 AM
That whole story about forgetting a towel is *so* the sort of thing that would happen to me! Unfortunetly I live particularly close to a rather snobbish gym...I already get the evil eye because my shoes don't match my shorts which don't match whatever old tee shrit I pulled out of the closet that morning...
Posted by: SmartRunner at July 11, 2005 03:46 PM