In defense of the gerbil wheel

I know, I know, I sure seem like I can't make up my mind about what I think of treadmills. After being on one for nearly every workout for two weeks, I felt queasy at the mere sight of one, but after today's run, I feel I must come to its defense. At least a little.

Today all the stars aligned to make a few miles on the gerbil wheel the perfect workout for me. First off, it's raining. Yes, yes, I know I'm not made of sugar and I won't melt (is there anyone who didn't hear that from her mom as a kid?), but if you get your good shoes all wet, you have to pop out the insoles when you get home and make sure they dry properly. (However, you can't put the shoes in the dryer, or you'll actually melt the glue holding them together!) So going to the gym avoids that whole mess.

Second, I needed to dial it back a notch today. Since cutting back to 4 days a week of running, my speed has picked up noticeably, but going out too hard every time is a great way to injure yourself. I thought about running on the indoor track, but I was afraid I'd succumb once more to the temptation to run faster so I could pass that annoying person just ahead of me or show up that girl with the flying elbows who sprints past me, only to wheeze and gasp for dear life half a lap later. I am not normally a hypercompetitive person, but the track seems to bring out the worst in me. I had three fairly hard workouts this week and I needed to make sure #4 was not more of the same.

Third, I was definitely in a "phone it in" mood--so being on the gerbil wheel is perfect. You don't have to be alert for traffic, puddles, potholes, curbs, or elevation changes. You can just let your mind wander off to la-la land. You don't even have to monitor your speed since the gerbil wheel keeps you moving at a constant pace. I like to get a gerbil wheel facing outside so I can look at the sky, the trees, birds, whatever, or just stare straight ahead at the street sign bobbing green up and down in my vision and think about nothing at all.

It was a lovely workout and just what the doctor ordered. I did my five minutes of warmup and then ran 3 miles at a leisurely 12:00 pace. My heart rate never went above 150 and it felt like a moving meditation. Very nice.