Running is my exercise of choice. And up until a few weeks ago I did most of my runs on a treadmill in our house. This is just practical when you have lots of kids at home. The treadmill can get old but its does the job. A few weeks ago a metal bracket holding up the belt of the treadmill cracked on one side making the treadmill running surface dip dangerously to one side. The metal bracket is not fixable unless you have welding equipment handy. Which I don't. I even tried a quick fix of propping the sagging side up with some different shims, but it didn't work and now the belt just slides over to that one side and makes a terrible grinding sound as it goes around. It's time to admit defeat I think. The treadmill is over 9 years old (older than Anna) and we've logged thousands of miles on it. Scott and I have both used it quite regularly and even the kids like to jump on there from time to time. So its had a good life. RIP treadmill. To put off buying a new treadmill I've started doing all my runs outside. We live right by a bike trail so there is a great place to run practically right outside our door. The only catch is I have to push my two youngest in a jogger stroller most days. Getting out the door is the hardest part. A lot of days the kids really don't want to go, which I get. It's probably not that fun for them. I've switched my routine to do some runs on weekend mornings. Scott and I take turns going out for a run on the weekends, but I still like to get at least three runs during the week. Here I am after an outdoor run pushing the kids. On this day I got a flat tire part way through the run and had to stop early. :( I already got one other flat tire a few weeks back so hopefully this is not a new trend. This double jogger stroller is about 8 years old but hopefully has a little more life in it yet. And that is my post run grimace - yes that is just what my face looks like. :) I know I get extra workout points for pushing wiggling kids. I just weighed the kids and Emma and John together weigh 74 pounds!!! So, yes pushing them in the jogger stroller is a challenge. Especially up those hills (GASP)! I get a lot of comments on the trail while pushing them. A few days ago another mom said something like, "Oh look at the cute babies!" And as I strained to push the 5 year old and almost 3 year old up a slight grade I laughed to myself - they're not babies anymore and I can feel it in my arms at the end of the run. :) At the end of most runs they like to walk to the mailbox and check for mail. Then we all run home.
On my wrist is my Fit Bit Surge - a GPS watch that I LOVE! Scott got it for free because he is a sometimes beta tester for Fit Bit. One of the perks of living in Silicon Valley and knowing people. It gives me all kinds of data about my runs. It's the best thing ever. I guess I can be a bit of a data nerd. I love charts and graphs, so I love looking at all my running data. So fun.
On the days Scott is home and I don't have to push the kids in the stroller, running seems so nice and easy! This is about 7am on a morning Scott was home - the beautiful beginning of a 10 mile run (no jogger stroller!!). It had just rained and smelled like evergreen trees. So wonderful. I tried to take a shaky picture while running. So I've been enjoying the outdoor runs. Treadmills are convenient but running inside, not getting anywhere, can get old. Especially with kids running in asking me to do things for them mid-run (can you clean up the yogurt I spilled, wipe my bottom, get me some milk etc.) That really harshes my good running vibes - but some things just can't wait. :( Some day we will probably replace the dead treadmill, but I'm not in any hurry. I already have a rain cover for the stroller. I do have my eye on a single jogger stroller for next year when John is in kindergarten. Woohoo!!
Here's a bonus pic of my 70+ pound running friends. Cutest running buddies ever.
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