the run that almost didn't happen

After a week of almost no running, I was determined to start the week (and month) off with a run. It didn't begin well this morning when the alarm went off and I could not get out of bed, but plan 'b' was enacted and I packed my clothes and took them to work with me with plans to run at lunch time.
It was a busy morning - one meeting after another and I had a million things to do today, so I almost caved and didn't go for a run, but at the last minute I got out of my chair and walked out of the office, deciding that my run was every bit as important as work. And you know what? It is. I mean, the week I didn't run I was miserable. I did not sleep well, I was stressed and felt uninspired. So what I really needed was a good, hard run. So I headed to the gym in the office park, got on the "dreadmill" and hammered out almost 4 miles on a hill routine. I ran until I was tired, then ran some more. It felt so good when I was done.

A Quick LT Run

So I got to the fitness center in my office park yesterday at Lunch Time to give a run a try. It is a small facility and I was worried that I'd get there and all the machines would be used so I left 15 minutes early and was able to get one. I started out kind of slow so I could get used to treadmill running again - almost like getting your "sea legs". The first mile came up and then I increased the speed and then continued to do so until I was running 7:30/miles at the end. Needless to say I was exhausted, but it felt good to go fast.

I think I'll keep it at a more reasonable 8:30/mile pace for next run. I have realized I have a long way to go to get ready for the half marathon in May... I love challenges.

my treadmil is a-l-i-v-e!

Got it all fixed yesterday and it is back up and running.

customer service

It still exists... my "dead" mill will soon be revived... think Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein: "He's alive!"

I made a call to the treadmill manufacturer to see if they might have some insight into why my treadmill has acted up and has died. I didn't have high hopes as I tried to wait on hold for probably ten minutes, they did give the option for a call back in the order the call was received, so after ten minutes it was automatically sent to the call back mode. All they asked for was a message where I left my name and model/serial number of the treadmill and someone would call me back when a technician was available. About an hour later they did. I wasn't expecting much as we went through their standard list of questions that are in the owner's manual that I had personally already confirmed. The technician then checked the maintenance history of the treadmill and saw that this was the third time I had had the same or similar problem. So he said that normally they would charge for the parts, but because this has occurred before, there would be no charge even though the motor was the only part still under warranty.

I fully expected to have to pay for the parts and I found out that the control card alone is $170.oo - yikes. A little more discussion with him and I also find out that the lubrication I should be using on the deck of the treadmill is not the silicone that another technician had suggested I use, but something that has a thicker consistency which they sell. Having had trouble with finding a treadmill lubricant, they are sending a couple of tubes of theirs as well.

Finally, a company that stands behind their product and wants to make it right for the consumer and not stand behind their one-year warranty! Maybe the world isn't going to hell in a hand basket afterall...

So, now I will have a working treadmill again. The question is, do I keep it or get rid of it? I had intentions of selling it to make more room in the house, but Steph has presented me with an option of moving it into the other spare bedroom which is larger, but would require a smaller bed in the room... decisions, decisions... guess I'll be measuring the room to see if the treadmill will fit without being too cluttered.