Dispatches

Dec. 13, 2011 – My beloved (who is also a volunteer firefighter) gave me one of my Christmas gifts early this year – a treadmill! Now, you may be thinking, whoa, that dude’s in trouble! But the truth is that when he asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I surprised both of us by saying a treadmill.

Not a romantic gift, I’ll admit, but it was what I wanted. (Gold and/or diamonds are always a safe bet too, just in case said beloved is reading this and needs stocking stuffer ideas. . . ).

But seriously, the reason I wanted my treadmill was the same reason that anyone else would want one –to run on. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a diehard runner by any means, nor do I work out regularly, and in all honesty, I really hate to break a sweat. It actually takes me quite a lot to get to the point of sweating; not because I’m super fit, it probably has more to do with the fact that I’m always cold to begin with. I’m more of an easy-going, don’t like to push myself too hard, Pilates type of person – something relatively easy to do that still makes me feel like I’ve at least worked out in some capacity when I’m done. My Pilates workout, by the way, is so old it’s on a VHS tape!! (I guess I could get with the times and get the Wii fit game, (I have two kids, so yes, we are hip enough to have a Wii), but I kind of like my old VHS tape Pilates workout. And just in case you’re wondering, I do not have the Jane Fonda workout tape or the legwarmers!

Having said that, I’d been feeling that my Pilates tape just wasn’t doing it for me anymore (actually, I wasn’t doing it) and wanted to kick it up a notch, hence the treadmill. Not to mention the fact that since I’d returned to the fire department, it was in my best interest to shape up. Regardless of whether you’re full time or volunteer, your health and safety is important to everyone. I don’t mean to imply that everyone should look like Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock (not that that would be a bad thing – I might even pretend to need rescuing myself. Oops! Was that my outside voice?) Wandered off topic there for a second, but I’m back now. What was I saying? Oh yeah, the importance of being fit . . .

I had a great run yesterday and was impressed with myself at how I did, despite not knowing what all the buttons are for and almost sending myself flying when I hit the wrong one. When I woke up this morning, I was already thinking about going for another run. I was feeling totally stoked from getting back into it and surprised at how great I felt, since I hadn’t run in a long time. But that was before I actually got out of bed. My feelings of accomplishment and pride were soon replaced by laughter because when I got out of bed and took my first step, my calves were so tight I could barely walk. Not to mention the muscles in my arms from the push ups I did after my run – because I was feeling super great at that particular moment in my life and thought, why not do some push ups too? I don’t know if they are lats or pecs or what the heck they are called, but I can feel them all right now, with every move I make. Ah, it’s great to be working out again . . . feeling fine!

All kidding aside, being physically able to do the job without putting yourself at risk for a heart attack, stroke or other injury is vitally important. I’m a firm believer in the benefits of working out and as soon as my calves loosen up, and my armpit muscles stop hurting, I’ll get right back on that treadmill and back to the push ups!