All I can take

It was only noon in California and I was worn out. Of course I’d gotten up before 5 am to catch a flight to Dulles. By the time I arrived at my hotel in Arlington, it was closer to dinner than lunch. I’d had neither. And although I’d talked running on the plane with Lisa (my neighbor to the right), my plans for a easy 5 miler were quickly fading away.

I looked out my hotel room to view the foreign city. In the distance, I could see an enchanting brick building. I’d love to run there. But in the immediate area there were high buildings and an already darkening sky.

I perused the hotel services book. I was in luck; the hotel had a gym. According to the book, it was “newly renovated” and had “state of the art equipment.” I dug through my suitcase to find a 1/2 of a Powerbar (which should have been in my computer bag). After finishing it off, I ordered a shrimp salad and glass of Merlot. Then I caught up on my blog reading.

By the time I left for the gym, I was ready to run off some of my pent up worry and stress. I peered through the window and was surprised at the sight.

In a small room were some free weights, a couple of LifeCycles, an elliptical machine, and two treadmills. It wasn’t exactly what I had pictured.

I hoped on the first treadmill and started to run. Thump, thump, squeak, squeak… I knew that I couldn’t tolerate even a mile of those sounds. I immediately stopped it and tried the second machine. It was better but not by much.

I was able to tolerate 3 miles and that was all I could take.