| The machines drown out the booming disco racket | | | | shape faster and more effectively than a good, |
| from the overhead speakers. All you hear, aside from | | | | primitive run. |
| the constant hum of machinery, is metal on metal, | | | | Aside from the fresh air that expands your lung |
| minus the smear of grease. | | | | capacity, something you can't get at an indoor gym, |
| Squeak. Squeak. Squeak. | | | | running continues to stand as the leader in conditioning, |
| The stunning blonde attached to these legs peers | | | | fat burning, and keeping your heart rate up. Just |
| down at a dark screen. At first, it looks like she's about | | | | compare the three miles down Main Street with the |
| to indulge in a game of Pac-Man or Donkey Kong, but | | | | same distance on the rubbery conveyor belt of a |
| in actuality, her ensuing fun is of a much different | | | | treadmill. The difference in the way you feel is |
| variety. This woman is about to work out. | | | | astounding. |
| After punching in a few keys as if it were tax time, | | | | But one such concept factoring in the demise of |
| her hips slowly begin to grind, and just like that, the fun | | | | running is the belief that it is a muscle man's worst |
| has begun. | | | | enemy. Reports that running will chisel away on that |
| Needless to say, the year is 1999 and what once was | | | | hard-earned beef have been relentless. Thus, the |
| accomplished with such basic simplicity has now | | | | running fad has come to heel a bit, almost seemingly |
| entered the world of hi-tech devices and advanced | | | | limited to the hard-core crowd. |
| microchips. | | | | The experts say that the ideal method, however, to |
| To a new patron, who just wandered through the | | | | avoiding such a tragedy is to jog lightly for the first |
| door, it all seems a bit pretentious as he peers over | | | | twenty minutes and then upgrade to a more vigorous |
| the motoring array of Stairmasters, steppers, treadmills, | | | | pace thereafter. After the twenty-minute segment, the |
| and stationary bikes. | | | | body generally kicks into the fat-burning business as |
| The observer smirks and chuckles, knowing well that, | | | | opposed to the muscle-consuming business. Remaining |
| not so long ago, for the goal at hand, two legs and an | | | | at a steady, moderate pace (say 70 percent), and |
| old pair of Nikes were all that was required. | | | | ditching any hopes of becoming the next Jesse |
| However, the art of running seems a forgotten trade, | | | | Owens would seem the most logical approach, |
| not just for the random observer, but for the fitness | | | | especially for new runners. |
| public in general. For the mainstream crowd looking to | | | | Besides, doesn't a nice stroll along a quiet country road |
| foil the flab (and perhaps partake in the social aspects), | | | | amid the birds and the tress sound somewhat |
| a nice, honest jog through the park loses out to a | | | | appealing? Doesn't it beat gaping at the |
| sweat-session on the stairs any corporate day of the | | | | sweat-drenched back of the guy on the Stairmaster in |
| week. | | | | front of you? |
| Yet, one fact remains, the same fact that has | | | | If this is you, then perhaps it's finally time to leave those |
| survived both the tests of time and the endless | | | | noisy treadmills and squeaky stationary bikes behind ... |
| evolution of technology. Nothing will whip you into | | | | far enough behind to choke on your dust. |