Left with nothing
A pair of sexy legs make their way across a soft vacuumed carpet, around a curve, and through a long, narrow hallway.
Suddenly, these shapely stems, which are wrapped in shiny spandex, dissolve into a jungle of many others, instantly blending into the vibrant surroundings like chameleons. The long line of games seems endless. They are shaking, they are baking, they are working like jackhammers, together in harmony, as if they are all drilling for oil.
The machines drown out the din of the disco on the overhead speakers. All he hears, apart from the constant hum of machinery, is metal against metal, except for the grease stain.
Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.
The stunning blonde attached to these legs looks down on a dark screen. At first, it sounds like you’re about to indulge in a game of Pac-Man or Donkey Kong, but in reality, your fun afterward is of a very different variety. This woman is about to exercise.
After hitting a few keys like it’s tax time, her hips start moving slowly, and just like that, the fun has begun.
Needless to say, the year is 1999 and what was once accomplished with such basic simplicity has now entered the world of high-tech gadgets and advanced microchips.
To a new customer, just walking through the door, it all seems a bit pretentious when you look over the Stairmasters series of machines, Steppers, treadmills and stationary bikes.
The observer smiles and laughs, knowing well that, not long ago, for the goal in question, two legs and an old pair of Nikes were all that was required.
However, the art of running seems like a forgotten trade, not just to the casual observer, but to the general fitness public. For mainstream folks looking to thwart flab (and perhaps engage in the social aspects), a nice, honest jog through the park loses to a sweat session on the stairs any workday of the week.
However, one fact remains, the same fact that has survived both the test of time and the endless evolution of technology. Nothing will help you get in shape faster and more effectively than a good primitive run.
In addition to the fresh air that expands your lung capacity—something you can’t get in an indoor gym—running continues to be the leader in conditioning, burning fat, and keeping your heart rate up. Just compare the three miles down Main Street to the same distance on a treadmill’s rubber conveyor belt. The difference in the way you feel is incredible.
But one such concept that plays into running’s demise is the belief that it’s a muscular man’s worst enemy. Reports that running will chisel away that hard-earned beef have been relentless. Thus, the craze for running has reached a tipping point, almost seemingly limited to the hard-core crowd.
Experts say that the ideal method, however, to avoid such a tragedy is to lightly jog for the first twenty minutes and then increase to a more vigorous pace thereafter. After the twenty-minute segment, the body generally goes into the fat-burning business instead of the muscle-burning business. Staying at a steady, moderate pace (say 70 percent) and ditching any hope of becoming the next Jesse Owens would seem like the most logical approach, especially for newer runners.
Besides, doesn’t a nice walk down a quiet country road among the birds and trees sound appealing? Isn’t that better than gawking at the sweat-soaked back of the guy on the Stairmaster in front of you?
If this is the case for you, maybe it’s time to leave the noisy treadmills and creaky stationary bikes behind…far enough to choke on the dust.