photo of person using treadmill

What brings me joy? Not my treadmill

One December I ran 10K every day on my treadmill for the entire month. Another time I ran an entire half marathon on it while watching a movie.

Recent days I can barely manage the monotony of running inside for even half an hour. For the first two years of treadmill ownership, I was hooked. Owning a treadmill was especially convenient in Red Deer because the pathways weren’t regularly cleared. I used my treadmill less and less when I moved to Calgary. (The pathways are cleared in the winter, and I am much closer to the mountains.)

So after one pitiful run on the treadmill on one of the first bitterly cold days in Calgary, I made up my mind. I listed it on Kijiji and Facebook marketplace. I had offers within minutes. Bjorn was gone the next day.

Treadmill
Photo by Magda Ehlers on Pexels.com

I have no regrets for unloading the treadmill even as the temperatures continued to drop every night so far this week. In fact, I feel like a whole weight has been lifted off my shoulders. (Side note: If I have to leave the province in a hurry, I won’t have to worry about moving the darn thing.)

I fully believe in the Marie Kondo way – if it does not spark joy, let it go.

So what brings me joy?

Spending time in the mountains. Running. Being outside. Breathing fresh air. Watching the river flow.

Because I have spent way too many hours alone in my apartment, the last thing I want to do is to pound away on my treadmill. For my own mental health alone, I had to get rid of it.

I was beginning to look at it with (even more) dread than usual so I knew it was time to go. It served me well for four years but now I hope it will bring someone else joy.

Do you have a treadmill? Do you use it often? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.

3 Comments

  1. Hi CRYSTAL
    Thank you for sharing this article. You ran a lot at one time, now you need something else. You should go outside, see nature, sit by the river. I also use the treadmill but not always, I go for walks sometimes, it makes me feel good, and I use my treadmill at that time. I pray you to stay well.

  2. Thank you for sharing this article. You ran a lot at one time, now you need something else. You should go outside, see nature, sit by the river. I also use the treadmill but not always, I go for walks sometimes, it makes me feel good, and I use my treadmill at that time. I pray you stay well.
    Anisur recently posted…Exercise Bike VS Treadmill with Pros & ConsMy Profile

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