Running and Reading

Before I had children I was not a runner. This is always news to some of my friends that I have made after having kids. They have always thought of me as a runner - although if they ever saw me run, it would be easier for them to think of me as a non-runner. I am not fast, but I am consistent and can go for a long time. Most runners, at least the ones I know, enjoy running outside. I especially hear that as we have warm weather after a winter of snow. Not me. I love running on the treadmill. I know it is technically harder to run outside (my college professor would be proud that I still remember the formula for work. Since actual distance is not displaced on a treadmill, you are therefore doing less work. Therefore your work out is easier. That does not account for the mental aspect of treadmill running), but I love the time spent on the treadmill. Part of that is because I can read and run at the same time. I often feel like I will never get my TBR stack under control. That means that I don't watch much TV. I have put knitting projects on hold for years. I read at every possible moment. One of those moments is while I'm running. Four years ago we bought a new treadmill. While I did care about how the new treadmill "felt," what concerned me more was the lack of a book rack. My husband became very frustrated with the criteria for a new treadmill including the type of book rack it came with. We discussed/argued about this for a while. I just would not back down. I knew that if there was no book rack, I would not run. The salesperson knew that this was a big deal to me and found a portable book rack that I can use on this treadmill and any other. I have been taking it with me to the gym to use as I run there. I know that the college kids who work out at the gym probably wonder why I'm not reading something on an iPad, or an iPhone or a Kindle. However, there is also a mental aspect to my book reading while running. I like a book that takes a few minutes to read before I have to turn a page. That makes the time go faster. I like how the book covers up the screen that displays the time elapsed. Then I can be surprised when I finally lift up the book. I like getting to read a great book while doing something that I would normally find not so fun and how that activity is now something I look forward to.

Not every book rack will work on the treadmill. A book rack that will work to hold books is different than one that you can use to read a magazine. If you are interested in getting yourself a book rack, you will need to make sure there is a lip on it in order to hold your book open.

This trivial little invention has yielded many hours of pleasure. Who knew I would have so much to say on the topic of book racks?