This might have been the most beautiful place I've ever run. Just down the street from the hotel where we were staying in Avon, Colorado (near Vail) was a great bike/running path along the Eagle river, nestled in the valley, surrounded by mountains. My wife and I took turns every morning make the best use of it we could, while the other minded the kids.
The path was hilly, and unbelievably scenic. It helped me get over my disappointment of missing a couple of races back home that I would have otherwise enjoyed. Had I been in Chicago, I would have run the Oak Brook half marathon on Labor Day, and the Chicago half on the 13th. But this was a much different experience, and, dare I say, more enjoyable!
Running in the mountains, at elevations near 8,000 feet or so, is a challenge. The thin air makes it tough to get enough oxygen. That, of course, is why many world class runners train at altitude. I am not training for anything right now, but, I do want to try to maintain my fitness level from a spring and summer full of racing. So a week of altitude running, along with carting the kids around to a host of tourist activities, amounted to a pretty good week of exercise.
I pretty much ran the same route every day along the path, with my turn-around point a little different each day depending on the distance I planned. So I became pretty familiar with the sights along the route. Being surrounded by such breathtaking views, however, I tried to soak it all in every day. It was really a great way to start each day.
But one of the things that stuck out in my mind every day as I passed by, was the beautiful gym at the Westin Hotel. I passed by it near the entrance to the path every day. There are outside pools and hot tubs, and a well-equipped gym with windows facing the mountains. Right in front of the windows are treadmills. So runners can take in the view as they run in place in the gym.
Sounds great right? I'm sure it is, especially when the path is covered with several feet of snow and ice, and the temperature is hovering in the teens. Or a driving rain. That was not the case during our visit. We were were blesssed with ideal weather every day. Yet the treadmills seemed to be getting a lot of use every time I ran by.
Which leads me to what I thought was an obvious question: Why?!?. Why would you run inside on a treadmill in a gym, looking through the window at nature, rather than take a few steps outside and be a part of it? Inside you are insulated from the sounds of the babbling river as it flows through the rocks. You miss out on the fresh mountain air, and the ever-changing scenery.
Don't get me wrong, this treadmill set-up is one of the best I've ever seen. And I'm a runner who generally hates running on treadmills. So if there was no other choice but to run on a treadmill, this is the place I would do it. But, most of us have a choice. And running on the treadmill, with an outdoor setting like that just a few feet away, just seems like a strange choice to me.
To each their own I guess.
Anyway, I want to mention a great non-running event coming up this weekend. It's in LaGrange, and benefits the Community Nurse organization which provides health care to those who otherwise cannot afford it. It's called Rocktoberfest. Here's a link if you would like more information. www.communitynurse.org
So, good luck to those finishing up their last 20 milers in preparation for the marathons this weekend. I hope to see you out on the path....
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