By: Blonde Two
Even for the Two Blondes, it is not always possible to find time to get up on Dartmoor. This is perfectly acceptable, but recently I have spent too much of the time in between walks sitting on the sofa. I do enjoy (this may be the wrong word) other forms of exercise and am a member of a local gym where I sometimes swim and sometimes do inside walking type activities. I couldn’t swim on Tuesday due to a Blonde moment when packing my bag (no goggles) so that afternoon found me back on the cross-trainer after a long absence.
There is not much to enthral you whilst plodding away on the cross trainer. I couldn’t make the TV work and I had forgotten my music so I found myself imagining a TV channel that made you feel like you were on a lovely long outside walk – it could play birdsong and river noises and blow wind in your face when you got to the top of the hill. I had chosen a cross country program and spent some of the time giving each bump on the display the name of a Dartmoor tor. The trouble was that they were all the same size and rather pointy looking. They reminded me a bit of High Willhays (the highest point on Dartmoor). Once I had realised that nobody in their right mind would walk up High Willhays five times in one afternoon, the naming game became a bit meaningless.
Twenty minutes into my cross country extravaganza, I was getting even more bored and started to compose a Dartmoor vs Gym list in my head. Dartmoor won on a million counts including fresh air, excitement and interest levels but the gym did have a few advantages. There is never any mud, you don’t need a torch if you go at night and it is much safer. I was just contemplating the relative safety of the gym, when a nearby bloke flew off his treadmill, fell onto his back and whacked his head on my cross-trainer. Luckily my first aid skills weren’t called for apart from a pat on the shoulder and some advice to “sit still for a minute” – but it just shows how wrong you can be. I am off up to Dartmoor next time it is much safer!
My Dad liked to keep himself fit and I think it was him I got my love of walking from.
He had an exercise bike which he used every day but this exercise came with an interesting feature which was his cockateil.
This cockatiel was a faithful companion and used to keep him company while he pedalled away. It was a most amusing sight to see
such loyalty
company on his daily exercise by
sitting on his shoulder while he pedalled
That is one of the best stories I have ever heard. How lovely and I bet they both enjoyed it too.
The point of this story is perhaps having a companion to spur you on if you are doing something monotonous is the answer! Or having someone randomly throwing himself off his cross trainer and trying to head butt yours is another useful diversion. Perhaps in his exertion he had ‘hit the wall’ almost literally!
Sorry about disjointed reply!
I actually bought a cross trainer after Christmas and has been an important part of my knee physio and rehab. I used to go on it once a week for 10 minutes when visiting the physio at Brixham hospital and it really helped to loosen it up. Since an important part of the rehab is to strengthen the knee, it is an brilliant bit of kit, which is non-impact and doesn’t involve the twisting of ones knee!
As you say, it does get rather boring so there were a number of strategies I employed to assist:
1) One was to always have music blaring through my MP3 player (not posh enough to have an ipod!!!).
2) We positioned the cross trainer in the lounge by the window so I can look out towards Dartmoor and the beautiful stretch of Western Beacon, Ugborough Beacon and Piles Hill. This was a massive motivator (on the days I could see it!!!) and I too, would imagine myself stomping across the Moors and realised that if I didn’t get my knee strong it may never happen again!
3) Being a massive lover of skiing I would record ski sunday and watch it on Monday while on the Cross Trainer with again the motivator being, that if I don’t sort my knee I will never ski again! And some amazing scenery to look at aswell!!!
Now since having my op last week I am not allowed to use it for a bit so its going a bit dusty! Hopefully I’ll be back on it soon and dreaming of Dartmoor walks again! Sadly ski sunday has finished for the winter! Also hoping once my stitches are out I will be able to go for a swim too!
Just the music for ski Sunday would get me going – much warmer on the treadmill!