Anyway, I'm a huge fan of exercising outside, whenever I get the chance to. When I can't, I'll get on the elliptical, but it's always with a bit more reluctance. I love fresh air, sunshine, the feeling that I'm actually going somewhere of some substantial distance, rather than moving in place. I like walking with a friend, the conversation that propels us to go faster and walk further, better than the reality TV I usually end up trying to pass the time with on the elliptical. One of the things I love about living in the desert is that the majority of fall/winter/spring it's perfect exercising outdoors weather.
But, one thing I'm not a fan of are those desert creatures we occasionally walk by. Last week we found a rattlesnake skin (Thank goodness it was the only the skin, or I may have never walked outside again), and once my husband and I walked by a mountain lion in a parking lot (This still gives me nightmares). Don't even get me started on the story I read last year about a man who was attacked by a rabid javelina while taking a morning stroll.
Do the positives of exercising outside here outweigh my fear of desert creatures? Probably. And yes, I'm going to keep on doing it. Besides, if I keep seeing creepy creatures, I may even become a good distance runner!
What would you rather do, exercise inside or outside? And how do you feel when your path crosses with a wild animal?
I prefer exercising inside, that way nobody can see me lol. But I do love going to the park with the kids and chasing them around and even playing a few games of tennis a few times each year. I am thinking about taking up walking though. I have never come across a wild animal, ever. I don't even know what I would do in that situation. I can't believe you kept going after seeing that cayote. I would have stopped dead in my tracks and made a run for home as fast as I could. And just the thought of the mountain lion is terrifying.
ReplyDeleteI grew up a 'country girl' in the midwest, so the wildlife excites me! I really enjoy the outdoors, but for relaxation, not *ack!* excercise! If I have to do that, I want it as neat, clinical and organized as possible!! LOL! I have a back injury so I'm limited at this time to my physical therapy moves (boring!), but I enjoy mild weight lifting (sort of a 'mind over matter' thing), and like dancing (think 'sweating to the oldies', not anything with skill)
ReplyDeleteTiffany, we did turn around and head for home after we saw the coyote -- but we had to walk all the way back, which took a while!
ReplyDeleteJane, I used to hate any kind of exercise but have gotten better about it recently. It helps me when I walk with a friend, too, because then we also talk and forget we're supposed to be exercising!