A Peloton instructor said something during a class recently that I've been thinking about ever since. She reminded us that our treadmills have our consent when we choose to turn them on, and that we get the same permission in return. It's a slightly unusual way to describe a piece of exercise equipment, but I knew what she meant. We choose to begin. The tread is there when we're ready, and it doesn't need an explanation for what kind of day we've had or how much we managed the last time. I think about that beyond the treadmill, because running is only part of what I do. There's my Tread+, my Bike+, strength work with dumbbells, stretching, yoga and meditation. Some days I want to push myself. On others, a ride, a stretch or a bit of quiet is exactly what I'm looking for. I've made these things part of my day, but I don't feel as though I've signed up for a daily test. I can choose what I need.
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