Most people will be wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day.
I’ll be in red—bright, glowing red, thanks to an unseasonable sunburn from this unseasonably warm
weather.
With this unusual summer-like weather, going to the gym and using the treadmill just wasn't an option. Being on a treadmill does have its advantages, and there are times when it is exactly what I want or need. However, walking on a treadmill is like being the last dog in a sled team--the view never changes. In fact, the treadmill bears a striking resemblance to a human hamster wheel.
So, I decided on Wednesday to take advantage of the
weather by walking in my neighborhood instead of going to the gym. I found a
map online of the Lake in the Hills 10K race route and decided to walk as much
of it as I could handle. Turns out I could handle about 2 miles, round-trip. Not bad, considering the hilly terrain.
The walk was perfect. Sunny blue skies. Birds
chattering happily. No traffic. No Fox News (which plays constantly at the gym. Thank goodness I have an iPod and headphones!) I even found a little lakeside park that I never knew existed. (By little, I mean tiny. The whole thing can probably fit in my basement. I made a mental note to picnic there when I have time for longer, more leisurely lunches.)
By the time I plodded my way back to my front door, I felt both tired and invigorated. It wasn't until that afternoon that I realized I had been sunburned--not because I saw my red face in the mirror, but because I could feel the heat radiating off my face.
Today, the burn has calmed considerably, but it's still quite visible. I'm wearing it as a badge of honor.