Wednesday Weigh-In: Why I Hate Running in TN

First off...I haven't broken up with my scale.  YET.  Whatever, it'll happen some day.  And we're also fighting at the moment.  So what if I drank booze all weekend and ate pizza and hot dogs at 3am...apparently the scale keeps track of that stuff.

Second, I laughed when I wrote my blog title because I still tell people I live in TN.  ALL of TN, I never say I live in Knoxville or I hate running in Knoxville...it's the whole state, although I've only visited about 3 cities of it.  And only attempted to run in one city.  Anywho, moving on.

If you are a runner, or a walker, or whatever...you'll either have a preference of running/walking outside, or on the treadmill.  Some people think treadmill running is easier, or visa versa.  I think treadmill running sucks.  Really sucks.  Like I despise it, but I do it.  I love running outside, or at least I thought I did until I moved here.  I should now say that I love running in California..on sidewalks with no hills, in perfect weather. 

Running outside is the reason I 'think' I love running.  You can clear your mind, enjoy the scenery, get a tan, try different routes, plan a route that is the exact distance you want to run that day, and run/walk until you get back home because you HAVE to get back home.  Running on a treadmill in a gym....you are normally staring at someone's butt, I mean back, surrounded by too many people, and end up not going as far as you normally would because you can just press "STOP."  

Well running outside hasn't been much of an option for me lately.  

Reasons why I hate running in TN:

1)  I feel like I'm going to die.  Literally, death is calling me.  I can't breathe in the air when I walk to my car after work because of the humidity, and when attempting to run...dunzo. 

2) What sidewalks?  Maybe I haven't ventured out enough to find them, but there aren't many sidewalks in TN unless you live in a housing subdivision, and well I don't.  I feel like it would be creepy if I drove into someone's neighborhood, parked, and ran around their blocks.  No? 

3) It's always raining.  Like 17 inches above normal raining.  And if it's not raining, it's humid or about to rain.  I normally enjoy running in the rain.  I did in CA when our rain was convenient.  Meaning, it sprinkled or rained for about 10 minutes and then stopped.  Rain here is not like that.  I'm clumsy enough; we can't add an inch of water under my feet and expect to get home safely.  

4)  Hills.  Everywhere.  (Gosh I sound like I only run when it's 70 degrees out, flat, and next to the water with Josh Hartnett in front of me [if you don't know who that is...google him]).  I'm used to mini hills, but not hills everywhere.  I hear it'll be great for when I run races since my endurance will be up, but when I've tried running outside here, the hills kick my butt (along with above).  

So, I'm sure...just like with everything around here, I'll get used to.  But as of right now, I'm frustrated.  Frustrated with running on the treadmill...surrounded by stinky, sweaty people who run much faster than me.  

Wednesday Weigh-In turned into Wednesday's Rant, OOPS.