Song: Icescapes
Artist: Annie Parker
My wife not only loves her new treadmill...
but she loves the placement of it in the loft.
This treadmill...
the top of the line NordicTrack 2450...
has built in fans which help cool a runner during a vigorous session...
and a large screen which plays various videos and interactive programs
to keep a person interested during his or her training sessions
(The pace and the incline increase automatically depending
on the terrain in the video).
This treadmill also has a special shock absorbing running deck...
so as to protect the joints.
One of the views from the treadmill.
My wife will open up the deck door for a nice cross breeze while she is training.
The 24" screen is operated through the touch screen...
and there are so many rotating running and hiking programs
from which to choose.
They have professional trainers running or hiking the route...
as he or she talks to you...
often times giving the history of the route...
or some other facts or training advice.
They had made these videos specifically to make one feel as if one were there...
actually running or hiking along with the trainer...
and, again...
the incline and speed automatically increases or decreases just as it would
if one were actually hiking or running at that particular location.
They have so many training videos from around the world.
A closer look at the built in fans.
My wife wants to train for various races...
from 5k to half marathons...
to eventually a full marathon.
She also wants to go up the Manitou Incline.
As we already live at high altitude...
hiking at simulated high altitudes in her programs
will be far more realistic training for her.
They even have a zombie apocalypse training video where you must run
from chasing zombies :)
My wife usually trains near sunset...
so there won't be any reflections on the screen as is in these photos
(you can see my reflection as I stood on the sides of the treadmill
while taking these photos).
These are her views from the treadmill...
and she especially loves looking out the 3rd deck doors during sunset.
(Yes, Bandi tore up the 3rd deck screen door with her paws...
as my wife closed the screen door when Bandi was sitting outside on the 3rd deck...
and Bandi clawed at the screen door to get my wife's attention...
saying she wanted back in.
I just used screen door repair tape until I just replace the whole screen...
a much later project for the future).
My wife feels so good after a training session
as the various programs challenge her...
and make her want to use it...
as the scenery and the automatic changes of pace and inclines
really get her heart rate up (she went above 170 bpm the other day)...
and it was just a moderate program.
She can train various zones just by choosing the difficulty of the program...
or she can make her own.
Once a week we are going to do an actual long mountain run
(once she gets into better shape)...
with Bandi and I using the trike...
as she trains by running.
But...
soon...
she will have to train on the treadmill almost exclusively during Winter...
as the air temperature drops too low for her to train outside...
as well as having to contend with snow and ice
(Bandi and I can usually train outside through much of Winter...
as my trike has much better traction...
and I can control the amount of exertion while going up hills by increasing the amount
of e-drive assist used).
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This early afternoon...
my wife used the rest of the Mapo Tofu to make
Mapo Tofu Ramen...
and a beef salad for me to eat.
This ramen was so good.
I had never had it before...
but it is now my favorite ramen.
The Mapo Tofu made the ramen meaty and spicy...
and so flavorful.
I had eaten many a ramen at specialty ramen places when I had lived and worked in Japan...
many decades ago...
and this was the best I have ever had.
(Mapo Tofu Ramen wasn't an option back then...
although they probably have it now).
This is the roast beef my wife had made the other day.
She usually thinly slices the specially prepared beef for use in salads...
soups, or just with rice...
as it is especially tender
(she had marinated it using garlic, salt and pepper, olive oil...
as well as baking soda (which makes the beef exceptionally tender)...
and she then slow cooks it in the oven).
Because the beef is just so tender...
the thin slices just makes a beef salad so delicious...
especially with the below dressing.
This salad dressing has such a fresh citrus taste...
along with a hot pepper kick.
My wife had also picked up some squid Tsukemono
from the Asian market we had gone to yesterday.
It is so good...
as the squid is tender...
and yet has the delightful chewiness of squid...
along with a slightly tart vinegary taste.
And the shredded mushrooms and selected veggies
make it one of my favorite meal accompaniments.
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I am thinking of putting together the weight training equipment
I had bought for Milo for both of us to do.
(I will be training my wife in Milo...
as well as with Thor's Hammer).
I also still must put together the BBQ...
but I also have many other projects I must do since the weather
is still very good.
Once Winter hits...
I must shift outside projects to more of the landscape and trees
(I still must climb and take down some rather large trees...
but that can wait until later on this Winter).
