Well, at least it is now that I have ready access to extensive bike paths along the river and an occasional partner to run with. It is harder as well, and it takes a lot longer, but I do have to admit, the experience is so much better than running in place. I still try to run three times a week but I find that I am running longer in time and distance ... I used to do 3 miles on Wednesday, 7 miles on Saturday and another 3 miles on Sunday (<1/2hour, >1 hour, <1/2 hour). That seemed a good compromise between the thing that I hated (exercise) and the thing that I needed (cardio-vascular exercise), but the treadmill makes such a routine easy with it's numbers constantly counting and telling you things that don't really matter.

Outside I get to look around and, unlike the similar street after similar  street of similar houses all in a row, I get to look at birds and trees, soccer fields and the Thames river, bridges and water treatment plants (not always the best experience if I'm honest), playgrounds and parking lots, people and pets (well mostly dogs really). While our neighbourhood in Kitchener did have the occasional walker going by, this is a whole new experience. On my runs I am constantly seeing joggers, bikers, roller-bladers, dog walkers and runners, young and old, large and small, nice and grumpy, talkative and quiet. There is a wonderfully diverse group of people who are also enjoying the paths and parks. And they make it easy for me and my dog to share it with them.

I'm now running something closer to 4 to 5 miles on Wed, maybe 6 or 6.5 on Sat, and 4 or 5 again on Sunday ... essentially 1 hour from out the door to back home drinking my water and stretching that to about 1.5 hours on Sat. I pass some people and some people pass me and most people nod, say hello or in some way acknowledge others.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not suggesting I like exercise or anything like that, I mean I'm huffing and puffing the whole time, I'm sweating buckets, and my legs are usually making me question my sanity by the end. No, exercise sucks but the alternative is worse so if i gotta do it, running along side the river certainly makes for a nicer experience.