For me, the phrase ‘pounding the pavement’ takes on a life of its own.
At this age, looking at 68, and, in this condition, you don’t want to know, every mile I run is basically replete with anguish.
Chuck Bartlett talks about a “bag of bones” sensation, which goes away after maybe a mile. My bag stays with me.
So, I end up walking mostly. And, wonderful as that may be, walking is not running. And I want to run.
Because, well, running is not just about the physical activity, for many of us, it is who we are.
But how can I run again?
If I had to point the finger of blame at anyone, my finger would be pointed at Jackie Hansen and Rich Castro.
Mike Fanelli and Dick Beardsley provided a nudge and a nod, respectively.
I purchased the E-GO8 ElliptiGO 8C .
This was a decision I did not leap at. First of all, the Elliptigo is, sadly, not covered by Medicare.
And costs more than my first brand new car off the showroom floor.
(A dark green VW Beetle. $1700, complete with radio & heater. The heater…well, that’s another story.)
The money is not a problem if you have the money, but the value might be.
Would I use the E-Go? Would the E-Go do what I hoped it would do? Can I trust Jackie Hansen?
I puzzled, I pondered, I interrogated an Elliptigo executive.
I got a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Of course, given my ‘prince of darkness’ style, I chose the studly black finish.
However, after further review, and remembering
most folks around here believe a STOP sign is merely a hint one can ignore,
I suggest the more visible available options, red or orange or lime-green.
My first ride was, I admit, a bit scary. Getting aboard required a certain agility, getting off likewise.
It might help to have a cycling background, although Jackie didn’t.
Initially a tad trepidatious, I accepted the challenge.
Wobbly – clad in helmet and gloves – I took off.
And, wow!, this is great, awesome, cool, sweet….CAR!!
I was getting tired, so I did what I normally do on a bike at an intersection,
I slowed and thought to sit down.
Just then, the car stopped and I sailed through the intersection safely.
This is very important. Whatever you do, don’t sit down.
There is no seat on the E-GO.
Which reminds me.
“Chair addiction – like the alcoholic thirsting for another Scotch – is the constant need we have developed to sit. We slouch from bed to car seat, to work seat, to sofa. The cost is too great; for every hour we sit, two hours of our lives walk away – lost forever.”
That’s from James Levine. He’s the director of the Mayo Clinic’s Obesity Solutions Initiative.
Luckily, he made no mention of the power leather recliner coupled with a big screen TV, Sports Pass on cable & a Foster Lager.
Or I might have thought he was talking about me.
It was Issac Newton – and a Celebrex ad – who said, “A body at rest tends to stay at rest, a body in motion tends to stay in motion.”
And it was Meb Keflezighi who told me “we are meant to move.” Oh, yeah, Meb has an Elliptigo, too.
But I digressed.
I came back sweaty and my legs didn’t hurt after a 10K jog. Felt like a jog anyway.
And wasn’t that the point, isn’t that the value?
If I am not in pain, I don’t feel old. And if I am going fast, I feel young.
What price would you put on that?
Okay, I admit, some frightened thoughts passed through my mind as I tried to learn how to ride the E-GO.
Training wheels would’ve been good. A rearview mirror perhaps.
How about a roll bar?
It’s been more than 30 days now.
I ride the Elliptigo every day. As the miles have passed and the fear has dissipated
and I am going farther and faster and the wind is whistling through my remaining hair,
I started musing about lap counters, maybe an ahoogah horn…
couldn’t have more fun if I had a playing card in the spokes.
This is a machine for runners who can no longer run.
And for those of us who can, but want to do more.
Like me and Meb.