Treadmill Debate

I've been thinking a lot lately about the debate as to whether running on a treadmill is better or running outdoors.  For the most part, I always figured they were about equal in terms of value and health benefit.  But recently a friend said that running on a treadmill is not running.  He said that your body merely goes through the motion of running, but it doesn't actually do that much work.  So then I started reading some articles to try and see what the experts are saying about the two forms of running.  Mostly, it said that running outside is better, but there are pros to running on a treadmill too.  For example, treadmill running is safer, it can be done almost any time of day, and it's easier on the joints.  But outdoor running is probably a better workout because of the outside elements: wind, hills, fresh air.  I then asked on Facebook what people thought.  Most people feel that running outdoors is better and that running on a treadmill is easier.  So I've concluded that while running outside is probably a better workout, I think that nothing should undermine that treadmill running is still running and is a close second.  And I think that running on a treadmill is better than no exercise at all.  So I will probably continue to run on a treadmill, since it works out better in my daily exercise routine, but I will try to run outdoors as much as possible.

By the way, I recently signed up for my 5th race of the year.  It's the Jingle Bell run in December.  I'm very excited about this!

Kruger Farms 2012

Last Sunday we took a trip out to Kruger Farms to pick out our pumpkins.  It's a fun place to visit all year round, and we always like to go and get pumpkins and enjoy all that Fall has to offer.  They have a corn maze, and the boys really love running around in it, trying to find all the "stations".  They take people out on a tractor-pulled hayride to pick out your desired pumpkin.  And they have ponys to ride, too.  Then, we top it off with some pumpkin pie and caramel apples.  We also managed to do all of this successfully before getting rained upon, so it was a great trip!

Daniel on the Hayride

Sam, ready to pick out a pumpkin

Simon, in the Corn Maze

The boys waiting for their pony rides

Trying to get a family pic

Daniel's Artwork

Last week I decided I should take down some of Daniel's artwork from Kindergarten that still hangs on his wall.  I figure we need to eventually make room for all of the new things he will be bringing home this year that he will be making in first grade.  But as I took each piece down, it pained me a little to throw these pieces away.  I realize we can't keep every item that our kids make throughout their childhood or you might see me on an episode of Hoarders in the near future.  So, I have kept a few special pieces, but this time I took pictures to remind me of his precious work.  Here are some of the pictures.

"Pasta Man"

"Sloth"

"Daniel"

"The Pumpkin"

Time With Grandparents

 I can't believe how long it's been since I last blogged.  I guess time got away from me, or there was just too much going on.  I don't know.  But I plan to get back into it again.  Recently my parents visited us from Idaho.  We took them on the Fruit Loop in the Hood River area, and then I also took them on the Old Columbia Highway and visited some sites along the Gorge.  It was great having them here.  Our visits are just too short.  But here are a few pics from that visit.

The boys helping me pick lavender.

At one of the view points along the Gorge

A short hike to Bridal Veil Falls