If you've been to a gym almost anywhere in the civilized world,(or uncivilized Kirkuk, Iraq), then you've probobly seen TVs in the gym. Those big beautiful 40+ inch flat screen TVs are how some of us on the other side of the world catch up on the news, and since we're 10 hours behind west coast time, it's the only way we can watch the Lakers lose in the NBA finals in real time (Go Bulls!!). While I'm  certain we don't all run the same, one thing I'm sure of is, the treadmill is no place to be distracted. I run on the treadmill here in Kikurk, because the track outside is a nightmare (Just ask Kevin). Even though I can't run now with my cast on, I've put in plenty of miles of these machines. I could run on the road, but I just can't put my personal safety in the hands of some 19 year old behind the wheel of a 70,000 pound combat vehicle, you know?

   I run for an hour, on a 2 inch incline, at a speed of 6.5. It's not the hardest run, but if you combine that with the hades like temperature (Can you say, hot as hell?), you'll feel the "burn" nonetheless. One day in particular, I'm about 10 minutes into my run, when the theme from Grey's Anatomy starts to play, and the show starts. I'm so into the show that I'm not paying attention. It's been a while since I glanced over at my friend Irene, who's reading Yoga magazine on the bike. I can still hear The jazz music blaring in my headphones, or at least I thought that was a trumpet I heard. The next thing you know, my foot hits the side of the treadmill, you know, the part that isn't moving. I actually tried to regain my balance on the part that IS moving. Instead, I lose both feet, I'm in mid air for what seemed like 2 full eternities. I've sat at my computer with a bowl of ice cream, watching faceplant videos on youtube. Somehow, it didn't seem as funny when it was my own face. I was a little dizzy, and really embarrased, but I got

back up and ran again, laughing at myself with a band-aid over my eye. I think Irene called me "Left eye" for about 3 days, and I told anyone who asked that I was attacked by a treadmill. So in closing, be careful on those things. Don't let TV get the better of you, or the next faceplant video I laugh at on youtube, might be yours.