Thoughts from the treadmill

Melvin Bragg is introducing a program on Cleopatra. A woman woman with a mind like crystal and a voice to match explains why Egypt at that time wasn't unlike a modern state, full of debts. I can't focus, and my legs are heavy. What do I care if the Ptolemies slept with their brothers and sisters? I just want to go home, watch tv. I can't believe that less than a month ago, I was here, three times a week, working out like nobody's business.
My legs keep moving but slowly, like they know they have to, but just can't get into it.My mind is rehashing the latest drama over our son's education. Could we have avoided it? Are we sure we found the best solution? Is it going to happen again and is there anything we can do to stop it anyway? (We call it drama, but it's really life as usual, ex-pat life with special needs as usual, that is). Then I look at the timer and it's already eight minutes. My legs say 'only eight minutes'. I switch off the podcast and put my running list on 'shuffle'.

Dusty Springfield is telling me that 'Whishin' and Hopin'' won't get me anywhere. Even as I stop to think about the inanity of the lyrics, my legs, relieved, are picking up. Lying down and thinking of Egypt clearly wasn't going to do it for me, but a bit of music goes a long way. Then it's Lady Gaga, stranded on my iPod from the days when I had a crush on her music. 'Luv,Luv, lurve', she sings. I'm having visions of Swedish vampires being set on fire (mixing my videos, I know). The music speeds up and that image is chased by pairs of impossibly long legs stomping the ground like scissors. My own legs are completely off, now, moving faster, effortlessly, aching muscles replaced by springs.

My brain is relaxing too, no longer worrying, thoughts sliding through it like fish in a fancy japanese pond. I even keep going when Wham comes on: 'Wake me up!'. How do these things end up on my iPod? Then my twenty minutes are up (I know, but I'm working back up to a good routine). I lie down on the mat, before doing my sit ups, relaxing to Sir Duke. Just as I'm finishing my streches, Telephone comes on. I'm hoping I get that one next time.

Back home, Madness keeps me from peeing myself as I have to put water on for my daughter's pasta before I do anything else.

I considered myself tagged on this one by Jean, from Planet Outreach - ASD, because she wrote a beautiful post about her experience at the gym, listening to age-inappropriate music, and worrying about her special needs son. 
And while I'm at it, I'll tag a few people myself: 

Varda, from the Squashed Bologna - I'm sure you're not doing much exercise right now, with your operation and all, but anything will do!

Jen, from The Kind and Eye,

Amanda, from the Motherhood Umbrella.

Whether you go to the gym or do a bit of yoga at home once a blue moon, let's hear it: what do you think about? How do you motivate yourself? And tag others, while you're at it!