The Writing and Photography Blog of Kevin J Sabo

I still haven’t been able to get myself out shooting again. However, I’ve finally been able to get back into a somewhat regular workout routine.

Well, at least I was until my treadmill died. I was 37 minutes into a 40-minute treadmill workout a couple of weeks ago when my machine came to a sudden stop.

With some of the noises the machine had been making over the last few months, I’m not entirely surprised that it died, but it’s still annoying.

The bad part of this is the treadmill is a core part of my fitness, and the benefits to my mental health cannot be overstated.

Another problem is these machines. are pricey; used ones range from and a decent new one starts at around $800.

Fortunately, my folks were supportive, and knowing how big a component of my mental health the workouts are, they helped us out with getting a replacement.

The treadmill that I had is the second treadmill I’ve had at this house and both of my original ones were second hand.

Thanks to the assistance from my folks and a few bucks kicked in on our end, I found a new machine that checked all the boxes.

I ended up purchasing a Horizon T-101, which is an entry-level treadmill for home use. It has power incline, speed up to 10 MPH and simple controls and display.

A friend from church helped me get in the house on Thursday. I set it up and calibrated it on Friday and gave it its inaugural workout today.

I have to say, I love it. The controls are smooth and it’s relatively quiet.

My only disappointment with the machine occurred in the setup. The cable that connects the base to the control panel is supposed to run inside the right support but it is a hair too short. I ended up having to run it up the outside of the support and zip-tying it into place. Aside from that annoyance, it’s great.

And the bright side with buying new is, the machine has a one year labour warranty and a lifetime frame and motor warranty.

All told, between when my old treadmill died and I got the new one I was out of commission for a little over a week. Clara Belle was happy, because I took her out for a couple of longer walks, but those just aren’t the same.

I’m grateful to have supportive family, especially where it comes to stuff like this, because the equipment is not cheap, but oh so necessary for my mental health. And the thing is, between how often I use it and the other equipment I have, paying for a gym membership just doesn’t make sense when I can workout at home. If I get five years out of this machine, it will have more than paid for itself, and I hope to get longer than that.

Kevin