I’m on the treadmill. I’d rather be writing. I’d rather poke my own eye out with a pencil than be on the treadmill. I’m not built for running. Swimming, biking, rowing…yes, yes, yes. Not running. I’ve been running for two minutes and it already feels like an hour. I would MUCH rather be writing. If I burn 150 calories I’ll reward myself with that bar of chocolate I know my father-in-law has hidden in the cupboard. Yes, I’m aware that negates all the work I’m doing. I don’t care. I need something to keep me motivated. I wonder how my main character, Quinn, would feel about running on the treadmill. A few months ago, she would have run five miles without breaking a sweat. She would be striving for perfection, the perfect body, perfect grades. Today, though, she would be too tired for a run. She’s too busy trying to keep demons off her back, Kerstin from rubbing her face in her relationship with Quinn’s ex, Coach White from finding out she still failing all her classes, and herself from falling in love with mysterious Aaron Collier. Lack of sleep and an unhealthy amount of caffeine have made her more than a little moody. At this point I think she would tell the treadmill to stick itself where the sun don’t shine. Me too! I’ve had enough now. Let me get back to writing. Now, where’s my chocolate?
How would one of your characters feel about running on a treadmill?
Let’s just say that there’s a reason that a drudge job is considered “being on the treadmill.” I like it!