I've become a convert to the idea of being a fitness center member. I fought it for a long time because I took pride in running (ok, jogging really) outside, year-round, except in conditions of dangerously-poor footing, or strong in-your-face wind. Something in me has changed so that now I don't mind the treadmill like I used to, I like the hubbub of the busy LifeTime Fitness center that I attend just 2 miles from home. I get a kick out of seeing all the pre-school kids that come in with their moms, and the little snippets of the kids' conversations that I catch as they walk through LifeTime holding their moms' hands. I've increased the length of my not-quite daily runs there from 3mi to 5mi, occasionally dropping to 1-mile when I get a message from a body part that it's working on a problem, and "please hold, pain-free service should be restored shortly." I reply, "thank you," and gladly oblige. For the past 21 years (years before then were...