I'm done with today's papers — and a four mile walk to boot

So what, you say?

But consider the following details:

1) The papers in question are the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Charlottesville Daily Progress.

2) Every word of each paper has been read.

3) Each paper's crumpled, torn pages now rest in peace in the mass of newsprint behind and surrounding my treadmill (the current wave height is about two feet – but rising daily).

4) The reading was done between 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. this morning — while walking four miles on my treadmill.

I cannot emphasize how much better I feel now than in the days B.T. (before treadmill).

I used to lie on my reading couch with my legs up on some soft cushions, reading the Sunday papers.

Invariably I'd get bored and have to get up and do something else (but different from the moment before) before returning to my spot (below).

I'd sometimes get sleepy and doze off.

A pleasant start to the day but not nearly as great as what's going down here now.

Full disclosure:

1) To start I set the treadmill at 0.7 mph as advised by my guru, Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic.

2) After 5 minutes I bump it up to 1.0 mph and keep it there for 60 minutes.

3) The next 30 minutes it's at 2.0 mph.

4) Then it's time to get serious: up to 3.0 mph for the next 40 minutes.

Do the math: 1 + 1 + 2 = 4 miles covered in 2:15.

Now, you should know that I love reading in cars and have never had a problem with feeling queasy doing so, as some people do.

So if that's a problem, reading while walking on a treadmill may not work for you.

I must say that if you choose to try this, a solid, heavy treadmill makes it much more pleasant as your reading material will remain absolutely still as you stride along.