What to do?

Yesterday, I was watching the late night news...a little "alone time, " and was saddened to hear that a popular multi use trail was being closed indefinately. Not because of over-use, mis-use or even under-use. It's due to a delightful (and I say that with a hint of sarcasm) brown bear and her 2 cubs. Apparently, this particular bear has an affinity to people...eating them that is...2 people have been mauled (one a 15 year old girl in a bike race) and several other people have had near misses (including a university of Alaska cross country runner, who decided he would try to out run this said bear....can we say stupid?)



This wouldn't be quite so bad except the particular trail in question is less than 2 miles from my house. So, for now, until the parks service finds this angry mama bear and sends it to a better place, i.e. bear heaven.... it's back to the dreadmill....I mean treadmill...I know some are thinking, just run outside on a different trail system? Find a new route? That could potentially work except for the fact that the other trail system that connects to my house, that runs through my neighborhood is also bear infested...I know this because my husband ran into a nice black bear biking home from work, less than an 8th of a mile from our back door. You would think I live in the boonies. Really? I live in a city of 300 thousand people....



I have officially been "banned" by my husband from running outside in our neighborhood or on nearby trails, unless he can come with me. Yeah, right. He loathes running (the last race we did together he managed to squeak out 3 training runs before his 6 mile leg, but still managed 9 minute miles....) Not to mention the fact with him working nights and going to school during the day it's not gonna happen. Apparently mace isn't good enough when running with bears and I'm not allowed to offer grumpy children as bait either!



I know that several people are wishing/needing treadmill advice...mostly because alternating schedules, or new babies warrants the use of them, not because of an angry brown bear...



So, here's the question. How do you make the treadmill enjoyable? Is there even such a thing as enjoyment on the treadmill? Any suggestions? What do you think?