Jan 31st workout and NEWS!!!!

Jan 31 treadmill run 4 miles (FOUR MILES!!) 40:45, top speed 6.4, 2% incline

I broke thru the barrier. The one that said 'you can NOT run more than 3 miles on this treadmill, it will be the worst. experience. ever.'
But today, I tried to push past that. Minutes 30-40 were TOUGH. I kept telling myself 'go ONE more minute, if you want to stop then, fine.'
I think part of the problem is that I am pushing the speed too much. I should probably try to stay right around 6mph, if not closer to 5.7, but the logical side of my brain seems to go to sleep when I think about this one. =)

Also, tomorrow's my birthday. Just thought you should all know. I accept cash or gift cards.

=)

AND.....well...ok, I told my parents I was thinking of getting a treadmill so my dad said, 'just take mine, I dont use it anymore.' and I thought 'YEE HAW!', I was SO excited.

Then I got it.

Let's just say, it was probably some clearance special at the local dime store. Ok, not that bad, but not good. Not good at all. It's a Weslo, had the incline where you have to pull out a little do-hickie on the bottom to raise it up, you increase speed by turning a knob that DOESNT EVEN HAVE NUMBERS. It says things like 'aerobic' instead. The digital read it out is TINY and only reads one thing at a time (calories, then time, then distance etc). And it is LOUD.
I think I may have ruptured an ear drum trying it out.

AND the super sad thing is, my brothers and I bought this for him about 6 years or so ago! How cheap are we?! We knew he wanted one, we pooled our money together, obviously to get him the cheapest one we could find. Lesson learned. Buy dad good stuff so I'll have quality things to use when I borrow from him.
=)

Anyway, so we it got this past Saturday, my super awesome sauce hubby (stealing the phrase from Janae) went down to their house and brought it back for me, now the poor guy has to cart it back down there...I called my mom on Sunday and told her while I was SO appreciative, that it wasn't going to work. The deck is REALLY narrow and the display and 'arms' are VERY low and way out in front-its so weird.

Anyway, I told her I think we are going to save up for one and hopefully be able to buy one by next winter. There was one for about $600 in a local ad that looked good to me.

She called me today and said 'Did you get any money for your birthday yet?' and I'm thinking 'ooookkkkkkk, thats a weird question' and I said 'noooo, why...?' and she said 'oh nothing, its just that I think Dad wants to buy you a treadmill for your birthday.'
After picking my jaw up off the floor, I said 'does he know how much the one I want costs?' (I had told her yesterday) and said 'yeah, he knows, $600 right?'
Um, YEAH!

So it looks like my parents are going to pay for me to get a treadmill!!!!!! I am BEYOND excited!!!!! Can't wait to go shopping!
_________________________

So, question: what details do I look for in a treadmill? I know I want to be able to incline it by pushing a button, adjusting the speed by pushing a button (not a knob), a fairly good size deck and a display front that is more 'in front' of me and not down by my thighs like my dad's =)

Any tips on treadmill shopping?