The fitness center had
several of the same models. Nothing stood out as odd, each treadmill had all
the standard options and settings. I started one and began trotting. I raised
the speed 6, 7, 8, and 9. As I kept increasing the speed, I noticed the belt
below my feet didn't turn as fast as the bright red LCD numbers indicated. I
immediately determined the machine was defective and moved to another
treadmill. Again, the exact same thing happened. Before frustration turned to
fury, I realized the treadmill used KPH rather than the MPH I'm accustomed
to using. I was delighted no one else was in the facility at that
hour, as I felt like an utter imbecile.
I cranked up the speed
(numerically) and had a nice morning exercise. I measured the distance covered
by thinking about 5K and 10K races, not because I quickly converted
meters to miles. It is a bit funny that the U.S. remains locked into using a
system of measure even though the most of the rest of the world, industrialized
or not, uses metric. Sure we teach metric units in school. Most districts give
an obligatory head nod in 3rd and a few other grades at teaching weights,
distance and temperature, that is far from enough. Otherwise, American will
just have to learn it the hard way.
KPH or MPH, Run.
Tom
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