Happy Tuesday friends! I’m linking up with Kim from Kooky Runner and Zenaida for their Tuesday Topics, Show Off Your Home Gym!
Let’s talk about home gyms!
My ‘home gym’ is quite small; some may call it more of a fitness “area”, vs. an actual GYM, ha!
I live in Minneapolis in a 1920’s Tudor style house; I love our house, but living an older home definitely has some limitations, particularly when it comes to size!
We’ve lived here for over 10 years and have put a lot of work into updating some things. When we redid our kitchen in 2016 (pictures HERE), we had the option to add a little “gym” under the expanded kitchen.
One of the top priorities for this gym was ensuring there would be enough headroom for a treadmill.
Low-profile (for headroom) was a factor in our treadmill decision (we have a Landice, read more about our choice HERE) but we had a little more space to work with the ‘new’ part of the basement.
We installed rubber flooring from Home Depot- nothing fancy, but its functional.
Over time, we have accumulated more and more equipment, from bands to weights, to a plyobox, etc.
I’ve gone back and forth about squeezing in a Peloton bike; I took measurements and I could technically fit one, but haven’t taken that plunge yet. Maybe soon!
Honestly, some of the best parts of my home gym are in the ARTWORK!
First and foremost, one of my most favorite parts of the basement is the mural that my friend Angela (a talented artist) painted. (See more about her process HERE.) It’s a little ‘map’ of the lakes that I run nearly every day- Bde Maka Ska, Lake of the Isles, and Lake Harriet, with downtown Minneapolis and the Sculpture Garden as well.
It even has a little mini-Dustin, Jessie, and Matilda running on Lake Harriet!
The mural makes me smile every time I’m in that room.
I also love this motion activated “RUN” sign made from lights from the vintage store Hunt & Gather, a Minneapolis gem. Dustin had to do some electrical work to get them to work again, but they’re so fun!
I also love the wooden marathon medal racks that my dad made for us. The left side is Dustin’s collection from marathons, the right side is mine (35 full marathons!)
I also had our World Majors 6-star medals framed. So proud of those!
Beneath those medals are a random array of other medals and awards, though I haven’t been as great about organizing the non-marathon medals (and medals aren’t as common it seems for races under 26.2 miles!)
Last Christmas, my friend Christie gave me this little ‘cartoon’ drawing of me by a fellow Oiselle volee member. So cute!
My sisters bought me this beautiful map of the Boston Marathon course the year I ran it.
Of course the star of my home gym is definitely the treadmill. The set up with a mounted TV at eye level really makes those treadmill miles more bearable. There’s a lovely fan nearby for when things get really sweaty.
The wall-mounted TV has an Apple TV, which means I can watch Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and more. It also has the Peloton app for my strength training.
My home gym may be humble, but it’s special to me, and it definitely motivates me to exercise!
Be sure to check out other home gyms for inspiration through Kooky Runner and Zenaida’s link-up!
I absolutely LOVE your home gym space! The artwork is such a cool edition. That’s one thing my home gym is lacking. Also i imagine having all your medals displayed gives you motivation for your treadmill runs 🙂
Yes the medals are motivating and also are a nice walk down memory lane!
So wonderful. You really made great use of the space and I love how you decorated with the medal racks and art work!
Thank you San!
Mine is part “family” room part exercise room. Used to be part Yoga studio (well, *I* still do Yoga there, I just don’t teach there right now).
I love that mural & the photo of it with Ruth & Matilda. I have a signed poster from Deena Kastor a bit behind my treadmill, as well as my half medals.
Nice! Deena Kastor is amazing. Inspirational!
I love love that mural. Every time you share a photo of yourself on your mill, I think, I need to do that. Get a mural, not run on the TM, ;p. My BFF from high school is a muralist and she’s done a lot of work in my house. I just haven’t taken the plunge for my back room.
Yes, if you know a muralist, you definitely should! If we ever moved, I would be so sad to leave the mural behind…
All of my medals (though only nine of mine are marathon distance or farther) are hanging in our hallway, off of the kitchen. I’ve thought of moving them closer to my actual workout “space,” but they make me smile every time I walk past them. Looks like you did both Grandma’s in 2015 and 2017 (as well as at least one other time…I recognize the bridge medal), which are the two times I ran it. I remembered that you were there for one of them, but didn’t realize you were there (somewhere) both times I was too LOL Your treadmill… Read more »
Yes! I did Grandma’s the same years as you! How funny that we probably crossed paths but didn’t know it.
Your gym isn’t humble, it’s amazing! I love all the cool extra things, like the mural and the marathon medal display. Right now I have no designated space for a home gym, but I’m thinking that when my son goes to college, his room will be turned informally into my “gym” (to be magically transformed back into his bedroom when he comes home for Thanksgiving, muahahaha…)
Thank you Jenny, you are so sweet!
I LOVE everything about your home gym! Do get the Peloton bike to complete the room. 🙂 When I have a house I would love a similar mural. Think of how pretty it will be with the lakefront.
Ha, I am very tempted by the Peloton! It would be nice to have a non-running cardio option.
[…] training for the upcoming Fargo Marathon on September 25th! Before I dive in, be sure to check out my post from Tuesday sharing details on my home […]
I love your space! I think the edge might go to your two furry coaches though. z
that mural is amazing and I guess I’d never noticed the mini yous since you when you take a running photo on it, you might block it.
Haha, yes, those two furry coaches are pretty cute 🙂
I love the mural. It is just perfect! For the first time ever, we have a basement and we finally have the gym set up. It’s so nice, isn’t it? We have all of our race photos printed and framed now, and even though we don’t have much equipment in there yet (just a treadmill, shelf w/gears and limited selection of weights, mats, our two bikes on stand so we can ride indoors), I love the fact that we have this set up now! I finally got on my treadmill today (since the air quality isn’t so great out here… Read more »
Thank you Eri!
So exciting that you have a basement now! I suppose they aren’t really necessary in Hawaii or Japan. But Colorado, yes!
It sounds like you have everything you need!