I much prefer outdoors as well. I do the speed walk in place outside while walking the dog, too. Don’t walk in the woods...that’s where the bears are when not walking through my neighborhood.
I wouldn’t be going there alone if bears lived in this far south of the mountains. The mountain lion can be avoided-the things have big territories, and are loners so I stay out of the really deep woods, and if I see fresh tracks or smell/see a chewed-on deer, I back out of that trail posthaste, singing and waving my arms and a stick-and I don’t go back that way for a few days unless I’m with another hiker and armed.