Sunday 16 December 2007

Treadmill

Somehow I have recently decided I like training on the treadmill again. I am not at all sure how that happened because for the last year I have dreaded running on the treadmill so much that I avoided it at all costs.

The weather has been snowy and cold here. The roads and sidewalks are full of snow and ice. So I went to the gym. There is something very pleasing about the gym in mid and late December. You could get to feeling very virtuous just by being there.... no one else is!

Add to this the fact that my son gave me a new iPod for my birthday. It is a shuffle, which I didn't want, but I am so glad now I have. It is wonderful. It weighs nothing, clips on your clothing and plays wonderful music! My nano died. First my nike plus, then my nano. It is frustrating to have this stuff last only a little over a year. My son claims that the shuffle will last longer than that. He had a friend whose shuffle was run over with a Humvee in Iraq - and still worked!

So, I get on the treadmill and it is an entirely different thing than running outdoors. I run so much faster. In that respect it is harder. But I think it is good training. I can run forever at 14 minute miles outdoors, but maybe it would be more fun to run forever at an 11 or 12 minute mile? I hope I can get there.

Today I ran 3 miles in a little over 32 minutes. If I were outdoors, it would have taken me forever.

I think I can translate faster times on the treadmill into faster times in the real world, what do you all think?

10 comments:

ws said...

No thoughts on the treadmill running, but I do own a shuffle and if I haven't broken it yet it must be pretty durable.

Hope you had a great weekend.

Wes said...

The nice thing about the treadmill is that it keeps our level of effort consistent. No slacking or speeding up! It can be a very effective tool in your training :-)

Sue said...

With weather like you are having, i'm not surprised the gym sounds like a much more inviting place to be. Good luck with your treadmill training - I am sure you will see an improvement in your miling average if you are consistently running 2-3 minutes faster on the treadmill.

Marathoner in Training said...

Mary, I have 2 shuffles the old ones though. I currently use an mp3 player that also has FM built in when I am running. Running outside I am also slower, but I think that is because I also like to enjoy looking around at everything. With a treadmill, you might get to watch a TV or a Plant to grow. Keep up the good pace on the treadmill.

J~Mom said...

My Shuffle has been with me on my runs for a year and a half now. It is covered in GU and still works great.

Unknown said...

I *love* my shuffle. Still can't dig the treadmill though. I wish I could find a way to like it like you have...

Jess said...

The treadmill is good because conditions don't interfere at all, so you can be consistent. The bad thing is that it is boring and it's hard to translate that consistency to the outdoors. But it beats running in the snow and cold!

Marcy said...

Yikes, I hate the treadmill. You need to do my workouts when I finally break down and do them on it LOL

Sorry I missed it but HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!! ;D ;D ;D

Randy - Maniac #788 said...

Mary, when the weather sucks the treadmill shines.

Way to rock on that 3 miles. I agree with you about how much faster we are on them.

With our cold weather we've had since we got by from Hawaii ours has been softly calling to me, but I've resisted doing anything until today's visit to the doc about my knee...now maybe I'll do it...he thinks I can still do Houston in 3 weeks!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree with Randy "when the weather sucks the treadmill shines"
I just use my nano and get er done :)