Today was to be a long slow run. I woke up feeling achy, tired and thinking about everything I had to get done. I turned on the bbq, oiled up the tomatoes and tossed them on. Then I grab something to eat and figured I had one hour before I could head out for a run. Then I chop the butternut squash for soup. Then I try to focus on the run I really want to do. I think about mapping it out and get distracted by something, probably the dog or cat. I grab the tomatoes, puree the soup, which is a little runny so I add some more chunks of squash and watch the clock go by as I procrastinate running even more. Finally, soup done, veggies chopped and I should get out on the road. Nah, I am going to head down to the treadmill and run the 10K part of the Giant Race.
I haven’t set foot on my treadmill since before the snow melted so long ago. I program the run in and get stared at 3 mph. Feels kind of fast for me, but after a few minutes I up it to 4 then 4.5. As I am running I have realized that I have been very slack in my outdoor running. I am a slow poke. Last time I was on the treadmill, I could run 6.0 mph fairly easily. Now I am sucking wind at 4.5. I won’t kid you I am saddened by this revelation. No wonder I have packed on some poundage. I eventually crank it up to 5.0 and I know I won’t be able to carry a conversation with anyone if I keep going at this pace. I attempt 6.0, I last 60 seconds and think about bailing because I my need a bucket. Instead I slow myself down to 5.0 and finish my 40 minute run.
I do enjoy watching where I am running on my screen, I see the satellite, the google map and the street view. I can also see the laps, my heart rate, calories etc.. I remember that I really do love this treadmill. It tells me how slow or fast I am going, it follows the terrain of any route I program in. I don’t have to worry about cyclists on the sidewalk, or rolling over on my ankles or what I look like. The downfall, I have the attention span of a pea when I run inside. There is nothing to distract me.
I love running outside too. It is more about being outdoors in the fresh air. The downfall, I find I spend a lot of time with my head down looking for cracks, holes and just where I am going. That and I don’t like to be out of breath. But I am outside. So I run with no idea what my pace or distance is. I just listen away to the music and enjoy the time out on the road. Even in the rain, I enjoy being on the road!
Any how..... I made the realization that I really need the treadmill year round and not just in bad weather. I like to run with as little stuff on my body as possible, from spandex to belts for water bottles to watches on my arms! The least amount of stuff on me the better. Helps me with my speed! So my running schedule will be changed – Long Slow Distance for my running outdoor pleasure and will be one day a week. The rest of the week I will be running on the t-mill. I am not a competitor, I am a completer. However, I still want to lose weight, be healthier and yes beat a few of my PBs, and so yes indeed, I am competitive when it comes to my personal performance.
I will do my tempo and speed work indoors, I will do my LSR on Sunday outside and my hills will be outside as well.
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