If you've been reading my Weekly Workouts, you may have noticed that I'm spending a lot of time running on the treadmill. The main reason I started running on the treadmill is because it bothers my lower back a lot less than running on the road. I can also log more miles on the treadmill before I start to feel jacked up than I can on the road. Trail works for this too, but I can't be running trail during the week at dark o'clock in the morning.I know a lot of people think the treadmill is boring, and I agree, it can be. The only way I can do it is if I mess with the speed. I start at 6.5 and over the course of a mile or two work my way up to 7.0, which is like an 8:30 pace. I chill out at 8:30 and then I start the progression part of my run. Sometimes I work myself up to a 7:30, sometimes a 7, sometimes 6:30! (I don't stick it at 6:30 for long!)
I save about a quarter mile or so for a cool down run and then I walk for a little bit as well. Of course stretching comes next! Gotta keep myself healthy for the next treadmill run!
So that's basically what I've been doing during the week... logging 5-6 miles a day on the treadmill. I hope the progressions make me a faster, stronger runner!
How do you keep from being bored on the treadmill?
I watch TV shows and movies. At 30-60 mins a crack, it takes forever to get through Big Brother, so you know that kept me busy!! :) I just rediscovered that I have a bunch of stuff I want to watch on Netflix. That's my next line up when TV gets boring!
ReplyDeleteCelebrity big brother starts soon! You can log some miles watching that!
DeleteBless the mill! My #1 goal for all runs is to come home safely to my family, so I won't run outside in the dark. The treadmill is my excuse to get my TV watching in. I find a really good show and only watch it on the treadmill. And play with speed.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds perfect! Practically the same thing I do but podcasts instead of tv.
DeleteI use to think the treadmill was boring too but sometimes I actually prefer it. I have some thought on this that I plan to share on the blog too!
ReplyDeleteOoh I can't wait to read about it!
DeleteI used to only run on a treadmill (for like 4 years or so) but decided, along with my PT, that it was not the best thing for my body. I kept getting injured. When I did that, however, I used to watch TiVo'd episodes of Oprah! Made the time go so fast!
ReplyDeleteIt's weird sometimes my body likes the treadmill and sometimes it doesn't! I miss Oprah!
DeleteI used to treadmill a lot- like, twice a week. It's really underrated as a training tool because people will think of all the reasons in the world not to use one, but without it, so many runners just could not train. If you live in an area where it might not be safe to run... treadmill. No childcare? Treadmill. Don't have cable at home but want to watch TV? Go to the gym and get on the treadmill. Plus, it's not like you never run outdoors- you do! Even if people don't fall in love with running by running on the mill, it is still totally cool if you're getting the work done.
ReplyDeleteI had a ton of treadmill workouts- mostly intervals, progressive runs, etc. Plus you can play with the incline which is important here in SC since we have NOOOOOO hills in the lowcountry!
Omg I think as a PA runner I don't even THINK about how important the incline factor would be to someone like you! Or the FL runners!
DeleteI never use the treadmill. I think the longest I've ever gone is 4 miles and I hated every moment of it. I've been trying to get on it every once in a while just to help me work out some of the mental barriers I have towards it. I imagine any mental advantages I can get will make 100-milers less excruciating. Haha!
ReplyDeleteWell that's one way to look at it, a way to practice breaking through mental barriers!
DeleteTreadmills are not the most exciting exercise equipment, but I don't hate them like other people... they have their place and purpose!
ReplyDelete