We've got 24 miles of running plus three very solid weight lifting workouts to talk about. My number one fitness goal for this week was to get in some good running and I made it. This was my first week back on the treadmill for weekday running, a necessary change after taking a fall in the dark last week.
A few years ago when I first started running on the treadmill, it was unbelievably hard and I want you to know that it took a long time to adjust. It's been well worth it, treadmill running is now much easier physically and I'm much faster on the treadmill than off it. The mental side is sometimes a different story.
Stuff I do to cope with treadmill running (p.s. this is the treadmill that I have and why I got it):
- I have everything I could possibly need or want with me on the treadmill: water, towel, remote controls for the TV and fan.
- TV is a must. I have designated treadmill TV shows that I only watch on the treadmill. Here's a list of some of my all time TV treadmill favs, right now I'm watching season 1 of Suits on Amazon Prime.
- Everyone else in my family is still asleep when I start my workouts, so being quiet is also a must. I listen to the TV audio on my airpods.
- I always run the first mile without a fan, and then I treat myself by turning it on.
- Yes I take breaks. For more mental than physical reasons, every once in a while I need to hit pause and walk around the basement for a minute. I try to limit this because once I stop it's harder to start, but I don't beat myself up for it.
- My treadmill and Garmin do not agree on distance. Every once in a while the Garmin comes out ahead for distance, but usually it's 5-10% behind. After consulting the internet, I let the treadmill make the call on the distance. I use the Garmin to record my HR and workout time and then adjust the workout distance to match the treadmill. (The model of Garmin that I have doesn't have an option to calibrate treadmill distance, I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on footpods, and meh, it's just not that important).
Tuesday: 5 treadmill miles, workout inspired by Sarah. One mile warm up, 5 minutes fast/5 minutes easy, 4 minutes fast/4 minutes easy, 3 minutes fast/3minutes easy, 2 minutes fast/2 minutes easy, 1 minute fast/1 minute easy, cool down to get to 5 miles. I didn't remember the workout exactly as she did it but nevertheless, it was fantastic and the time flew by.
Wednesday: no running, weights at lunch
Thursday: 5 treadmill miles, repeats of half mile fast/quarter mile recover
Friday: 3 treadmill miles, every half mile I did one minute incline, alternating 3% and 6%. In the last half mile I got bored so I did an extra set of inclines. Weights at lunch.
Saturday: back outside and whomp whomp it was hot out there. I did my favorite 8 mile loop (3 miles to the park - 2 mile trail - 3 miles back). Ideally I would have done 10 miles but I figured it was better to stick with a shorter, more difficult route than to pick an easy one and go for the distance.
Sunday: off and looking forward to catching up with my workout buddies on the Weekly Run Down. Head over to Kim and Deborah to check it out.
Half Marathon #2 Forecast and Thoughts
My 2nd half marathon is next Saturday. It's been very hot this weekend and everyone has been joking that means it will snow next weekend. If only. Last week the forecast was low of 50/high of 64 for race day, and the outlook has changed just a bit in the past week.
So look, either the forecast is going to be wrong or I'm going to get a chance to see how my hot weather running performance has improved since May. Tune in next week to hear about every last detail.
Your Turn
I'd love to hear if anyone else runs faster on the treadmill than off it, and everyone's tips for getting through their treadmill runs. Feel free to leave a link to your blog in your comment so that it's easy for folks to find you;-)
Of the few times I have used my Garmin w the TM it is always behind as well. I also have to have a TV and big fan nearby. Thanks for linking up with us! Have a great week
ReplyDeleteAgree, for me the deciding vote was an interview I heard with Mary Johnson, who was Hungry Runner Girl's coach for her sub 3 hour marathon. If Mary says to go by TM distance over the Garmin that's more than a good enough endorsement for me.
DeleteI love your tips for running on the treadmill. I don't mind running on the treadmill but I do a lot of the tips you mentioned to help me keep my sanity lol. One thing I do that helps a lot is using a tool to block the elapsed time on the screen - it makes the run go by faster.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea. Right now I change my pace based on distance which keeps me glued to the clock, I like the idea of covering up the display and running by feel.
DeleteI love that you love the treadmill (or at the very least, don't seem to resent it as much as I do LOL). I think my big issue with the 'mill is boredom, and the fact that I never really "go" anywhere. Mine is not set up in a place where we could access a tv, so all I got is the window to look through (and that's depressing looking outside while I'm sweating bunches inside). I did use my 'mill a lot last winter, though, because the weather was far too extreme to get outside. I did have to make most of my runs speed workouts (by default of wanting to get done as fast as possible) or progressive runs (similar default objective), but I sucked it up and got it done. Hopefully, I'll remember all of that this next winter if I'm stuck inside again ;-) Thanks for all the tips!!
ReplyDeleteLast winter was when I found your blog, and I loved your outdoor selfies after your TM runs when it was so miserable outside. Just sayin' I would be totally OK with it if we get a mild winter this year.
DeleteI used to do a lot of my runs on the treadmill. I did not mind it. I would break up my runs which helped. I would also listen to listen and/or watch Netflix shows. Another thing I did was change the pace with every song or every few minutes. I had a timer on my phone to let me know when to change the pace. Those helped and made the run much more bearable. :-)
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of using your phone timer...that way I wouldn't be as glued to the TM display.
DeleteAlso, I used to go by the distance and time on the treadmill. Then I bought a foot pod and now go by what it says on the Garmin.
ReplyDeleteOoh, what foot pod do you have? Garmin or something else?
DeleteMine is a Garmin which I bought on Amazon.
DeleteGreat week of workouts for you! The treadmill is where I got my start in running so it holds a special place in my heart. But you're right it can be very challenging mentally. My Garmin runs ahead of my treadmill. I need to recalibrate it. I think my mill (that is almost 19 years old) underestimates how fast I run on it because I always do better outside. Workouts that alternate fast and easy running are totally my jam!
ReplyDeleteYes, bless the mill. I do miss the sunrise but I don't miss the dark.
DeleteMy Garmin has the calibrate option and I use it, but its still way off. I just use the treadmill. It's not worth stressing too much about it!
ReplyDeleteAmen!
DeleteMy pace on the treadmill is always slower: ie a 9:00 feels challenging on the treadmill, but might feel OK outside depending on the day. If I use my Garmin, it reports my pace is much slower than the treadmill says, so I only use it to gauge my HR sometimes. I would say a TV and a fan are requirements! Love having a fan blow on me!
ReplyDeleteThe fan is probably my favorite thing about the treadmill
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