The last time I used a treadmill was around 6 years ago. We were on vacation and I was looking for a little exercise at the hotel. I'd planned on just walking on it, but I kept pushing the speed up and ended up running for over 1/2 hour each day we were there. It was so easy on my knees, and I remember thinking "Wow, I can actually run!" Well, when I got home and tried running in our flat neighborhood I realized that I was duped. Running in real life was way harder than on a treadmill, and I never ran again (until our 5K challenge, that is).
So when we headed to Connecticut over Memorial Day weekend to visit some of our relatives, I was REALLY looking forward to working out on the hotel's treadmill. After a few weeks of running outside, the treadmill was going to be an easy break!
Wrong.
I don't even know where to begin – the treadmill is to running as the rowing machine is to actually rowing a boat. At least that's what I'm guessing. I've never actually rowed a boat, unless you count paddling a canoe. And I can tell you that the rowing machine is NOTHING like that.
Anyway, the biggest problem was getting a good stride length. In real life that's easy…I just adjust my stride and the speed follows. But I had to keep fiddling with the treadmill, both speed and incline. I finally found something that was pretty good for my knees, but it was slower (5.9 mph, 3% incline) than I run in real life. Yet at the same time, it felt much more difficult than "real" running did.
Then, like with running, I couldn't keep that pace for 30 minutes. Unfortunately there was no interval circuit that had just a short walk break, so to prevent it from being too easy I made the long walk breaks 4.4 mph at 5% incline. In the end it said I went about 2.75 miles in 35 minutes and I felt like I got a good workout, but it didn't feel anything like really running. And it was way more boring, even though I got to watch some WSOP on the built-in TV. You've got to love ESPN Classic at 5:30am.
So what the heck is my point? I missed running outside, so today I ran. And you know what? Despite the rain (downpour doesn't begin to describe it…I was drenched in less than 10 seconds), despite being really tired because I'm short on sleep, I really hated it less than I hated the treadmill loved it. I did 5K in 30:01, so close, so close to 30! Maybe there's something to changing things up after all!
- Bill
The 30 minute 5K is impressive. Your walk section must be smokin’ and 5.9 is great.
I have a pretty short stride, so I end up averaging about 5.7 or so on the treadmill. And I know I’m slower on the street. I’d love to see how I do on a fairly flat terrain as I run up a HUGE hill to start my run and it kills me.
Among the many reasons I like my treadmill
- It’s in my house so I can squeeze in my workout anytime I have the spare 45 minutes to an hour
- I can catchup on reading
- It’s the only place I get to watch TV in peace
- I don’t have to worry about getting home again if I overdo it in the first half of the workout
I agree that treadmills are a different beast. I love my treadmill for evening workouts (when I wouldn’t feel safe outside) and experimenting with different speeds or intervals, and it’s nice to watch tv while running. I also enjoy not thinking so much about my pace – just ticking over my legs as the machine moves at a constant speed.
Yesterday’s running epiphany (when I finally got my sub-30 time by 6 whole seconds) was that I run a lot better without headphones and music. It’s far too easy to match my pace to the music, and that either can slow me down or tire me out depending on the song selections. I figure it’s the same with the treadmill vs. outside – the electronics make a run go by more painlessly, but it’s more satisfying to run with a natural pace and natural stride instead of conforming to what the electronics want.
I definitely get the convenience of a treadmill, although I was (surprisingly) not a fan of watching TV while I was doing it. I ended up splitting my concentration between TV and my running, so I had to just turn it off. And as great as it sounds, watching myself in the mirror just wasn’t that exciting. *laugh*
I am so with you. I HATE treadmills. I think they are WAY harder than running outside. I can’t run on them. I’d rather run 500 laps around my living room than run on a treadmill!
I like my treadmill because I can pace myself easily. I have a harder time pacing myself outside. I know that I can run for half an hour at 4.5 mph, 1% incline on a treadmill, but psychologically, outside, I tell myself that I look silly, that I’m wheezing too much, and I end up quitting. To me, a treadmill grants consistency and privacy, two things I particularly like.
Yeah, I know I run faster on a treadmill for sure. But I can’t read or even watch tv when running. Walking, I can do whatever.
I will say that this will be my last week with music. I do think that it might slow me down.
However, I am going to need a watch or something so I know what I’m doing time wise.
Got the watch, signed up for the 5k. I’m ready to go. I’m doing 18 min. today. The longest I’ve done is 20. I’m already getting nervous though and my race isn’t until June 20.
Great job Vicky! Don’t worry, June 20th is a long ways off. Well, it seems that way now.