Treadmill vs Outdoor Running
As the fall air sets in and it becomes more and more difficult to see in the darkness of the morning, I am forced to start thinking about when it is time to become friends with the treadmill once again.
I am not the biggest fan of running in the cold, elevated air. When I was a kid running cross-country, it never bothered me. I was the one without the undershirt or spandex on underneath my uniform; all I needed was someone to have my warm up gear at the finish line so I wouldn’t get cold when I was done.
Now that I’m older, it doesn’t work like that for me! I don’t want to be out in the cold. I don’t like breathing that cold air; especially when I cannot see either. My runs take place at 5:00 in the morning.
Though it is brutally dark in the mornings, I am continuing outside because the temperature is still perfect and I am still in training. I know that after training is over and we get closer and closer to the end of consistent nice weather, that I will stop enjoying being outside for my runs. I will be forced to befriend the go nowhere treadmill.
I don’t fully hate the treadmill. It’s been good to me over the winters. I get pretty quick during my treadmill training and then slow down when it is time to get back outside. I force myself to stay at the pace I want to be at when I am on a treadmill. I constantly watch the numbers and do the math and calculate where I should be and make sure I make it. When I run outside, I just enjoy my runs.
That is the fight for me. I enjoy the during of my runs when I get to be outside but, when I get back and check my times, I am not so happy sometimes. I’ve gotten to the point that I don’t run for speed outside and don’t even realize it. I just go and whatever happens, happens; until I get back and am disappointed. On the treadmill, though, I am not ‘enjoying’ as much of the during, but when I am done and see what I was able to accomplish, I feel better. It’s been a constant battle for me for a very long time.
Freedom vs finish time. I don’t compete very often anymore and when I do, it is just at the fun runs that I have time for. So then, who cares what my time is. But, I compete against myself. I know what I am capable of and like to prove that to myself now and again, for me. Maybe I’ll make a point of getting to a certain time on my treadmill this winter and really push myself next running season to see if I can keep it up while enjoying it. Challenge on!
First, I have to finish my marathon training (and my marathon!)!
As the fall air sets in and it becomes more and more difficult to see in the darkness of the morning, I am forced to start thinking about when it is time to become friends with the treadmill once again.
I am not the biggest fan of running in the cold, elevated air. When I was a kid running cross-country, it never bothered me. I was the one without the undershirt or spandex on underneath my uniform; all I needed was someone to have my warm up gear at the finish line so I wouldn’t get cold when I was done.
Now that I’m older, it doesn’t work like that for me! I don’t want to be out in the cold. I don’t like breathing that cold air; especially when I cannot see either. My runs take place at 5:00 in the morning.
Though it is brutally dark in the mornings, I am continuing outside because the temperature is still perfect and I am still in training. I know that after training is over and we get closer and closer to the end of consistent nice weather, that I will stop enjoying being outside for my runs. I will be forced to befriend the go nowhere treadmill.
I don’t fully hate the treadmill. It’s been good to me over the winters. I get pretty quick during my treadmill training and then slow down when it is time to get back outside. I force myself to stay at the pace I want to be at when I am on a treadmill. I constantly watch the numbers and do the math and calculate where I should be and make sure I make it. When I run outside, I just enjoy my runs.
That is the fight for me. I enjoy the during of my runs when I get to be outside but, when I get back and check my times, I am not so happy sometimes. I’ve gotten to the point that I don’t run for speed outside and don’t even realize it. I just go and whatever happens, happens; until I get back and am disappointed. On the treadmill, though, I am not ‘enjoying’ as much of the during, but when I am done and see what I was able to accomplish, I feel better. It’s been a constant battle for me for a very long time.
Freedom vs finish time. I don’t compete very often anymore and when I do, it is just at the fun runs that I have time for. So then, who cares what my time is. But, I compete against myself. I know what I am capable of and like to prove that to myself now and again, for me. Maybe I’ll make a point of getting to a certain time on my treadmill this winter and really push myself next running season to see if I can keep it up while enjoying it. Challenge on!
First, I have to finish my marathon training (and my marathon!)!