I have a love/hate relationship with dreadmills treadmills.
Loves:
- Can use anytime the gym is open, regardless weather
- Complete control over pace
- Watch TV while working out
- Safer before light/after dark
Hates:
- Boooooooooooooooooooring!
Working during all the daylight hours requires me to hit the gym on occasion. My options are: treadmill or don’t run at all. I chose the former.
Today’s workout was a tempo run. I found that this is the MOST boring workout known to mankind that you could ever do on the treadmill. It usually involves holding a slightly uncomfortable pace for a decent amount of miles. Speed intervals go by quickly because you are constantly changing the pace and it seems to fly by. Easy runs are usually short, and I can watch tv or be otherwise engaged. Treadmill tempo runs are brutal.
I completed my 5.0 mile tempo run at a 9:13 min/mile pace, or 6.5 mph on the treadmill. I found it really hard to start running at this pace, but toward the end it got easier. My natural tendency towards negative splits (getting progressively faster) makes it weird to hold a constant pace for that long.
I think I may save tempo runs for the great outdoors if at all possible. 🙂
I’ve been meaning to blog about the October grocery budget challenge but I keep forgetting. It’s going pretty well, but I’m finding that I’m eating a TON of pasta. I guess it’s no big deal since I pretty much crave it after any tough run (and those have been more frequent lately.)
I try to switch it up, but lately my go-to has been spaghetti-chicken-broccoli-alfredo. It’s exactly what the name says.
For a jarred sauce, this stuff is pretty damn good.
Do you prefer to workout in a gym or outside? I’m an outdoor girl!
❤ MegaNerd
MegaNerdRuns 
I also always am afraid I’m going to fall off the treadmill! I get really dizzy…am I the only one?
I’d much rather run outside! And I hate strength training. I’m not a gym person. However, I’m starting to think I’m going to have to run inside this winter (I’m in New York State). I ran outside a lot last winter, but it SUCKS. But so does the treadmill. Hmm.
I try to avoid the treadmill at all cost – unless I don’t have a choice (which is coming soon because of winter). Last night’s run is the perfect example of just how seriously I take this – ran 3 + mi up and down my street in complete darkness while raining with a flashlight.
A friend recommended a head lamp for nighttime running while the weather is still decent. Figure if I get one and a safe path …I could be outside for a while longer.
The only reason I like treadmills is because I am a huge baby when it comes to running in the cold or rain. I like how reliable the treadmill workout can be.
I’m a huge baby for cold/rain too… or heat. 🙂
I either run outside or elliptical inside. I try to avoid the treadmill at all costs. Unless I’m doing a quick speed workout..but no more than 3 miles!
Treadmills can be hard, I agree! But since I like in Indiana, they’re necessary in the winter. I like to do sprint repeats to change it up – keeps me from getting bored. Or hill repeats. Just running at a consistent pace without going anywhere drives me nuts!!
I have so rarely used the treadmill in the last year, that my tolerance for them is completely gone. I used to be able to run on one for an hour, but I don’t think I have the patience/discipline anymore!
I used to prefer the treadmill, but after i started running further distances outside I hate the treadmill. It’s incredibly boring, I can’t take my dog with me, and I feel like it’s a lot harder even though I’m generally going slower.
I did a 5 mile tempo run on the treadmill yesterday too and it was HARD! I love the treadmill for speed runs, but that’s about it. Last winter when I was training for my first 1/2 marathon (& it was my first winter running) I used to do LONG runs on the treadmill… up to 10 miles! Now for the life of me I don’t know how I did that!
But I don’t know..I do like the “convenience” of the treadmill, just not how boring it gets!
I hate the treadmill too! Mainly because it’s about a thousand degrees in the gym at my apartment complex. I’m not sure they’ve heard of putting A.C. in there. I’d much rather just run outside in the dark at that point.
I prefer indoor! I just wrote a blog post about this….I went hiking with my boyfriend who doesn’t work out indoors and although I think I’m fairly in shape, he was way ahead of me!
Also- I just made polenta (made from corn meal), which is a great pasta substitute from scratch and it has made me like 5 or 6 meals. You should look into it, as it’s cheap and it’s not pasta 🙂
Interesting! I’ll have to look into it. 🙂
Combine pasta and alfredo sauce and i’m GOOD! But I looooove pasta in general..
As I’m getting back into running again after a looong break from it, ,I think I prefer the treadmill right now to ease back into it. It’s easier to do the 1%-2% incline and not the hills that I have around me… it also forces me to keep moving. I’m too easily distracted running outdoors, but I do love it. Maybe by the time spring rolls around again, I’ll be able to hit the trails again.
I try to only use the treadmill for speed sessions, but it is SO DARK now before and after work! I’m going to see if I can handle running in the dark because long training runs on the treadmill bloowwww
I’m with you. I hate the treadmill. When DC got blasted with snow last year it was totally unsafe to run outside and I had to do a long run on the dreaded ‘mill for my marathon training. Worst. Workout. Ever. Major props to you for getting through the tempo!
I have the same love/hate relationship with the treadmill too! I can’t imagine doing tempo runs on there. YOU ARE MY HERO! I could only make it 2 miles last week…boring!
I love running outside but definitely don’t mind doing the ‘mill. I have one in my house and can make it interesting by listening to music and such. It’s so convenient.