On to this treadmill thing-Amanda over at Runninghood and I went back and forth last week about having a contest centered around treadmill running (check out her blog if you haven't yet-she's quite the runner and an engaging writer). What started as a joke is now for real and three 24 oz. PowerBar bottles full of nutritional awesomeness are up for grabs for those who have the most epic/creative, etc., etc. treadmill workouts. Here's the scoop:
From today through next Sunday, post your best 'mill-dwelling stuff via comment or message via Facebook:
1. Most challenging workout-overall difficulty, not just distance. Be creative, but remember to keep it safe and sane!
2. Most motivating playlist-you'll definitely be asked to post and share!
3. ...and for the most coveted prize"Craziest stream of consciousness while running on a belt award" -what do you think about or not think about while belt surfing.
From a psychological perspective, I believe the treadmill not only helps with running cadence and consistency of leg turnover, but it helps build mental toughness especially for long races, where being in "no man's land" is a possibility. If nothing else, you get a good, safe workout in. I'm not sure about what research backs these ideas up, but it may be worth checking out.
Winners announced two weeks from today. Let's have some fun with this!
Stay the course. Even if it doesn't actually go anywhere!
10 comments:
I am the wimpiest TM runner. 4 miles is my max.
Here is what I do to get through.
1) change incline every .25.
2) change pace every .10.
3) people watch.
4) try to read other people's paces and make up stories about what kind of runners they are, etc.
I've done 15 :) During marathon training, I would do as many of my runs on the treadmill at Naptime to save free time for family time. 15 was my limit! I've got to have tv or music, but I also had a three year old who doesn't believe in naps to entertain me(and vice versa). Try watching Dora while finishing the last few... Boring!
I got through 18 miles yesterday on the treadmill, tied for my longest run on one. I broke it into segments of 6, 6.75, 1.25, and 4. It actually helped to keep an eye on my progress so I would drink water every two miles consistently. Without any sports to watch, I turned to music, mostly Slash's album and Guns N Roses. According to my wife, I even started singing in the middle of the gym. I love watching other people start after me and finish before me!
Okay, so stream of consciousness...nothing exciting: "Okay, you've got this Amanda. Maybe you should go faster than 7.0. Okay, 7.5 is a good pace to settle on. Why the heck do people get so much nose hair? Am I the only woman that gets long nose hairs? Damn this feels faster than an 8:00 mile!! Maybe I should just put the incline back to 1.0 or 0. Ahhhh, I've only gone a half lap! This stupid internet isn't working. Okay, Amanda Focus on your goals. *step off for a minute and hold the sides* What are you doing?! That's cheating! Nobody likes a cheater...don't cheat! Okay, Boston has lots of downhills so let's make the incline go down... Man my butt is going to look good after all this running. Think summer Amanda. Bikini season. Okay, for every mile you get to ring the bell. This is fun. Right? It can be fun. Mile 1 Ding Ding Ding...4 laps til the next ding..... Oh crap, is that my kid screaming?! I still have 2 miles to go. I wonder if he'll go back to sleep. 2 more laps. How much t.v should I allow today? Is a 7:30 pace for Boston realistic. 7:20?...." Okay SO LAME stream of consciousness but that is kind of how it goes.
Well, I finished an 85 mile week completely on the treadmill in early March. That has to count for something? I have done lots of long runs (even a 23 miler in 3:08). the toughest workout I did though was an 8 mile warm up, then 5x800 in 2:53, with only 90 second rest intervals, one mile cool down. I almost died. :)
My treadmill is such a blessing to me. I just used it to train for my last half marathon. I was only able to run outside a few times, the rest of my training was on the treadmill. I actually had one of the best races ever after that training, not sure it was from training on the treadmill or not.
My most recent treadmill long, difficult workout, 10 mile run, fell on my ten year marriage anniversary so I decided to label it anniversary miles. Every mile I would really dig deep and think about everything that happened that year. The good years I would run nice and comfortable, and the really tough years, not so good ones(every marriage has them from time to time), I would try to run that mile or miles as fast as I could. This run was a great workout and the time actually went by very quickly, and I was able to remember tons of memories that I hadn't thought of for some time.
Most Challenging Workout
1. Set treadmill incline to 1 percent.
2. Program random time and speed intervals of alternating fast and slow periods.
3. Turn off all audible signals from the treadmill
4. Cover the Dashboard display with a towel
5. Begin workout
I suspect this would be a difficult workout to stay on top of the treadmill.
Full disclosure: I have not ran on a treadmill in YEARS. Though, not that I am pre-disposed against them, I just have not run on a treadmill in years.
The longest run I can remember on the treadmill is 13 but it could have been more, I just might have lost consciousness after 14...
I usually play games to get me through t/m training. I get bored if I try to maintain an even pace so I'll go 1200 meters then increase the speed. The next mile, I'll increase the speed every 400 meters. I don't play with the incline much because it's hilly where we live.
I either begin my runs on the mill and finish outside with 3 - 4 miles OR, go for a long run outside and finish fast on the treadmill with 2 - 6 miles.
It breaks it up.
This just sounds like a torture test to me! I am with AM on it. I have a 5 mile max!!
My TM has a knob, a shredding belt and is generally unsafe. To boot, it sounds like a clothes washer that is off balance.
Best wishes to the contest entrants :) I will enjoy seeing the results.
When I was trained my the famous Nate Jenkins, I did an 18 miler on a WEDNESDAY! I was coaching track at the time, and had to wake up at 2:00 to run the 18 mile WORKOUT! I had some MP miles in there, too! It was crazy. I think I watched a few episodes of Law & Order, and tried not to throw myself onto the moving belt. TORTURE!!!!!!
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