The good news is that my knee is feeling better, not 100%, but tolerable to run on it now. So I was able to get back into my Disney Dopey Challenge training this week. It culminated with a weekend of 4, 9, & 19 mile runs on Fri, Sat, Sun.
The bad news is that we got totally iced over this weekend. Everything has a layer of ice. Everything. No snow, all ice. So I wasn’t able to run outside. I had to do the 32 total miles all on treadmills.
All that white stuff looks like fun snow, but is actually pure evil ice.
I don’t know how you treadmill runners do it. I was so bored, I was this close to offing myself.
I set the pace at just under my target marathon pace (around 8:50 per mile), and went to town. So it took me around 3 hours to finish the 19 miles. That’s a long time to run on the hamster wheel.
I never run with music, but thought it would help with the treadmill boredom. Problem is that when I plugged them in, they kept getting some sort of electric feed from the treadmill that sent a shocks into my ears. I didn’t feel like getting shocked in my ears for 3 hours straight, so I took them off.
And to make it worse, the gym’s TV’s went out with an hour to go. So I really had nothing to listen to or look at while I ran. It was pure mental torture.
Sunday’s miles.
On a side note, after this experience, I really don’t think training on a treadmill is good for you. It’s not like normal running at all – no turns, no real hills, no real speed changes (I know you can “simulate” the last two, but it’s not quite the same). Plus, since the treadmill is moving, I believe it’s basically doing some of the work for you because you don’t have to use the energy to propel yourself forward. That is why they say you should set it to an incline of at least 1 to better simulate outdoor running. So that’s what I did – yup, the 3 hours of running was all uphill at a perfectly constant pace. Also, my chiropractor said I was way out of alignment, and in spots that I’m normally not after outdoor running (like the inside of my knees) – I’m blaming it on the ‘mill.
The good news is that I was still able to get the miles on my feet. And I know that I can run that long without stopping once at what is supposed to be my goal marathon pace.
Here’s hoping the ice melts soon because not only was my vehicle slipping and sliding on the way to the gym, but never want to run on a treadmill again! (No offense to those of you who do – I know some don’t have an option and some even enjoy the treadmill)
How bout you? What’s the furthest you’ve ever gone on the treadmill? How would your brain react to running in place for 3 hours with no TV, music, etc. (mine was fried)?
Piratebobcat 