(Edit: Written on the 3rd, posted on the 4th)
Today I headed to the Y bright and early with the young ones. I couldn’t make it out of bed at 5 and slept until 6:15, which was too late to get in a good 4 to 5 miler, abs and arms workout before the kids woke up.
I am not one to get overly excited about a treadmill workout. This is my third or fourth since joining the gym and I’ve noticed a few things:
- I get bored quickly and easily when running inside
- I run too fast too soon when running inside
- I burn out quickly . . . when running inside
I’m happy to report that today’s run was totally different. My plans: 4 miles. The end result: 5! And, I have to say, they were perfect! I started out at a good pace, then cranked it up the last few miles and finished strong. I also did ab and arm work in the weight room after the run.
I’m glad to see that the dreaded treadmill doesn’t have to be dreaded. The workout was so good I realized that it’s probably a great thing to mix up running outside and inside. Inside I can work on my pace better, because I am focused on the machine and what it says. Outside, though I have a Garmin on and I can see my pace and time, I tend to ‘drift’ mentally.
I like both of these – drifting and focusing – and I’m guessing that mixing workouts up this way is a great way to become stronger on runs.
There are times we need to drift, particularly on longer runs when we have nothing but time on our hands, or, well, our feet!
There are times we need to focus, like when we are racing. I also believe the treadmill can be a great way to condition the body. It shows us how to run a certain pace for a certain length of time. Outside we run varying speeds throughout the run – on a treadmill, you run what it is moving or you fall off, end of story.
If you aren’t mixing up your workouts between indoor and outdoor running, maybe you should try it out. If you dread the treadmill – try it a few times and see if you don’t find a bit of enjoyment in the different way it makes the body feel during a run.
It’s only ‘dreaded’ if you make it so! It’s all about having a positive attitude.
Where is the better, outdoor or indoor exercise?
I enjoy outside exercise more, but I’ve found I do faster work on the treadmill. I also do faster work in the afternoon but prefer going in the early morning hours, so go figure!! Like Stuart says, it’s what you make it, I believe.