A confession: I have made multiple jokes when looking at the windows of a fitness center and seeing a row of people running on treadmills. Come on...it looks ridiculous. A bunch of people running in place, staring out of a big window...they look like hamsters in a cage, running on those wheels. It is funny and quite strange.
Yet, I admit that I have spent my fair share of time on one of those things. In New Mexico, it is more convenient for me to drive to the gym at 5:30AM in the dark and run on a treadmill before work than to run in daylight immediately after work. Unfortunately, I hated it. Ever since, I have dreaded the tread[ed]mill. Let's all say it together: Teadmills are BORING!
BUT, just recently, I starting running on a treadmill, again, and it has been a different experience. Instead of just putting in my requisite miles at a comfortable jogging pace, I am using the treadmill to push myself. When running outside, I tend to find a comfortable pace, and then I stick with it the best I can. This is nice, but I'd like to progress in some way; I'd like to get faster. Using the treadmill's ability to establish my pace for me, I can push myself beyond my typical comfort zone, yet at the same time, not push myself too hard so I burn out, which I have a tendency to do when I try to push myself while running outside. Doing intervals on the treadmill has also been a revelation because I can really control the speeds I use. Consequently, this new apporach has made the treadmill more of training tool for me, rather than a torture device. It is still rather boring, but at least I feel like the boredom is getting me somewhere. Hamsters unite!!!
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