I have a love/hate relationship with the treadmill. I love the results. I love not having to run in 8 degree weather or packed snow, but I hate feeling like a hamster in a wheel. I hate how much I sweat. I hate staring out the same window at the same boring parking lot for hours at a time.
So I play mind games to get through the workouts. Today was no exception. The first game I play is to see how far I can get before I start sweating profusely. Can I make it a mile? More? Today's distance was officially 1.14 miles. After that, you don't want to run near me (or else you should wear a poncho).
Game 2 is the "how fast can I get" game, where I bump up the speed a little bit each quarter mile. At Mile 2, I was running easily at a 7.0 (8:34 mile) pace. Then I bumped to 7.1. At 2.25 miles, it's 7.2. 2.5 = 7.3. And so on until I get to a pace where I feel like I'm working to hard to keep going up or I get bored.
Game 3 started today. At about 3.5 miles I was getting bored with Game 2, so I thought about my previous blog. In that entry, I mentioned being able to run a consistent seven-minute mile. Could I still bring it? At mile 4, I pushed the machine to 8.5 (7:03 mile) and held on. At 4.5 miles I was feeling pretty winded. By 4.75 miles, I didn't know if I'd make it—that "speed down" button looked awfully tantalizing. 4.9...4.91. I started counting my steps between hundredths of a mile. There were 10 between increments. 4.92 (10 steps) 4.93 (10 steps) 4.94 (10 steps)...the sweat was getting thick...4.95...I wanted to hit my iPod to play my favorite pump-up song, but my arms couldn't get there...4.96...4.97...Almost there...4.98...4.99...
And I made it! A seven-minute mile. It was official. Take that, 25-year-old me. I could still bring it. Well, once anyway.
I still have no idea how I used to do that consistently mile after mile.
No matter. There will be more time to figure out if I can do it more than once. After all, there are more treadmill games to play before this winter is over.
Happy running.
You don't know Jack, but you should.
11 months ago
It's funny to hear a guy talk about sweating profusely on the treadmill. When I used to work out at the Wichita Y, there was always one guy I dreaded being stuck next to - I called him Sweaty McSweaterson, and needing a poncho to be next to him sounds about right!
ReplyDeleteNice work on the seven minute mile. You rule!
I have adopted some of your treadmill games. Yesterday I played the "How long until I sweat profusely" game...For the record, it was about 1.4 miles. Way to go on the impressive 7 minute mile, btw.
ReplyDelete-Mitzi