Well I take my hat off to all of you who run on running machines! (I mean no disrespect to anyone who choses and/or has to use one as I have greatest respect for you all and believe me when I make these comments my tongue is so firmly in my cheek I have bitten it).But today was to be my last run on the beautiful island of Madeira and I had imagined running the testing levadas as the sun rose; listening to the goats, cockerels, dogs and birds and admiring the abilty of the natives to grow food and plants in the most challenging of vacant land.
But then yesterday afternoon the good weather broke and the pleasant sun was replaced by rain which has been on and off constantly (strange combination of words).
I got up at the crack of dawn and I can see everything is very wet. Now running the tracks of these levadas that I've been running needs a lot of concentration with the possibility of severe consequences if misjudged, so I declined the siren calls they were sending me.
Just in case the levadas weren't suitable for my running I had investigated the possibility of the running machine in the gym on site, and they have certainly changed since I was younger.
I wanted to run so I thought why not; I now have, in hindsight several reasons why not.
1. How do you turn it on? I had to ask a member of the waiting staff who duly showed me. Well who'd of thought to look there.
2. How do you get it moving? Quick Start? Yes it bl**** was
3. Is 6.5kmh the same as a 6.30 splits? No it's not.
4. Why have they got places to hang on? Because your old and will fall off.
I settled into a 5 minute warm up walk at around 4kmh, then ran at 7kmh. Then the urge to play took over, let's have a go at 8kmh, then 10kmh, then alternating. Then I noticed the 10kmh was getting harder. Then I noticed there were 5 bars in the bottom corner that weren't there before, maybe they're the splits? Oh but I've only done 3k.
Yes you guessed it I'd inadvertently been turning up the incline button whilst holding on for grim death.
BUT, and this is a big but(anyone recognise the reference), the disappointment of the view throughout my 2 lots of 5min walks and my 25min run (3.66km total distance) 😂😂
AND it is a horrible feeling when you stop, or you think you've stopped and nearly jump into the mirror because you think you are going backwards 😂 😂
Written by
OldManRunning
Graduate10
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Thanks for giving me a laugh OldManRunning , and kudos to you for running on a machine. That's something I've never tried and have absolutely no desire to attempt.
Here's a chart that enables you to see how pace (minutes per km or mile) and speed (km or miles per hour) compare - depicus.com/swim-bike-run/p...
I've never run on a treadmill myself, but would not be averse to giving it a go sometime. I did do brisk walks on the treadmills at a local gym but I prefer to run past the gym rather than go in it at the moment.
well done on your run on running machine, I always end near the back and just about slip off. I would nt run on the levadas either I case I slipped or ended over the side. Some of the levadas are pretty scary and high. Going to Madeira at Xmas and new year. I probably end up in the gym in the mornings as early riser or if raining.
On this forum they don't call a treadmill a dreadmill for nothing, like anything else you will get used to running on it, once you have mastered on to use a treadmill you will love running on it instead of outside, especially now that winter has arrived.
I loved the good humour that came across in your post. I think many of us have had that sort of experience on a treadmill!
I’m not a lover of a them but treadmills can definitely have a useful role if you wanted to persevere. I’m sure, like any new tech, once you get used to it, you’d get on much better.
This was hilarious reading (sorry) 🙈😆 I can just picture your whole run on the treadmill starting with faffing looking for the start button to running an incline without realising, well you did better than I would, I wouldn’t have a clue where to start. But well done on getting your run in. 👍🏻
They can take some getting use too. First time on one I ran for about 20mins stepped off at the end and the world span round in front of me. Nearly needed up on my ass.
Two days ago I ran a half marathon on one, it was mind numbing dullsville, however one thing they are good at is recovering from a knee injury, a lot less impact on the knees than the road. Still dull though.
I have the same issue with calculating pace, The treadmill is use is in miles and I run in kilometres, so I never really know what pace I’m doing. I rely on my effort and the watch (once I calibrated it).
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