Less Pre-run Faff = More Post Run Problems

[Razouski]

Yesterday I fully intended to be running with Laura and her Speed Podcast in my local park, but having looked out of the window first thing, with the ice still thick on the paths and pavements, any hint of motivation I might have had simply flew out of it. The thought of trying to up my pace on a slippy slide surface was not one I wanted to entertain. My excuse was that as I am meant to be dancing the Conga 💃🏾 at a show at the Barbican on Saturday, I needed to minimise the risks to my big dancing debut! 😂

However, having not run since last Wednesday I started to feel guilty... a workout at the gym would have to suffice. Or would it..?

Setting off for the gym always seems so much more straight forward than some of my more faffed up attempts at getting ready to run, and I even remembered to wear my running shoes instead of my gym trainers (which fortunately were relatively cleanish). By the time I'd arrived at the gym my mind was made up, I would attempt to run 5km on the dreaded treadmill. I haven't run on the dreadmill since last September (first time round doing C25K when after that I got the bug for running outside) so to say I wasn't looking forward to it was putting it mildly.

But I went straight to the machine, started it walking around 8 min/km and made sure I had some good tunes in my ear to keep me on the straight and narrow. The first 5 minutes went passed in real time, then I ramped the machine up to a faster running pace than I would usually do; 5.10min/km had seemed like a good idea, as I didn't feel I could faff with the machine to time Laura's intervals. However it was then that I slipped through a cyber hole into a different time/space dimension.

Although my little legs were moving fast, the seconds showing time elapsed started to slow down. The distance display was positively stuck, and it seemed that I was burning no calories at all. After what seemed an age I began to wonder if the panel was broken, it surely couldn't be right! This was going to be a long run, and started to wonder how those of you who run on treadmills regularly manage it. I was missing the sights and scenes of my outdoors runs.

At last (after what the machine told me was 5 minutes of running) I decided to stop looking at the screen and focus on things around me, and this seemed to help a little. But I couldn't help every so often looking down to check how far I'd gone (I was missing MapMyRun letting me know when I'd completed each km). Each time I looked the disappointment came crashing back, I hadn't actually gone as far as I'd hoped. And the temptation just to stop, get off and do some other exercise was compelling. It would be so much easier just to stop whereas when I'm outside and feel like stopping the fact that I'm far from home (or the car) spurs me on, as I know I have to get back. But somehow I got to 4km before easing up on myself with a 5.20 pace, then 5.25, then 5.30... 5.40... And somehow I managed to convince my legs and lungs to keep going until the 5km mark.

As I slowed the pace back down to 8min/km I re-entered real time and was able to complete the 5 minute walk easily, before going on to complete my usual gym work out.

It was only after I retreated to the changing rooms that I became aware of the impact of the lack of faff.

1) Undressed and ready to shower I discover that however many times I look in my locker and gym bag I will not find a towel lurking there. So I put my gym clothes back on (yuck ☹️) and slunk off to reception to hire a towel at some exorbitant price.

2) In the shower 🚿 with hair wet, I find there is no shampoo in my wash bag, and only the smallest smear of conditioner. So the Lux body wash provided by Duncan (Mr Bannatyne to you and me) would have to double up, and my little finger was plunged into the mainly empty bottle of conditioner an attempt to give my hair some kind of treatment.

3) Towelled dry with the piece of cardboard I'd hired mistaking it for a towel, I was ready to get dressed... and guess what else I'd forgotten..? What a dilemma... put back on post run/workout undies (even if they were M&S finest when they came out of my nicker drawer, they weren't anymore) or go commando? Aargh! After throwing every item out of my bag, I resigned myself to the latter and just hoped I didn't get run over by a bus on my way home. 🚌 ("What would they think?" I could hear my mother's voice in my head.)

And if that wasn't enough, by the time I got outside the gym the temperature had risen, the ice was melting and it was raining too. If I'd have spent some time faffing before setting out I might have avoided running indoors completely, as well as the post run problems. 😂😂😂

[pollyp1 Graduate]

At least you tried! Hopefully you'll be back outside again soon. I held my breath when it started snowing again last night but it doesn't seem to have made much difference. I'm going to investigate cleats (?) - I've only been running 3 times a week for about a month but have really missed it, having only managed to get out once this past week. Who'd have thought.

[Razouski in reply to pollyp1]

If I had waited a couple of hours I could have run outside quite safely.

I know, It's strange how once you get into the habit you really start to miss it when you can't run. I still find it quite hard to believe even a year on from graduation!

[misswobble Graduate]

Oh duck I feel your pain. What a to-do. We drive ourselves mad don’t we. 😁

Hopefully this rotten ice and snow will bog off and we can crack on

Having said that I did turn out late last night but it was still icy and it started chucking it down with snow ❄️

[Razouski in reply to misswobble]

I know. Last year over the winter I didn't have to run indoors at all, so it did feel wrong, but at least I proved I can do it, if only for 5km. You were good to brave the elements last night. Well done misswobble .

[VictoriaRuns Graduate]

Oh I loved this post! As a gym bunny, I whole-heartedly empathise. Especially since last week someone actually stole my towel (why?!?!?) and my gym do not rent them. Luckily I noticed before I had stripped off, and wiggled off to the tesco about a mile away to go buy one whilst texting my very amused manager to explain why I would be late.

Still, you did it! And weather permitting, you need never do it again... any time soon anyway.

[Razouski in reply to VictoriaRuns]

OMG, who would steal a towel..?

Oh I probably would have done yesterday if there had been one lying around. 😂😂😂

(Or I might have borrowed it, rather than stolen it completely lol)

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Ha ha...fab post Razouski ...I have thought, when it’s icy, maybe I should go on the treadmill at the gym, I am one of those millions of people who signed up to a membership but no way do I use it often enough to justify paying it but it’s one of those ‘I might need it one day’ decisions, like an old Jumper hanging at the back of the wardrobe that you know dam well you’ll never wear again but don’t get rid of it ‘just in case’ ....I have NEVER run on a treadmill, walked yes...as part of my programme...whilst watching Jeremy Kyle on the screen & thanking god that my life is ‘normal’ ....I know what you mean about faffage though..sometimes it takes yonks to get everything switched on, plugged in, pulled up & tightened up but the weather can change in just half an hour some days so I have decided that if it’s too icy to run in the morning I will wait until the day has warmed up a bit & the ice has gone...I have that luxury though, I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t!!! I think your post gym faffage has made my mind up...going commando in this cold makes my toes curl...!!!! Well done for getting there faffage & all xx