W9 R1 and treadmill dilemmas!! Yikes!!

[JanB76]

Sunday afternoon, it’s 31 degs outside, so guess who decides that this would be the ideal time for a 30 min run??

Me!! In the comfort of a well air conditioned gym 😂😂😂!!

This is the first time I’ve run properly on a treadmill and I’ve got to be honest, I don’t know that I liked it. My usual route is along the prom along the North Wales coast where I live, but on holiday this week in Devon where it’s a few degrees warmer than when we left North Wales yesterday so I knew there’d be no way I’d be running outside as usual. And as the site has had a snazzy new fitness suite built, well I thought it’d be rude if I at least didn’t stick my nose around the door to see what facilities where on offer!! Loads of empty running machines all looking sleek and shiny, beckoning me over to have a look. What the heck, I’m not going to run outside in this heat so decide to give it a go.

First issue was pace!! I usually just run and let my body work out the rest but instead I had all these numbers blinking back at me and I really couldn’t get to grips with what my usual pace would have been. I know I started too fast because I could feel my heart racing, then I was too slow and I was almost running at the body of the machine as my feet were edging further and further forward. Think I eventually settled someone in the middle but it did put me off my stride so to speak.

Second issue, I kept losing my stride!! I felt like a bowling ball ricocheting down a lane that has the bumper bars up on each side!! Again I’ve never realised it before but I guess I don’t run in a straight line as I kept being conscious that I was either too far left or too far right. But I made it without falling out the side so that much was a bonus.

Third issue, I didn’t like being stuck in one spot!! I love the scenery back home having the beach, sea, setting sun as my backdrop but I just found looking out the window of the gym a bit, well, boring. I missed the changing views, seeing dogs chasing along the beach, or using other pedestrians as markers to reach during my runs. Don’t get me wrong, the view was very nice, it was just a bit samey!!

On a plus note, the gym was nicely air conditioned and if it hadn’t been for that then I probably wouldn’t have done the run. Run 2 & 3/graduation will also be on treadmill as I don’t think the heat will let up anytime soon, but really can’t wait for my first post grad run back along the prom back home 😀

[ccarter100]

I ran on the treadmill for the first four weeks. The blinking numbers are intimidating, so I just got a large folder to cover them up. I let Laura guide me. Although it was a bit boring, the treadmill helped me establish a good pace and breathing rhythm. Now I am outside and doing well. Treadmills have their place, but we can be proactive about managing them. LOL!

[JanB76 Graduate in reply to ccarter100]

Those numbers were driving me mad!! Can’t believe how much I was focusing on them, lol, crazy isn’t it?? I like your idea though of covering them up, might try that for tomorrow’s run xx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done you.. when we left Criccieth yesterday it was already 27 degrees!

You did the run and safely too, out of the heat.... and soon you will be able to pick your routes.... after Graduation x

[JanB76 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Yes, I’ve seen people jogging around the site at all times during the day here and all that pops into my head is “nutters!” 🤣🤣🤣.

The gym here is my temporary solution xx

[BellaJ Graduate]

Hi - so agree with you . I've also been running on the treadmill these last few weeks but miss the outdoors and the scenery as I run down the country lanes where I live. Running alongside the ocean sounds fantastic - lucky you !!

[JanB76 Graduate in reply to BellaJ]

It’s weird, I hadn’t realised how much I loved my running in the outdoor environment, to the point I find it even stranger when people say they’ve never run outdoors, but I suppose it’s just what we’re used to.