Inside to outside...

[Saltdog]

Gutted! The only possible way I can describe my emotion after my first run outside. W7R1 and it’s the only one so far I’ve not managed to run for the whole time. At the same time though, it was my first run off the treadmill since I started.

Analyzing my run on my phone when I got back, it would appear I was running at a quicker pace outside.

Anyway, this has knocked my confidence a bit so I need to rethink my approach. Do I remain outside and go back a few weeks on the program or do I finish the last 3 weeks on the treadmill. Decisions, decisions......

[Buddy34 Graduate]

You can do what you please but you have been used to a treadmill which has a set pace but when you are outside you are setting the pace . Go as slow as possible you can get used to running outside it takes practice, up to you good luck😊

[Saltdog Graduate in reply to Buddy34]

Thanks Buddy. I think I’m ok. Was just disappointed right after it and was venting a bit. It may have been subconscious that I was trying not to go too slow due to passing strangers walking in the park. I’ll work on it.

[Irish-John Graduate]

I'm kinda the opposite

Because of horrendous weather and a rapidly approaching HM first attempt I only started treadmilling a week ago.

It's a different proceedure, that's for sure.

I think it's great aerobically but doesn't "prime" your legs quite so effectively for outside. My very personal and totally unscientific opinion is that three miles on a TM is equal to one mile outside.

Why not do this

Best of both worlds - graduate on the TM, then instead of feeling a bit "lost without the 5k programme" which hit most of us - just start running outside, taking it easy and listening to your body and then "double graduating" there

It's all about building stamina in the early days so you would be building very efficiently on the aerobic base - quite an advantage for later days if you then decided to do the 10k route

Wishing you many happy miles in your future

[Saltdog Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

I think you might be right John. On a treadmill I don’t feel I have to work to move myself forward. The motor is moving the ground underneath me effectively. It was definitely fatigue in my legs which held me back today. The main issue with graduating on a TM is my gym has a policy of restricting use of the cardio machines to 20 minutes. Makes me feel like I’m getting evils from the young employees when I’m on it for too long. I’ll decide how I feel on Saturday. Might try outside again first just to make sure I wasn’t just having a bad day in general.

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Saltdog]

Again, just a suggestion I would be hopeful that if you explained your quest to the gymn management and that you only need a very few "extensions" on the time needed they may be happy to come to some arrangement?

Anyhow - bear in mind that less than ten percent of us made graduation in 9 weeks or with 5k - in my case it was 14 or 15, and my absolute best ever 5k time is 33 and change

The Road - unlike the time on the TM - will always be there

Keep is posted - we might run in our own, but because of the Forum we never really run alone

[angelbetty Graduate]

Well done for getting out there! The choice is yours really as to how you complete, you could alternate?

I'm having visions of your brain doing the Hokey-Kokey...

Best of luck with your future runs! X

[Saltdog Graduate in reply to angelbetty]

Thank you Betty. Alternating may be the answer indeed. I don’t hate the treadmill like a lot of people and I have no option when I’m at work. I do want to get out more though.

[angelbetty Graduate in reply to Saltdog]

I understand that sometimes it can the only option. I don't very often have the option to go to the gym so I set my sights on my old nemesis of my youth - the local hill that I rode my bike up every day to deliver the morning papers. That's my goal and I realised today that I'm set to graduate on my birthday week!

Enjoy what you can. The right opportunity will present itself eventually xx

[tony_a Graduate]

Try not to be disappointed. Everyone has runs that go badly. I’ve been graduated for close to a year and I still have the occasional run where I set off way too fast and have to walk. It’s all about learning and you learn far more when things go wrong than when they go right 😀

Pacing yourself outside can be tricky at first but it does get easier the more you do it. And being outside opens up a whole new world of running with other people and exploring new routes. If you plan to run outside regularly why not stick to outside and just repeat that run, making a conscious effort to slow down (and then slow down some more)?

[Saltdog Graduate in reply to tony_a]

I think the other people outside were putting me off a little to be honest Tony. It’s just something I’ll have to get used to though. Just need to make that effort to improve my pace keeping.

[tony_a Graduate in reply to Saltdog]

I know what you mean. It’s easy to think they’re judging how fast your going etc. Usually they’re busy with their own lives and haven’t even noticed you 😀

[Maggers01 Graduate]

If you can stretch your budget to get a cheap or second hand running watch you might find it useful. Even the cheap ones can let you set a pace and it will bleep if you go too fast. Might ease the transition and stop you heading out too fast but not knowing that until you are home and review your route.

[Saltdog Graduate in reply to Maggers01]

I actually wear an Apple Watch Maggers so probably got that one covered. I’ll need to look in to apps which regulate my pace. I’ve been using a particular running playlist on Spotify which seemed to match my pace on the treadmill but while using it today I went faster so maybe it’s just my sense of rhythm which is lacking!! Lol.

[Katnap Graduate]

Do you have the dreadmill at an incline?

2 degrees is about equivalent to outside running. It might help you transition from indoor to outdoor running.

[Saltdog Graduate in reply to Katnap]

Hi Katnap. Yeah, I was running the treadmill at a 1 degree incline as that’s what a PT recommended to me years ago for that very reason. Maybe it should be 2 degrees though. Thanks.

[Saltdog Graduate]

Ok, after cooling down, calming down and washing down, I’ve decided on my strategy for next time. Firstly, I’m going to redo W7R1. I failed to complete it today so would feel like a fraud moving on. Secondly, I’m going to amend my route. I didn’t like running past so many people in the park. Got a great coastal route in mind. And finally, I’m going to see what I can do to reduce my pace slightly overall. May be something my watch can help with.

I feel more motivated again thankfully. I won’t let this beat me....

[portergirl99]

Good luck Saltdog!!! I know what you mean about running in the park. I run on the greenway by our house (slowly LOL) and any time I need to pass a walker it's horrid as I feel like I'm running up to them for forever....then next to them....then slowly pulling past them... //grin I feel like the entire process takes so long. I stress any time I turn a corner and see a walker ahead of me!!! Sounds as if you have a solid plan -- keep it up!! I'm just beginning Week 5 You go Week 7!!!!