W7R2, treadmill, lessons learnt.

Well I managed to complete W7R2. A couple of days later than planned, but better that than never.

I thought that as we've got snow a foot and a half - 2 foot deep in places, and blizzard conditions on & off, I would check out this new ladies only "gym" that's opened near us, to try running indoors on a treadmill so that at least I could get my runs in (much to my dogs disgust who usually runs with me, and she'd got all excited when she saw my running gear!).

When I say "gym" I use the term loosely, as it's basically a local tanning salon that's bought a few pieces of gym equipment and put them in a room upstairs.However, as it offers reasonably cheap payment per session (£4) or no contract monthly payments (£20 - £25) I thought it was worth a try.

My induction was basically, this is the on/off button, emergency stop, speed increase/decrease and that was about it. Anyway, I set off on W7R2 with Laura, then realised there was a timer on the machine which I could use so decided to listen to my own music and time myself with the 10 minute warm up walk, followed by 25 mins running.

Started off great. Warm up walk at 6.5km/hr followed by running at 8km/hr, incline of 1. This felt about the same pace I run at outside, but without the weather and the obstacles to avoid, and without the ups & downs of inclines/hills. Felt good and relaxed up to 15mins into the running, when I was starting to feel it and wonder if I was going to be able to keep going for 25mins. I think this was partly because I could see the timer and how long I'd been running, which never seemed to be as long as I felt sure I'd been running!

All of a sudden the treadmill came to an abrupt stop and I very nearly went face first into the control panel and then felt very dizzy with the sudden stop in effort & movement! It took me a few seconds to realise I'd managed to catch the emergency stop cord with my hand and I'd gone from 8km/hr to 0 instantly.

By the time this had filtered through my brain and I restarted I'd lost probably about 20-30 seconds, but it did give me chance to get enough energy to complete the final 10 mins of the run. unfortunately, I'd lost the data from the run so far, which I was looking forward to, as I've been running based on time rather than distance. It would have been nice to get an idea of how far I'd run.

I did join for a month as I can use the rowing machine and cross trainer as well as the treadmill, and this weather is set in for a while up here. However, I have learnt a couple of things from this.

1) Running on a treadmill is more hazardous than I thought and I'll have to adapt my pace/style or something so I avoid the emergency stop cord.

2) It's physically easier running on the treadmill in that there's not the outside elements to deal with, but it's mentally harder as it's boring and less easy to keep my mind off the discomfort side of things. I think I'll stick to listening to Laura so I can try and avoid looking at the timer. I found it soul destroying thinking I'd run for longer than I actually had.

3) I've discovered that I actually enjoy the off road, running through mud, up, down, around & over the different natural obstacles I come across, even though I don't get as far distance wise. I know which the dog definitely prefers.

Anyway, I still have to tackle the snow drifts and blizzard to take the mutt out, as she's throwing daggers at me for not taking her running with me. Maybe I'd have been better tackling the snow in the first place!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Blimey that sudden stop must have given you a real scare! I found for ages once I came of the dreadmill (my name for them) I was really dizzy, bit like suffering from sea legs. I was told by one of the staff at the gym that I need to slow down very slowly and for longer which has helped. I don't manage to run as far over the same time period and I can only put it down to my shorter stride when on a machine. I regret not using a dreadmill sooner in my running as I still find using one very hard.

Well done on getting back on and finishing your run, that would have been beyond me for sure.

[Beads Graduate]

I've not managed to do 1) yet, but most definitely agree with 2) and 3).

I used to hang my jacket over the display on my (cheap, second-hand, off ebay) treadmill unless I was doing a speed type workout, I don't need to now, the display is run off of batteries which have died rather than the mains power so there's no discouraging display to tell me I've only gone 2 minutes!

It's good to have the option of the treadmill when the weather's temperamental though.