A while back, I posted about breaking up with my hair stylist. It was painful, but I’ve moved on. Now I am dealing with a transitional period in a more important relationship – the one I have with my treadmill. I bought the treadmill about a year and a half ago when I was trying to get back into pre-baby shape. From Day One, I have loved the treadmill – the way it shows my progress, the time it gives me to myself, the incredible high I get after running all over it. It has done me well.
Recently, I’ve become a tiny bit more serious about the running – entering and training for some legit races that I hope to be able to make it through alive. I’ve taken some of my running outside and found it to be much, much harder than life on the treadmill. While I can run a solid six miles on the treadmill with no problem, I struggled during local 5K’s. I couldn’t pace myself very well, and the hills. Oh, the hills. I ignored that setting on the treadmill, so that one’s on me. But still. I didn’t realize my BFF was basically coming up short.
Over Christmas break, I got some sweet new running gear and decided a 22 degree day had the perfect weather to test it. I parked my car and took off on a 3.5 mile route, having no expectations whatsoever, other than to be cold. And cold I was. What I totally didn’t expect was to actually really, really enjoy the run. I have never been one to like being outside – the temperatures, the bugs, the allergens. No thank you. But this run was really different. We had just had our first real snowfall of the winter, and it was just gorgeous outside. The snow hadn’t been touched, so it was still fresh and white. Everything looked and sounded softer – a true winter wonderland.
And while I struggled on this short run, it made me want to take things outside more often. Time went by so much faster with actual scenery to see (not that our bedroom wall is bad to look at…) and actual miles to cover. I wasn’t a sweaty mess at the end. Hills suck, but running on a flat surface after climbing a hill feels amazing! And I didn’t obsess over stats – I didn’t have red numbers marking my distance, time, or calories. I just ran, and it felt great.
So, dear treadmill, I’m afraid I want to see other people. I’ll still rely on you when I can’t get outdoors, but other than that, it’s going to be a lonely life. Unless you can entice my husband to get to know you on a more personal level. I’m ok with that.
I call the treadmill “the dreadmill.” I started my running career on trails and have never been able to perform well or keep my interest. I love running outside.. even in rain, snow, cold, or hot! Congrats on coming to see the light!
Ha! Thank you – I am glad to be here
You’re such an inspiration with this whole running “thing!” Come train me! Oh and good luck to AJ and his possible new relationship. If he’s like me, he can just use the treadmill to hang stuff on, i.e. towels, clothes, etc.
Sorry to hear about your breakup! Why run?? what’s your hurry?
I run to get to my next meal faster
[...] do have a treadmill, but I have a sort of love/hate (mostly HATE) relationship with it these days. But in my desperation to get back on the running wagon,Ā I’ve found a way [...]