Saturday Night Treadmill

To make up for not doing the eight (8) miles before the 5K this morning, I logged 60 minutes on the treadmill at Bally's in The Woodlands. It is the second night in a row that I've helped close the place!

I just went ahead and switched to the treadmill that I ended up on last night.

I set the incline on 1.0 with the thought that I might have to drop it back. However, I didn't have any problems.

As you've noticed, every run of mine on the treadmill turns out to be a mini-progression run of some type. Started it at 4.0 mph and added 0.1 mph every six (6) minutes. At 54 minutes, and doing it at 4.9 mph, I added 0.1 mph each minute to close.

So at 55, I went to 5.0; 56, 5.1; 57, 5.2; 58, 5.3 and then for the last minute, yee haw, 5.8!

I actually felt pretty good with it.

While running, I read through much of the January 1999 edition of Runner's World and they had an article that talked about the 12 biggest advantages of running on a treadmill. They were (and my notes in blue):

1. Comfort and safety. (I agree. Especially when the climates would keep me from running otherwise.)
2. The best place to work on improved running form. (I've done this before by watching myself in the mirror ... in front of me. No side shots!)
3. Guilt-free TV time. (Not a factor to me because I pretty much don't watch TV at all. I would say that I get to spend time reading.)
4. A smooth transition to running. (This obviously was a benefit for somebody making the transition from walking.)
5. A range of customized workouts. (Doesn't apply to me.)
6. Excellent heart-rate monitoring. (Doesn't apply to me.)
7. Top-notch injury prevention. (At my size, as long as I get a good run in, it saves the wear and tear on the knees pounding against the ground.)
8. Simplified marathon training. (You could say. I've read of a gal from Alaska who qualified for the Olympic Trials from training on a treadmill. I was impressed that Ms. Hager, during her TWRC club meeting presentation, actually remembered that trivial factoid during her speech.)
9. The ability to quantify workouts. (Doesn't apply to me. How long - in time - and hard did I run is what matters.)
10. Musical motivation. (If I can't listen to it on the road, why do it here?)
11. Incredible workout variety. (Some editor should have cut the list to 10 as this is basically the same as No. 5. However, I try to leverage the treadmill to work on pacing.)
12. The Zen of treadmill running. (I would agree that I can relax on a treadmill instead of worrying about cars, dogs, people, the elements, etc.)

So just when you thought you were going to get a boring workout report, I gave you something more. Aren't I an incredible guy? ;)

By the way ... that was a joke.