treadmills | Day With KT

If you’ve read my blog at all you know that I LOVE my treadmill!!! I log the majority of my miles on the treadmill and I rarely race anymore.

This wasn’t always the case for me. I used to hate everything about the treadmill.

I ran competitive track and cross country in high school and college. When I was in grad school (in Alabama) I raced a lot and never once trained on a treadmill.

It wasn’t until after we had Jordan that I converted to being a treadmill runner.

Because of the nature of Chris’ job –

he has always had to be away for varying lengths of time. I didn’t want to share my running (I’m selfish like that!!!) by pushing a stroller so we bought a treadmill. (I’m on my 3rd in 16 years!)

Over the years I’ve learned to love running on the treadmill.
* It doesn’t matter how cold or hot it is outside
* It is never raining or snowing or muddy

this would NEVER happen on the treadmill

* I can always pause for a pit stop without having to duck behind a tree.
* I stay caught up on my DVRed shows!!
* I could run during nap-time, early morning or after the boys were in bed when they were little and couldn’t be left alone and I was doing the single parent gig!

Most of the time I’m perfectly fine with the fact that I am a treadmill runner. However, there are times that things come up that make me question if I really am a true runner since most of my miles are on the treadmill.

I know that there are differences – no wind, not a natural incline, controlled climate…..I try to accommodate for some by setting my treadmill at 1.5 incline for all of my runs and then using the incline for hills on occasion.

I don’t race much these days – mostly because I always raced to win not just to finish a race and the training required for that is more than my body can handle these days since I have had more stress fractures than I can count.

So, sometimes I question whether or not I am a real runner. I know that there are many people who scoff at the treadmill and would say “NO, those miles don’t count.”

However, I know that running is running and it doesn’t matter where you run, how far you run, how fast you run or if you take a picture to document the run – RUNNING IS RUNNING!!!

In my heart I know that I am a runner – I am a treadmill runner and proud of it!!!

What are your thoughts – is all running the same?
Do you run? Where do you like running the most?

Happy Wednesday!!

Kim

For my 43 today, I tried a new move that I saw over at Brooklyn Active Mama yesterday. For her Weekly Wednesday Workout post she featured a lateral shoulder raise with an ab twist.

Start holding light dumbbells (I started with 5 pound DB for the first 20 reps then dropped down to 3 pound DB for the last 23 – by the end I almost dropped all DB) down at your sides. Lift your arms straight out to the sides (laterally) and hold arms out while twisting (keeping your head facing the front) to the right and back to the center – lower arms – repeat sequence to left side = 1 rep. So, in order to complete 43, I actually had 86 lateral raises and 86 twists (while holding arms out).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WcQFfNqoXQ’]

I liked this move since it was a combo move but it was hard – probably because my shoulders are still my weakest body part!!

Today I pulled out another DVD that I haven’t used much: Tone with Ten with Rodney Yee, Ana Caban, Tanja Djelevic & Suzanne Deason. I did a 30 minute total body cardio toning segment and about 20 minutes of total body pilates. It was a nice treat for my body!!!

I thought about doing the total body yoga segment but once I pulled it up I remembered why I never do this DVD – Rodney Yee does a lot of the moves in a speedo – PASS!!!

Treadmills – you either love them or hate them!! I think the view on the ones above probably helps some people tolerate them a bit more.

I used to detest running on treadmills – college, grad school – no way would I ever run on a treadmill. I would run outside in (-) temperatures, 50 mph winds, 95% humidity (I went to grad school in southern Alabama!!) – it didn’t matter what it was like I was outside.

And then…..I had Jordan. We lived in Texas at the time and Chris was gone at least 50% of the time. I had already decided that thiswasn’t for me. Running was my thing and the only time I had completely to myself. So we bought our 1st treadmill. I can’t remember the brand but it was a fairly good one – it could go up to 10mph and incline to 10% and it had a nice long running belt (mandatory!). The biggest downside – it was a fold-up treadmill which, at the time, we thought would be great.I’m pretty sure that we NEVER folded it. The biggest problem with a fold-up – it isn’t super sturdy. So when I maxed the speed it would shake – a LOT!!!

In August of 2001, I started training for a marathon – the Walt Disney World Marathon. I was doing the Team in Training (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) thing. 2 things happened:

On one of my long runs (I think 16 or 18 miles) my treadmill quit – burned out!! Bummer since it was only 2.5 years old.
I got a stress fracture in my right hip and couldn’t run anyway.

Once I started back running, we bought our 2nd treadmill. I went to a Fitness store that specialized in treadmills and other home equipment to find one. The sales guy tried to steer me away from the ones I wanted – commercial grade – but after I told him how I used my treadmill he agreed it was the best option.

I ended up with a PreCor (some # that I can’t remember) that looked sort-of like this.This one could go up to 12mph and 12% incline!! Loved it!! And the sales guy said it would last me forever!

Wrong!!! In January (coldest part of the year, of course) of 2010 my treadmill died. Not cool at all! Back to the same place for treadmill #3. I stuck with a commercial grade treadmill and this time got a Free Motion.

This one also goes up to 12mph and 30% incline!

It is my favorite (and hopefully last)!!!

I think I learned to love treadmill running because it was my only option. Chris is a military pilot and was often gone while I was home with 1 then 2 boys. Running on the treadmill was a life-saver to me on 100s of occasions! I have all kinds of ways to entertain myself – music, TV or just the treadmill itself – I play games with the speed and/or incline during lots of runs.

I have done lots of long (multiple hour) runs on the treadmill over the past 14 years – longest was 60 miles in 2 days (25 one day and then 35 the next). Longest consecutive was 42 (should have been 43 this year but I didn’t make it).

I think the biggest downside to my treadmill addiction – I have lost the ability to self-pace accurately. Oh well, if I ran outside all the time I would probably use a Garmin to take care of that anyway.

How about you – love or hate the treadmill?

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Make sure you check in tomorrow – I have a first (for me)- a GiveAway!!!