Running on a Treadmill monotony VS Running on an Outside Track monotony
Both are, to be blunt, boring as hell.
But, for a short mid-week before work run (I can't imagine running on either for more than 5 miles, and even 5 sounds horrible), I'm thinking a track might be the way to go??
1) it keeps me "conditioned" to running outside
2) it keeps me from going all "soft" about running in the cold
3) it smells better than the gym (snicker)
There are a couple of high school tracks near my house.
One or two may or may not require me to jump the fence....but let's not worry about those little details just yet.
(I have an image of me hanging from the top of a chain link fence....dangling by my running tights. It's not pretty.)
Anyway......what say you??
12 comments:
Personally I'd pick the mill. Even though I (not-so) fondly call it the dreadmill, I do prefer it over the track. The track is great for doing speed workouts, timed mile runs, and that kind of thing. But for anything continuous I'd go insane. At least on the treadmill I can crank up my tunes (I don't wear headphones so no music at the track for me) and I'm going to attempt to watch so shows/movies on my treadmill when the need arises.
I agree with the potential monotony of both. At least with the tready you can do some programmed hill work if you choose. Here in western NY, I've resigned myself to Mr. Tready until I can guarantee clear sidewalks and minimal ice. But I'm a rookie. I wouldn't listen to a word I say. :-)
@ BJR - Nah, I'm a rookie too! I think I might mix up the monotony....a little track, a little tready....a little bullet to the head. Ugh! :-)
How about invest in a garmin and the world is yours!
@ Detroit- garmin coming soon!! But that's not what's prompting the dilema. I confess...I'm a chicken. I'm a lilly livered wuss. I love the cold...but ice terrifies me...and we have plenty right now. Before and after work its dark....and I live in a neighborhood of nothing but hills.
Man...I even sound pathetic to myself. :)
It's not like me to back down...so I'm sure I'll get over it soon. I've surprised myself so much this past year....why stop now, eh? :)
I like the treadmill and try and mix it up with playing with the speed and incline. If I am watching TV at the Y I will increase the speed to some ridiculous speed during the commercials. I also try and run with a pal to have some banter back and forth.
If your mill has a TV it can be tolerable. You can get a feel of what your faster speed should feel like. Or you can always mix it up between the 2 places.
I would SO take the track over the 'mill! I am afraid that the one by my house would still be too icy though =( Remind me again, are you from the same area as me? I cant remember....
Anna
If you can take the cold, I'd run outside whenever possible. The mill is boring and just different than running outside. Sometimes, though, I think the mill is best for speedwork as I can push myself more, fear of falling off and having my face sanded an all that. But I haven't tried the watching TV and running yet. I just really prefer to be outside in the fresh air.
I think you should just try the track, see if you like it. If not you can always go back to the treadmill.
I always plan my runs in a loop so I won't run the same race twice. But this morning after snow yesterday I had to decide: do 11K on the treadmill or pick a route of which I knew would be pretty clean to run on but which was a straight road which would mean I had to run the same road back.
I choose the last option and it was that boring as expected. In fact it was one of my best runs ever because I defeated the weather!
I think "my 2 cents" don't count for much, but if you are trying to train and stay in shape then cross-training and using a little of all of them would be great!
@ Liz - I'm thinking the same thing. Alternating from one to the other should break up the monotony of the monotony. :-) :-)
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