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| Photo Source. But I must say, this dude has some interesting form. He looks more like he is leaping than running. |
The Dreadmill
The Eye Poking Machine
Mile DRAGGER-OUTTER
Watching Paint Dry Machine.
The Treadmill.
Some of us love it. And some of us dread it. For some runners, the treadmill is their first choice. They feel happy, safe from the outside weather, and in control of their pace. Some claim that the treadmill helps them gain mental strength and they like the way treadmill training translates to road running. They feel faster after training on the treadmill.
And then there are those that would rather poke a sharp stick in their eye than run over five miles on the dreaded machine. They feel like it takes away from their training and doesn't have the benefits that road running does.
If you're like me, the treadmill is a part of the family. Ha! Seriously. Although we make her sleep in the garage, she has a place in our household and I spend a TON of time with her. My treadmill is this mama's ticket to marathon training. Come to think of it, I've trained for all my marathons on a treadmill for at least part of the time. I've only run 4 marathons but the treadmill has been such a life savor when it comes to training with kids or avoiding the Oregon rain. It works well for me too. And really, I don't mind it so much. As long as I get outside for my weekend runs, I'm good to go. But there are times when I want to poke my eyes out. There are times when just the thought of one more run on that thing is the LAST thing I want to do. Times like this are when the miles
DRAG
SLOWLY
BY.
It is times like this where despite my computer, youtube options, music or phone, nothing makes it any better. I start playing games or Using Treadmill "Tricks" or things that make the time go quicker. Even if my "tricks" are stupid. Like my imaginary bell ringing for every mile I run. Now, I only do this when I'm really really bored but for some reason it helps pass the time to reward myself by putting my arm in the air and saying "ding ding ding" after each mile. I really should demonstrate for you sometimes to give you the full effect.
My friend Adrienne (who blogs at Adrienne Langelier Racing) and I were e-mailing with each other about the treadmill and we decided we'd host some fun treadmill-related contests on our blogs. Just for kicks! If you haven't visited Adrienne's blog, I hope you do because her posts are worth having on your blog roll. Not only is she an amazing athlete, but she is a therapist and sports psychology consultant. If you're a head case of a runner like me, you'd find her posts very useful. I especially loved her podcast interview on RunRunLive.
The Contest
We want to hear from you about your treadmill stories. We are both hosting contests but we each have different categories so you can enter my contest here AND then head over to Adrienne's blog and enter there. And who doesn't want something fun in the mail?! The winner of Adrienne's contest will be getting some Power Bar goodies. And the winner on my end will be getting:
1. Mail from ME! I promise to write you a hand written note and say nice things to you.
2. A tube of NUUN and you get to choose from their awesome flavors.
3. Other random running related things such as a gel, maybe an old sock, some sports beans...things that strike my fancy when I put your package together.
How to Enter???
So, Play along! It's fun. Choose one of the following options below to respond by leaving me a comment on here or on my Runninghood facebook. You can also send me a short video demonstrating or reenacting a past treadmill memory. I LOVE videos! And I'll post the winning video with a link to your blog (if you have one).
1. What are some things you do or have done to pass the time on the treadmill? I'm looking for most creative, funny, imaginative, innovative, interesting, practical, challenging, useful for getting in shape, etc. We could all use some extra "staying sane on the treadmill" tricks. So, please share!
2. Funniest, scariest, or most entertaining story about being on a treadmill, falling off a treadmill, seeing someone else on a treadmill, etc. We all have a treadmill story...right?! I know that I've fallen off of one while pregnant. Gosh, I got dirty looks for that one. Or the time I wore my pants backwards to the crowded gym and got on a treadmill feeling hot to trot. Little did I know, I looked like an idiot.
Now, after you leave a comment or send me a video to enter in this contest, head on over to see Adrienne's categories and have another chance to win. And yes, you can use the same story, or treadmill "tricks" when you enter her contest if it applies. Fun!
We will choose our winners next Sunday, April 8th. Please share this contest with your other running friends too.
Happy Treadmilling,
Amanda
I rarely run on a treadmill, though I have a few times in the past couple of weeks, so I'm not so competent as others in the "help pass the time" department. What I do to stay sane is sing. I turn my iPod up and sing. Usually I don't sing out loud, but sometimes I do...and that gets some really strange looks, I'll tell ya. I don't sing too well, but I do sing LOUDLY :P
ReplyDeleteThis is so great Marjorie! I want a video of this..just for kicks. But even the story is funny enough.
DeleteOh man - I am NOT a lover of treadmills but do think a purchase is in my future... Ok. I am so immature - I just swear up a storm when I'm going through a tough patch. My husband says I would make a sailor blanch - I do it quietly when I'm in a gym but honestly I just swear.. It makes my juvenile mind smile and I feel better for it and passes the time (outside, my hill mantra is "this hill is my b***h" which I put a LOT of expression into).
ReplyDeleteThe dumbest thing I've done? Caught my shoelaces in it, been knocked down and banged my head into the mill. Nice move. Thank god the mill stopped...
Ha ha ha.. I'm so laughing at the thought of sweet Petra swearing on the TM. ha! OUCH! Did you blog about this TM incident? Do post the link if you did. :) This sounds awful!
DeleteI was running along happily on one of our gym's treadmills once, when I saw a poor dude getting onto a treadmill about three treadmills from mine. He must have a) been new to the gym scene, or b) been new to treadmill technology, because he just couldn't get the thing started. After getting on and staring at the 'mill for a few minutes, he leaned forward and pushed against the hand rail with all his might, trying to "kick start" the belt into action. I felt SO bad for this guy - should have gotten off to help him!
ReplyDeleteBahahaha! So embarrassing for him. ha!
DeleteThe only time I've run on a treadmill was for a stress test and just running on the treadmill was causing the most stress. Let's just say I'm a little uncoordinated and would rather not have to run in a straight line at a pre-determined pace.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather poke a stick in my eye than run onthe treadmill. I did do 7 miles this winter because it was crappy outside. I constantly changed the speed, incline, etc..I would change things up about every minute.
ReplyDeleteMe too. Big fan of speed and incline play. You almost have to or you'd go crazy.
DeleteI am a fan of running on the treadmill, it helps me with speed and endurance, which are 2 things that are difficult for me to do when I run outside. But I'm also a bit obsessive with all the numbers that I can see. One day there must have been an electrical short in the one I had been running on, and any time I touched it, I was gently shocked. I finished my run and reported it to the gym, they asked me a couple of questions, like when it started (a couple of mins into my run), and how frequently did I get zapped (every 2 mins when I increased my pace), but their biggest question, was why didn't I stop using it right away? Good question, I guess the zappiness didn't deter me from finishing my training. Next time, I probably should get off sooner...
ReplyDeleteLove your dedication here Jayne...ha ha. that is probably your obsessiveness kicking in. Must finish workout at all costs...even getting fried. Ha! I like the treadmill too. :) Just not after training on it for so long.
DeleteI wished I had something witty or clever to say that gets me through my TM miles. I stare out the window to our backyard- pretty boring. 19 miles is the longest I have survived on the eye poking machine and I don't know how many more miles I could have completed. It is necessary at times, but so b-o-r-i-n-g.
ReplyDelete19!! I've never gone that far. Amazing. Hopefully you get some random animals who entertain you from time to time in your backyard. :) Better than staring at a wall.
DeleteLet's hear about all your treadmill adventures...you know you want to spill it!!
ReplyDeleteOh so many! I mentioned a few above. Falling while prego, my imaginary bell ringing, I vlog and talk on the phone....I have to think on this. I'm sure there are some good ones.
DeleteOh I had to do my 19 mile long run yesterday morning (at 2:30am before I had to go do military duty!). It SUCKED. With a capital S! Best part though is everytime you have to go potty, you can just jump off and go, not worrying about peeing in the bushes! I just downloaded a movie on my ipad and watched. I love singing, loudly too. Thankfully, no one was there! People laugh at my talent of being able to text/tweet while running =)
ReplyDeleteLove it!! Oh, girl you have some hard core dedication!!! You're my new hero. 2:30??!
DeleteOh lord, it's been awhile since I've been on the treadmill. When I'm at the gym and feeling like a big loser on the treadmill I usually watch someone else (generally a woman) who's also running and see if I can beat them on a continuous run--I like to see them wimp out first and start walking. Unfortunately I pick super runners who never walk so I always cave first! I also listen to podcasts and put on the playlist of sappy music I loved as a teen. It keeps me running cause I want to listen to the next song! Who knew Cher, Bread, and ABBA could keep a person running?!
ReplyDeleteLuckily I've never has a disaster on a treadmill. Fingers crossed.
This is awesome. Sue, you have to go over to Adrienne's blog and share your playlist and you could win there too! :) Uh oh, you better be knocking on the treadmill wood. :)
DeleteI have to come back to write more later....But that dude on the TM is a serious heel striker.
ReplyDeleteThat is the first thing I noticed too. Bahahaha. Let's get him some help!
DeleteYou are way too cute doing this. My treadmill broke not too long ago and the guy that came to fix it told me I had over 4000 miles on my treadmill. I was so proud!
ReplyDeleteSo not sure how this works exactly but I think you have two categories so I'll label 1 and then 2. Yeah, I'm so smart like that :).
1) I don't have any creative ways really other than I just have to chop up the mill gig by being super distracted. One time I had a movie going, my iPod on, my laptop situation on the thing so I could read blogs, a book for when the blogs got too hard to read, and yelling at my kids to pick up the basement (my treadmill is in the basement). Multitasking is key for long treadmill runs. :)
2) Not sure this is the funniest but definitely embarrassing. I was on the treadmill at the gym just having a really bad day and dragging my ass. I think I did about 10 miles and hung out at the back of the treadmill, barely hanging on. Some woman come over to me and told me her and "the rest of the gym" were all worried I was going to fall off the thing. I didn't allow myself in that gym for a good 3 months after, hoping by then the "rest of the gym" patrons had forgotten who I was.
Ha! I remember this story about the gym. :) So funny. And I would get so much more done if I had the treadmill in my house...I could yell at the kids to get everything picked up, stop fighting, etc. And then I could use my normal run time (nap time) for myself.
DeleteHi Amanda!
ReplyDeleteMy treadmill story is kinda scary and funny. It was a Sunday morning and I was at the gym because the weather was crappy, so I hopped on a treadmill and was determined to do 10 miles I think. Half way through the run, I really had to let one "rip" so being a lady, I tried to hold it in for the sake of others around. Well, that only worked for a few minutes until I decided...maybe I can blame it on someone else. In the process of letting it go, I literally thought I pooped myself because I felt something down my leg. I nearly screamed and hopped off the mill so fast, only to realize it was sweat dripping down. LOL....what a scare!
ha ha, I hate when I need to let one slip. This is hilarious Donna!
DeleteI'm not a huge treadmill fan myself but it works in the winter as I don't enjoy running at night in the cold WI winters. I always pick a treadmill at the gym with a tv and I usually end up finding a basketball game and turning that on. I find watching sports keeps me motivated to keep on running.
ReplyDeleteFunniest story: We have a Cardio theater at my gym and was in there watching an action flick where they were running from the cops and then a loud noise scared the crap out of me and I literally JUMPED and almost fell off. I'm sure the people behind me got a kick out of that one!
So funny. I hate when I get scared like this. LIke the time I was just running along and this person's dog was just excited and jumped at me playfully and I started screaming SO loudly.
DeleteI had to do a 16 miler once on my treadmill. In order to get through it, I took a pad of post it notes and wrote mile numbers along with a motivational quote to get me through that mile. When the mile was done, I would peel the note off the pad and throw it across the room.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this! So right up my alley. So cool!! Must steal!
DeleteMy treadmill is such a blessing to me. I just used it to train for my last half marathon. I was only able to run outside a few times, the rest of my training was on the treadmill. I actually had one of the best races ever after that training, not sure it was from training on the treadmill or not.
ReplyDeleteMy most recent treadmill trick I used on my last 10 mile run, which fell on my ten year marriage anniversary so I decided to label it anniversary miles. Every mile I would really dig deep and think about everything that happened that year. The good years I would run nice and comfortable, and the really tough years, not so good ones(every marriage has them from time to time), I would try to run that mile or miles as fast as I could. This run was a great workout and the time actually went by very quickly, and I was able to remember tons of memories that I hadn't thought of for some time.
I have grown to love the treadmill! To make it fun I am always incorporating intervals of some sort into my runs, pyramids, repeats, etc--not very creative, so I'll look to someone else to win! ;)
ReplyDeleteOh the lovely treadmill.... Let's see.
ReplyDelete1.) To occupy time I usually make up challenges or contests for myself. Recently, I discovered using Netflix on my phone and it has been WONDERFUL! It's opened up a whole new world of entertainment while jogging. I started season 1 of Biggest Loser and found it to be the best show to watch while running or doing elliptical. I love it. My husband and I have been watching it for the past few years but we never watched the early seasons so it's neat to see how it all got going.
2.) Worst thing to happen on a treadmill- One event comes STRAIGHT to memory and I feel sick to my stomach even thinking about it. (Basically every running mom's worst nightmare.) Last spring on my very first run back after having Ashton we had a very traumatic treadmill incident. I was on the treadmill finishing a run and my kids came in the room. I told them NOT to go near the treadmill. They were sitting on the bed watching a show and one second later I hear SCREAMING and my 4 yr. old son ran out of the room hysterical. He had touched the belt while it was moving and burned off the skin on two of his fingers. It was awful. I had to deal with him and clean and bandage the wound. Looking back I probably should have taken him to the emergency room but I thought I could handle it. (It took one month for his fingers to heal. We had to change out bandages a few times a day.) Fortunately, Ashton (4 weeks old) slept through it all. This was also the day Anna (age 2) decided to cut her own hair with scissors while I was busy with my son the burn unit victim. All around very bad parenting day. Not a good first day back into running at all. I should have known my Boston training was doomed to failure!
That treadmill day was the WORST. After that we made a strict rule- NO KIDS IN THE ROOM WHENEVER I'M ON THE TREADMILL!! Of course, after that incident they didn't want to go anywhere near the treadmill!
I have a hate-hate relationship with the treadmill. The most I have ever run on it was 14 miles and it was crazy stupid. Can't say I have ever had anything bad or that good happen on the treadmill. I usually just watch TV. Fortunately, I have not run on it for over a year as I've forced myself to run outside no matter what the weather is like - not an easy task in Michigan.
ReplyDelete