Wacky Treadmill Speeds, Trusting Your Running Gut, and Cold Temps

Yes, I'm fully aware that this temperature is what some of you might consider tropical conditions right about now!  If it makes you feel any better, they say that with wind chill, it feels like 5. Which, again, is rather warm for some of you.

Brrr!  Baby, it's cold outside!  Okay, so we have nothing to whine about here in Asheville when I'm hearing from some of you in the midwest and northeast parts of the country.  Having one of my best friends (also a virtual running partner of sorts) be from the northwest part of Minnesota definitely puts things in perspective when I find myself thinking how cold it is and now much treadmill running sucks.  Her -100 temps with windchill and ground conditions mean that her Boston training is a whole heck of a lot of treadmill running...if not exclusively for awhile.  I hope she gets some outside runs in by February!

So, no real whining for me about the weather.  Too many good things going on to take to whining. BUT, it's still cold for us and what we are used to.  Cold and windy.  So much that school was canceled again in anticipation of what the weather could turn into today.  So far, I'm not seeing any reason why my kids shouldn't be in school but whatever...it is what it is. When they are home from school and I have training runs I want to fit in, I count my blessings that I have options with a treadmill in the basement and a membership at the YMCA.

The treadmill.  So many strong feelings out there about this fine machine that so many of us use for much of our winter training.

As I look back to my past years of marathon training, I'm often in disbelief that I actually trained for them with mostly treadmill running except for my long runs.  Even in the gray and cold rain that was so often an every day reality in the Pacific Northwest, running outside was better than a twenty miler on the treadmill.  However, the treadmill didn't seem to bother me so much in the past.  Not like it does now.

The past couple of weeks of winter break has meant most days on the treadmill.  Some of these runs were on the treadmill at the gym but many of them were in my basement on my home treadmill.  It's a very nice (expensive too) treadmill and has given us many happy and hard miles so I'm not complaining.  Very thankful for it!  Even if it has felt a little OFF lately.  As good of a treadmill as it is, it hasn't felt so accurate and leaves me feeling kind of discouraged!  For example, last week's run that included 2 miles@7:45; short jog; 2 miles@7:30; short jog; 2 miles (turned into 1)@ 7:14 kicked my butt instead of leaving me feeling strong and confident.  It made me feel like I have a loooooong way to go!  The next few runs did felt the same.  Even the runs that were supposed to be easy pace felt a little harder.  I was starting to really be convinced that my treadmill was off on speed!  Especially since the treadmills at the gym didn't feel as fast.  I mean, my ten 800's@3:15ish pace with the last one at 3:09 at the gym last week felt almost easy in a moderate pushing it kind of way.  I felt so strong and ON.  If I would have done these same 800s at this pace on MY treadmill, I would have DIED!

Today, my treadmill speed assumptions were confirmed!  It wasn't all in my head.  Thank Goodness!!

Today's workout:

2mi w/u
5 x 1mi @ 7:00 w/1min I
2mi c/d

When I started my workout, I had just heard from my husband that we would be home soon to finish his work day just in case the weather got worse.  I thought about bundling up and doing my workout outside but I decided to give the treadmill a whirl.

First 2 miles@8:49 (NOT an 8:49 for real).  Texted my friend mid run (sorry for those of you that get offended by my word choice):

Shortly after that text, I wrapped up our text convo with a random picture that made me laugh.  Come on, admit it, it's funny.

After my texting and easy portion of this treadmill run, I put my phone away, and started the tempo portion.  I set the speed at 6:59 pace 1% incline and settled in for my first of 5 miles.  It didn't take more than .25 of a mile to start thinking WTF?!  I mean really?  This is a 7:00 pace?!  If this is a 7:00 pace, I was in trouble!  Not to mention discouraged and disappointed.

At that point, my husband came home.  After my first tempo mile was done, I was ranting on and on about how this can't be right.  This treadmill was so OFF!  How could my 800's at 6:30 pace with the last of 10 at 6:18 pace feel so strong and spot on last week when this felt so hard for what it should feel like for this sort of workout??!

So, after a longer than 1 minute recovery due to my rant, dynamic stretching and gearing up for 4 more, I got back on the saddle and set the pace to 7:04 and put the elevation down.  Still.  Too hard for a tempo feel.  I stopped after .75,  grumbled a bit more until my engineering husband got to work on researching how to testing the speed to see if it was really off or if his wife was just making excuses. I got bundled up and ready to finish my run outside but before I left the house,  the results were in...SURE ENOUGH, I was right!  I wasn't just right about it being off...it was way off in my opinion.  A 6:59 pace on that treadmill was actually a 6:31 pace.  And my 7:04 was actually 6:34.  This makes me feel so much better about this workout and my past two weeks on that thing!

I ran another 6 miles outside with some speed play and a couple of 7:30 miles thrown in the mix.  The cold, sunshine and light flurries weren't so bad.  They were actually quite nice for this born and raised Colorado girl!  I'll take running in 20's with the sunshine any day over running in the Portland winter with rain and gray.

Well, this was quite the long ramble just to talk about my wacky treadmill.  But for some reason, just typing today feels good.  Even if it is just for me.

This paragraph sums up so much of why and what we gain when we train (anything we train for or goal we commit to)....of why we stick to a plan and practice dedication and diligence...So much of what we gain/learn/become through our commitment carries over to our Whole Self and our Whole Life! 

1. How's weather where you live?  What's the coldest temperatures you will run in?  
2.  Do you ever suspect that your treadmill is OFF on speed and needs calibrated?  
3.  Are you training for anything specific?  What?  And do you feel like the dedication and hard work that you give to reaching your goal carries over to being effective in other areas of your life?  

Amanda 

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PMS in My 30's, Training With Kids, and Never Trust a Quiet House

I'm convinced that I shouldn't be allowed to make big decisions on at least 3 or 4 days of every month.  Women in their 30's with PMS are a dangerous and unpredictable phenomenon that should NOT be taken lightly!  I already feel sorry for my husband once our daughters approach the teenage years. And can someone please tell me why it is that women who spend a lot of time together end up having darn near the same cycle?  What is that? And why does this woman hormone thing seem to just get worse with age?  I woke up this morning thinking that I was going to delete my blog.  Not just a post or two but the whole thing.  No more Runninghood.  Yup.  Why?  Hmmm, good question.  Irrational hormonal behavior during this time cannot be explained.  There is no rhyme or reason.  It just is.  And it usually takes me at least 2 or 3 days of swinging around on my hormones, seeing my emotions spill all over the floor and changing my moods as quickly as I change outfits before a party before I realize that I'm wrapped up in PMS.  Gosh, being a woman is so awesome.  So, I'm not going to delete my blog today.  Maybe tomorrow.  We'll see how irrational I get.  Ha!  Instead, I'm going to write a list of random things that come flowing out of my head.  I think that this type of writing helps myself and my family.  It helps me because I process well with writing and connecting with people and I usually feel better afterwards.  And it helps my family because...well, when I feel better, everyone feels better.  Win win.

• Just finished 10 miles in 1:19.  Had no choice but to do it on the treadmill today and honestly, it worked better for this workout than it would have if I were outside in my hilly neighborhood.  Went something like this:  2 miles @8:20; 2 miles 8:06; 2 miles 7:54; 2 miles 7:42; 2 miles 7:30 at a 1% incline.  
• Happy to be done with my run today.  It was hard work for me and I realize how far I am from marathon shape.  However, I am going to try to snap out of the negative thinking of how much harder my paces feel now compared to last spring, etc. and focus on celebrating that I am nailing the workouts my coach is giving me.  I need to trust the plan.  
• Someone asked me the other day if I thought the treadmill was easier than the road.  It depends what day you ask me.  Today the treadmill felt way harder for me.  
• What did my kids do while I ran? They played with shovels, dug holes in the front yard, and buried grass seed with the neighbors (my treadmill looks out to the front yard from my garage).  They were dreams all day!  LOVED it.  My oldest played teacher with the two younger ones and I actually got a lot of quiet time. This was much better than yesterday when I found myself with a peaceful house.  My daughters were quietly reading on the floor next to me and my son was using the bathroom.  I found myself so relaxed that I was dosing off into a little power nap.  I should know by now...NEVER TRUST QUIET if my son is awake.   Love him.  I do, I do.  He will be successful someday, I'm certain of this.  For now, he is a beautiful boy of a handful.  

And now, this is where I pretend that I've been back here in my room/bathroom showering the whole time instead of leaving my husband with the kids as soon as he walked in the door. Yup, I'm supposed to be be back here getting ready to head out for some family memory making instead of wasting my time  writing a blog post that didn't need to be written and that nobody will read anyway since it is Friday evening during the holidays when everyone is getting ready for fancy parties and last minute shopping...yaddi yaddi ya.  But I feel better to have let my fingers move across my keyboard a little so that counts for something, right?  As for the PMS?  Well, it's still here.  

Happy Friday! 

Amanda

Brooks ID Member, Early Morning Run, and Motherhood Hurt

I've always said how much I am NOT a morning runner.  Not for me.  Nope, you're not going to see me get out of bed before 6a.m just to fit in my miles.  And I'm surely not going to be out there running in the dark and cold before I've had anything to eat or drink.  Nope, just not for me.  I'm a different kind of runner.

Well, not sure what happened to that runner but this morning I proved her wrong.  I was up by 5:30 putting on my layers of running gear...you know, tights, gloves, headlamps, ear warmer, jacket and anything else I could think of to keep my wimpy Oregon self warm.  And I was out the door by 6 for a 10.5 mile run with a friend.  No coffee needed.  I was just up and at it because I wanted to be out there.

Honestly, it wasn't so bad.  The first few miles were so slow because I couldn't see anything even with my head lamp but once the sun started coming up and we got over the biggest chunk of elevation gain, it was smooth sailing and I could feel my spirits lift at the idea of being out there under the open sky.  Cold but dry.  Another promise of blue skies and sunshine to come.  A rare treat in Oregon this time of year. And I was home in time to walk my first grader to school and prepare for my day.

And my oh my, I never knew there were so many runners in my neighborhood!  Runners everywhere.  Headlamps, tights, gloves...others out there just like me.  Crazy.  It was like a bunch of zombies only runners...just out there running the dark streets before the rest of the world wakes up.   A girl could get used to this.

Unfortunately, morning runs outside are not an option for me (usually) unless I want to leave the house by 5 to be back in time for my husband to leave for work.  Nope, 5 isn't happening.  My husband leaves too early for work and usually it is raining anyway. He's been home the last couple of days so I've been lucky to get outside more.  Yesterday, I had an almost 9 mile run in the afternoon sunshine and although it was cold, it was so wonderful to be outside without rain.  Made me feel like I was in Colorado again.  Cold, crisp, sunny and blue skies.

Treadmill to Road Transfer
The dreadmill.  Yep, the treadmill isn't a favorite in the running community.  I happen to like it and I've always trained for my marathons on treadmills during the winter.  Yes, it can be monotonous and Yes, I agree that you need to switch it up and balance it with outside runs too.  In fact, I've always done my long runs outside even when I do my midweek runs on the treadmill.  I also know that you should keep the treadmill at a 1% incline or higher.  But here's the thing I love about it the most....I think it helps me get faster!  It is seriously exciting for me to run on the road after running on the treadmill for awhile because I love seeing where my pace falls naturally.  I'm always surprised at how easy a pace feels on the road when it feels so much harder on the treadmill.  When I do my training on the treadmill and then hit the road, it is just exciting to feel myself getting stronger and stronger.  So, although it is monotonous and eyepokingly boring sometimes, I really am thankful for my treadmill for a training tool. And I don't have a choice since I'm a stay at home mom of three kids...the treadmill is where I can fit runs in unless I do my runs at night in the dark or in the very very early mornings in the dark.  I say treadmill is my first choice at this point in my life and it is getting me through my training.  Thank goodness for youtube...I can LEARN and RUN!

Brooks ID Member

I know most of you have heard on Runninghood Facebook by now but I'm so excited to announce that I was chosen to be a 2012 Brooks ID (Inspire Daily) Member.  This year Brooks is sponsoring ID members for different categories.  I'm obviously not part of this thing as an elite runner but rather this is a media sponsorship.  I was chosen for my influence in social media (blog, writing, etc.).  I've wanted to be part of the Brooks ID program for awhile now and so this is very exciting for me!  Especially since I genuinely LOVE Brooks!  I had never run in Brooks shoes until last year and I can honestly say that they are the best shoes I've ever had.  I will never go back to any other shoe.  It is kind of like finding a good pair of jeans.  You know what you like and you stick with it.  I can't wait to try some of their Pure Flows and get some T7 Racing Flats!  2012 is going to be a great year and I can't wait to share my love for Brooks with anyone that will listen.  Thank you Brooks!  I'm honored to represent your company.

Motherhood
A motherhood post coming soon about helping our children love themselves.  It is so hard when we see our children struggle and even heartbreaking when we find out that they have been hurting and hating themselves when we didn't have a clue.  There is a lot I am processing right now and things that I'm learning for the first time in my time as a mother. My heart is heavy and hurting a bit. So much of what I've learned as an individual and athlete when it comes to positive self  talk and believing in ourselves will help me deal with the things I'm currently facing as a mother.  I love my children so very deeply and as all mothers do, I want to see my children thrive and love themselves and others fully. And when they don't and they struggle....ah, this hurts more than anything because I love them more than anything.  More to come...

Happy Friday!
1.  Do you train on a treadmill?  Do you notice that the transfer from road to treadmill proves to be a confidence boost?  
2.  Are you an early morning runner?  


Amanda

Treadmill vs. Outdoor Running. Is the Treadmill Easier?

I have repeat miles today.  The plan: 2 mile warm-up; 4 repeat miles at 6:30ish pace with a 2 minute active recovery in between; 2 mile cool down.  I'm actually excited!  I never thought I'd be excited about doing repeat miles but these days I seem to  be finding so much more joy in my training than ever before. Things that would have made me sick to my stomach to think about before now make me feel challenged and optimistic. I'm not quite sure what this change is all about but I know a big part of it is that I'm finally at a place where I am ready to push myself to my limits and see what this 32 year old body and mind can do!  And I'm doing it for ME.  Not because I have to but because I WANT to!  I think the biggest part of this new fire in my running spirit is that I experienced my first major injury and during that time I had all kinds of thoughts running through my head. I had a lot of time to think, reevaluate my goals, and decide what I want for my life.  For the first time ever, I wasn't able to run.  I didn't have a choice.  I was couch bound and sitting on that couch for several months wondering if my hamstring would ever be the same again gave me a lot to reflect on.  I found myself almost making a deal with God or myself or my heart that if I could run again without a bum hamstring then I would finally give my all...mentally and physically and I would finally allow myself to believe that I am good enough to dream bigger than I ever would have dared to dream.  I know this sounds silly or sappy but sitting on that couch and not being able to run gave me something that I wish I would have had all along.  It was a gift in a way.  I finally feel like I have that belief in myself that I can do the things that I never truly believed possible.  Something just clicked and I realized that one of the biggest factors that allows the human spirit to be "GREAT" and reach new limits is the desire and belief that something is possible!  I finally believe that I'm capable and I'm willing and excited to Give My All and make the most of this decade in my life!  So, here's to those repeat miles today! 

Which brings me to the topic that I really wanted to put on the table today.  I'm considering doing my repeat miles on the high school track today instead of the Treadmill.  Something about doing these outside sounds way more challenging to me than if I were to do them on the treadmill.  Is this just something in my head or do you think that running outside is the more challenging option?  Something about getting on a treadmill, setting the incline to 1.0 or more and putting the pace at 6:30ish mile pace and holding on just sounds easier to me than having to pace myself and push myself to keep going.  It is so much easier to slow down when I'm running on the track or outside by myself...so much more of mental game for me.  If I slow down or stop on the treadmill when it is set to my goal pace, then I fall off and make a huge ass out of myself in the gym.  This would stink.  Also, I know this sounds really weird, but when you are at the gym doing an intense workout on the Treadmill, there is that sense that you need to look bad ass or keep up because there are people running on the treadmill's behind you.  It gives you that element of having an audience even thought they probably don't give a hoot, don't notice you and are flipping back and forth between Ellen and CNN. Unless of course, you have your pants backwards or are sporting a classy camel toe.

Whatever the reasons, the idea of doing my miles on pace on the track or outside by myself just seems way more challenging than if I go to the gym and get on the TM.  That's just me though.  I'm curious about what you think. 

So, what are your thoughts?  Do you think the treadmill makes a workout easier than if you were were doing your speed workouts on the track or outside somewhere by yourself?  Not just physically but mentally too? 

And do you see yourself accomplishing something in your life that you never before believed possible? 


Amanda