Bo and I had aggressive plans this morning.
- Wake up by 6am
- Run 6.3 miles to the center of Prospect Park, by way of the Manhattan Bridge
- Run the 4 mile NYRR race in Prospect Park
- Take the subway back to Manhattan in time for me to head to see my cousin in New Jersey
When the alarm went off at 5:55 this morning neither of us were ready to get up. Even though we’d gone to sleep at 10:30, we were still exhausted and our bodies were craving more sleep. Due to our busy work schedules we don’t have the opportunity to sleep in during the week and therefore feel it’s healthiest to listen to our bodies during the weekend. It didn’t help that when our alarm went off we could already hear the howling wind that was blowing through Manhattan. When we saw that it was only 30 degrees, felt like 27, and the wind guests were 22 miles per hour, we decided to bag the race. Oh well, that’s $34 which will go to a good cause, by way of NYRR.
Instead, I woke up 2 hours later, ready to conquer ten miles on the treadmill. Don’t get me wrong. I love running outside in Manhattan each weekend but there are some things I only do if I’m running a race. Running in crazy, gusty wind is one of those things. Therefore, I enjoyed an open faced peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a cup of coffee before heading to the gym.
Some people cringe at the thought of running even a few miles on the treadmill. Therefore, I figured I’d share with you all a few of my tips to making a long treadmill run bearable.
- Bring your own water bottle and ensure that you have a towel large enough to cover the treadmill screen.
- Dress for the gym, not outside. Today I really wished I was wearing shorts and a tank during my run instead of crop pants and a technical t-shirt. I was sweating bullets and the crowded gym was a bit more hot and humid than it is when it’s nice and empty.
- Bring your own water bottle and fuel so you can treat it like a race. I sipped water every two miles and enjoyed a few Honey Stingers at mile 6, similar to what I’d do during a race.
- If possible, position yourself in front of a television. Watching two episodes of Law & Order made the time fly by this morning. If your gym or home treadmill aren’t set up near a television, bring your favorite playlist and jam out.
- Switch it up! It seems more bearable to think of it in little parts. Therefore, I ran 4 miles on one treadmill, moved down three treadmills for the next 4 miles, and moved upstairs for the final 2 miles. I didn’t waste time during my treadmill swap either. This is a time to log the miles, not dilly dally around the gym.
- Rarely log long runs on the treadmill. This will keep it fresh and more like a unique situation than a dreadful habit. This is my first treadmill long run this training season and I think that made it far more tolerable.
What are your tips for treadmill running or do you avoid it entirely?
The thought of running for a long distance on the treadmill never sounds fun to me but once I get going the miles quickly seem to add up and it’s over before I even realize… My biggest tip is to find a machine with a TV attached or conveniently located and tune into a good show!
I couldn’t agree more! It’s all about the state of mind you’re in when you step on the treadmill.
wow i could NEVER run such a distance on the treadmill!
I aim for 30 to 45 minutes of walking (if on the treadmill)…I shudder at the thought of 10 miles running! lol
I promise you Joss that running or walking 10 miles on the treadmill is doable, if you have the right mindset!
I love your idea of switching machines! I always find myself breaking runs up into chunks mentally, but a physical shift would be a huge help 🙂
I did 12 on the treadmill last weekend and it was bad, but not as bad as I thought it’d be! I think I did a good job of distracting myself with the Today show, and like you, I also fueled during the run. Like you said, not an all-the-time thing, but it gets the job done!