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Treadmills are far too noisy for social running
Written by Nathan on January 8, 2009 at 8:43 pm from A Month of Resolve.
Written by Nathan on January 8, 2009 at 8:43 pm from A Month of Resolve.
Today, owing to all sorts of scheduling strangeness, I had to cram in my run at the YMCA. I love the local Y—great staff, good equipment, free childcare, nice pool. I’m a happy member. But I don’t like treadmills, so I haven’t run there yet. Since I needed childcare for my daughter in order to run tonight, I had to head to the Y for my first 3-mile date with stationary running.
Treadmills are noisy, hard on my shins, and force me to obsess about my time instead of enjoying the run. In my neighborhood, I only check my time 6 or 7 times per run. But on the treadmill I can’t go a tenth of a mile without checking. The numbers are a foot from my face and I can’t get away. It’s also frustrating just how hard it is to speed up or slow down rapidly on the machines. But I was pleasantly surprised that the YMCA’s treadmills let you rapidly accelerate to any target speed with only two button clicks.
But my least favorite “feature” of a treadmill is the large “stop” button often on the handrail. For whatever reason, I tend to hit it regularly. Today, for instance, during my second mile I managed to end my run by swinging my hand into the button. In my haste to restart my run I didn’t log my distance. Fortunately I keep time on my iPhone so I know how long total I ran.
So I know how long I ran total, and how long I ran 3 miles, but I ran more than 3 miles and I don’t know precisely how much. Here’ s my breakdown: First mile in 6:50, first 1.5 miles in 12:03. Then I accidentally turned off the treadmill. I marked my time midway through the restart at 14:04.9. When I restarted the machine, I ran another 1.5 miles in 13:33. So I know I ran three miles in 25:33, but my total time on the treadmill was 27:38.
As annoying as all that was, it was nothing compared to having to run with CNN and Fox News cycling through footage of Israel’s devastation of Gaza. Do I really want war footage while I exercise? All that aside, I feel great right now. I’ve only managed 3 hours of sleep each of the last two nights (and short naps here and there), so I’m really looking forward to a run when I’m fully recharged.
Congrats on day 8!
The JE update:
I’ve ran 6 of the days with you.
(started on the 2nd day and yesterday had a 15 hour work day so didn’t happen)
My shins were starting to kill me (bad shoes and planning the first day). Thanks to some good advice from my wife, who is currently training for a 1/2 marathon, I was able to feel great going into day #8.
Tonight I was able to shave a minute and a half off of my best time (which still is very lame).
Stay resolved!
JE
Nice work! What was the good advice she imparted? My shins are the achiest part of me (the arch is more of a dull throb).
I pulled two successive 16 hour days and felt great running on both of them. I couldn’t believe it. Adrenaline, I suppose. I’m off(ish) for the week, so I’m wondering if running will become easier or harder.
This was her advice:
Get quality shoes
Run on asphalt not concrete
Warm up the muscle by>
-Put a hot towel on the area before the run
-Stretch the area well before the run
-Walk before you start the run
Cool down the muscle by>
-Walk after the run
-Stretch the area well after the run
-Ice down the area after the run
-Keep your legs elevated when possible
Also try to strengthen the area by doing muscle exercises that support the shins, ankles, knees, etc. (there are plenty of simple at home ones online)
Take Ibuprofen which is not for the pain but for the anti-inflammatory.
Hope this helps!
JE
hi!
for your arches- try stretching out your calves really well.
stretch your feet- try rolling your toes underneath your feet to stretch out the top. if your feet are really tight do this sitting at your desk etc.. But eventually try it standing and be able to straighten your leg.
run on softer surfaces- grass, dirt, asphalt
for some reason running shoes always give me blisters on the arches of my feet. the only solution I have found is to remove the sockliner/insole altogether.
additionally if I have to run on a treadmill I put in on a 0.5 incline as I find this easier on my shins.
good luck
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