Saturday, December 12, 2009

Hate it Hate it Hate it

So if you can't tell... I hate "it". With "it" being running on the treadmill at the YMCA. I love having a membership to the YMCA mostly because I enjoy the variety of classes. Having the ability to take any class from aerobics to zumba has really helped me stay motivated. When the bad weather hit this week, dumping a foot snow over the area it was enough to keep off the roads (probably a wise decision). Then freezing winds kept me indoors for several more days, it was really getting me itchy for running. So I headed to the YMCA early and jumped on a treadmill before Zumba class. I could barley stand 20 minutes but struggled through 30. It wasn't more difficult, I wasn't more winded or more sore. I just hated it. I was bored and the treadmills are directly in front of a mirror so I just stare at myself running. I had my ipod on but it wasn't helping I was just plain annoyed.

When I run outside I think about things... like what my wardrobe will be like when I get to my goal weight, what I would do if I won the lottery, what it will be like to show up at my class reunion thinner than I was in high school... and I run. I don't get bored or frustrated. I enjoy it. I can easily do over an hour without realizing how much time has passed.

I either need the weather to change and the ice to disappear from the sidewalks or I need to learn to enjoy the treadmill. I don't want running to become a chore but I also don't want to stop running for the winter months.

8 comments:

  1. Amen! I abhore a treadmill. Even with something decent on the TV it makes me want to scream.

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  2. The only way I can run on the treadmil is with intervals. Jog to Sprint, Jog to Sprint, Jog to Sprint and so on.

    It makes the time go by really quickly and I generally burn more calories in a shorter time.

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  3. Maybe you need to update your music.....the music has helped me get through 3-4 mile treadmill jaunts!

    Nic, intervals sound like a good idea, too..because your mind would be occupied with the timing and such....and gasping for air after the sprints. :)

    Some songs that are on my current 30-45 minute running list (they are all in the 165-185 BPM range....so I can run in time to the music):
    Pump It (Black Eyes Peas)
    Hell Yeah (Rev Theory)
    Tap That (Megan McCauley)
    Run To The Hills (Iron Maiden--just trust me on this one...!)
    Hey Soul Sister (Train)
    Say Hey, I love You (Michael Franti and Spearhead)
    Out of Control (Hoobastank)
    Dammit (Blink 182)
    Can't Stop (Maroon 5)
    She's a Genius (Jet)
    Sin Wagon (Dixie Chicks)
    Too Fast For Love (The Donnas)

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  4. If you're bored on the treadmill, get a SurfShelf for it. You can use a laptop, DVD player, or just use it as a shelf for reading material like a magazine. I got one for my treadmill and I love it. Oh, and it's portable and doesn't harm the console so the Y shouldn't have any issue with you using one.

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  5. Girl, I am in the same boat as you! I hate the treadmill and I feel so uninspired. The only thing that is getting me through some of my runs is the Hallmark movies that I can turn to in the clubhouse :-) I love the Christmas time and Hallmark movies :-)

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  6. Oh, I've had some days like that too. I eventually force myself to pay attention to the music on my ipod and that usually distracts me from my rotten mood. Hope things get better soon.

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  7. I don't like the treadmill as much as running outside. What I tend to do now, to keep me from going insane is to do some interval training while I have the advantage of the readouts in front of me. Still, outside is best!

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