Ok, people. It’s hot. I don’t mean it’s warm; I mean it’s fry an egg on my driveway hot already and it’s just mid-May!! I have a ½ marathon to train for and runs to work into my week, but even waking up at 5 a.m., the temperature is already creeping up into the high 70’s. That’s just degrees away from 80, which is what I like to call “The Uncomfortable Zone”. So, on those days I hit what some runners refer to as “The Dreadmill”. Not me, baby, no, nuh-uh. I like the treadmill. In Florida in the summer, I downright LOVE the treadmill. Why? I’ve got 10 reasons why, and in pure David Letterman style, let me present …..
The Top Ten Positive Aspects of a Treadmill Run:
10) I have surround sound without earbuds slipping out of my ears due to the high sweat factor.
9) I can see my HR, pace, mileage without fear of tripping while staring at my Garmin.
8) I can run in my sports bra without freaking out my neighbors.
7) There are no wild dogs, only my tame one, staring up at me like I'm crazy.
6) My chocolate milk is only a few steps away at the end of my run!
5) There is no Nature’s (Speed) Way traffic to dodge.
4) There are no love bugs ... very important for a mouth breather!
3) There are no rabid squirrels or slimy snakes in my path.
2) There's always a potty with no line mere feet away.
And the number one positive aspect of a treadmill run is ……
1) It's in a climate controlled environment and I'm the controller!
So, with summer temps already here and no hope for a cold front, my training won’t have to suffer, and neither will I!
Happy training!!
Leslie
Friday, May 13, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
"I'm not a runner!"
“I’m not a runner.” Ask anybody. I had said it for years to friends who encouraged me to give it a try, or go on a run with them. “I’m not a runner.” Well, I wasn’t until life demanded that I find a more efficient way to work fitness into my days. Having been a stay at home mom for 16 years, I had the luxury of working out when, where and how I wanted. I could take Yoga at the Y. I could squeeze in a Pilates class in there somewhere. I could do countless fitness tapes at home. I had freedom. Once I re-entered the work force two years ago, that freedom I apparently took for granted was noticeably missed. Working out became something I couldn’t find the time for, and when I did find the time I lacked the energy.
That’s when I kept getting the advice from friends who run to just get out there and give it a try. It’s quick. It’s a great workout. You can do it anywhere. Just run, Leslie. So, I did. I was more than a little embarrassed by my lack of endurance and more than a little concerned about my lack of lung capacity. What was up with that? I asked a lot of questions, Googled more information that I could digest and decided to really give running a focused effort. If I couldn’t do it, or didn’t like it, I’d just search for some other form of exercise I was capable of. That was two years ago, and now I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
I started on a C25K program, in laymen’s terms a couch to 5k plan that would help my non-running self become ready to run 3.1 miles at the end of six weeks. Honestly, it was a love hate relationship with my training program, and with running. I felt defeated, which made me even more determined to conquer it. I wanted to run more than one lap on the treadmill or ¼ of a mile without gasping for air and feeling like I was going to drop. The keys for me were consistency and stubbornness. I refused to give up.
I have since run 12 5k’s, 3 10k’s and 2 ½ marathons. I have been through the ups, downs, and roundabouts of running. I’m currently working my way back from an injury and have my eyes on building back up my mileage as I look to a ½ marathon in the fall and Disney’s inaugural Chip & Dale Marathon Relay in January. My blog, “Inch by Inch”, is my journey from where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going as a runner. I love the sport. I love the personal sense of accomplishment I get from each and every run, whether training or racing. I love the community of friends I’ve discovered who love it as much as I do. Lastly, I love sharing my experiences and drawing on the experiences of others to grow, learn and appreciate something I swore I’d never do. I’m Leslie White, and I’m a runner.
That’s when I kept getting the advice from friends who run to just get out there and give it a try. It’s quick. It’s a great workout. You can do it anywhere. Just run, Leslie. So, I did. I was more than a little embarrassed by my lack of endurance and more than a little concerned about my lack of lung capacity. What was up with that? I asked a lot of questions, Googled more information that I could digest and decided to really give running a focused effort. If I couldn’t do it, or didn’t like it, I’d just search for some other form of exercise I was capable of. That was two years ago, and now I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
I started on a C25K program, in laymen’s terms a couch to 5k plan that would help my non-running self become ready to run 3.1 miles at the end of six weeks. Honestly, it was a love hate relationship with my training program, and with running. I felt defeated, which made me even more determined to conquer it. I wanted to run more than one lap on the treadmill or ¼ of a mile without gasping for air and feeling like I was going to drop. The keys for me were consistency and stubbornness. I refused to give up.
I have since run 12 5k’s, 3 10k’s and 2 ½ marathons. I have been through the ups, downs, and roundabouts of running. I’m currently working my way back from an injury and have my eyes on building back up my mileage as I look to a ½ marathon in the fall and Disney’s inaugural Chip & Dale Marathon Relay in January. My blog, “Inch by Inch”, is my journey from where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going as a runner. I love the sport. I love the personal sense of accomplishment I get from each and every run, whether training or racing. I love the community of friends I’ve discovered who love it as much as I do. Lastly, I love sharing my experiences and drawing on the experiences of others to grow, learn and appreciate something I swore I’d never do. I’m Leslie White, and I’m a runner.
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