Obviously, here in the Northeast we are dunzo with the snow.  

I looked around for some funny memes…  but then- you’ve probably seen them all.  Cats in the snow.  Dogs in the snow.  People shoveling.  People pranking people with anatomical parts on cars.  Oh, the internet.

What has that meant for running outside?  Not much of it happening for me lately.  I am not as brave as some others- I am definitely in fear of plows/cars/narrow roads.  In fact, the last few outdoor runs (as awesome as it was to be outside)- I noticed a general issue with drivers in that they seemed so stunned to see someone outside on the road that they drove towards me.  This has happened to me before (and I think to most runners)- but when there is basically no place to jump to safety- I begin to get a bit fearful.  I imagine scenarios where I slip on snow/ice, driver notices, steers car towards me, hits me, and then carnage.  All of the scenarios end in carnage.

So I have been on the treadmill.  I have had some tough runs because of this- not because of my physical capability- but because of my mental capacity to handle that amount of time on the ‘mill. This past Saturday’s 19 miles marks the 10th long run (anything over 14 miles) that I have done this winter on the treadmill- and is the 6th over 17 miles.  Usually they are not as bad as Saturday (turns out I had a small cold… I think it would have been icky regardless)-

So these are some of my strategies for getting through it:

1.  Break it up, mentally.  17 miles is just a 7 miler, a 7 miler, and then only 3 more miles!  (this works because at one of my gyms, the treadmills reset after an hour of running).  Break up your run into whatever segments make sense for you.  If you are running at 6mph, then you would have 2 segments of 6, and then only 5 more miles!  At another gym I go to, there is a 99 minute time limit before reset (love it!)- but I hate that 99 minutes is usually in the middle of a mile (pet peeve).  So typically I will go 11 miles (maybe 12 depending on pace)- and then have a shorter segment.  I love getting the bulk done in the beginning.

2. DO NOT THINK ABOUT HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO BE ON THERE.  Don’t even.  When the ‘mill ticks over to 1 mile and you think “only 19 more to go”- you are on the road to mental defeat. In the last 5 miles you are allowed to whisper to yourself “last 1/4.  only XX minutes to go”.  In the LAST 5 miles, cheerlead yourself to the finish.

3.  What do you think about so that you DON’T think about how long you will be on there?  Personally, I binge watch TV.  This may be an entire morning of the food channel (hey, If I was at home, it would be on anyhow.  At least if I am running while it is on I am doing something productive!).  Right now this means that I am TOTALLY IN with Frank and Claire (aka season 2 of House of Cards!).  I am also working through Homeland.

4.  When all else fails, entertainment-wise- find yourself a nice, intense movie.  I really liked streaming World War Z…  even though I didn’t know it was a zombie movie.  I’m a little blonde that way.  I saw Brad Pitt and it looked action-y…  but then during mile 16 I was totally rooting to SAVE THE WORLD!.

PS- I would really like for more movies to be in the 2.5-3 hr range.  Thanks!

5.  When all else fails- RUN FAST.  Speed work is EXCELLENT for the treadmill (and so are tempos!).  Even if you aren’t training for anything- running as fast as you can for .25 miles (400 meters), taking a short break (about half the distance or about the same amount of time it took to run the .25 miles) and repeating 8-12 (or more) times can be wicked fun.  I’m serious.

6. More mental games/speed play- my friend’s dad gave me this workout-  starting at 6mph increase the speed every MINUTE by .1 for a half hour (which gets you to 9mph- 6:40ish pace)- and then come back down the ladder for the next half hour.  If you do the math, you end up running for 40 minutes at faster-than-usual (for me) pace- and at least 20 minutes of <7min/mile pace.  That is a GOOD workout.  The surprise is actually once I have “crested” the speed threshold, I am so warmed up that I don’t usually go all the way back down the ladder and tend to “hang out” at faster paces than I usually run.  It is a great ego boost!

Have you guys been running on the treadmill?

Recommend more TV!  I hope to not need it- but you never know

Do you run outside regardless of weather?