My treadmill is gone. I don't like TMs because: 1) to me, running on one feels nothing like running outdoors and 2) they aggravate the issues I have with my Achilles tendon. Mine was in excellent condition because I'd honestly used it less than 10 times. "Let's sell it!" I guess I
When running a bunch of half marathons, I get caught in constant taper and recovery modes. I second guess what I should do. My overwhelming fear is that I will be tired when I start the next race and then have an epic fail. So, I over think it (like I do everything) and err on the side of too little running. It's not helping my race times or my confidence.
Please don't ostracize me, but I've stopped reading Runner's World magazine (aka the runner's bible). I once read it cover to cover, soaking up absolutely every word. Now, I only read an occasional human interest story. Oh, I have nothing against RW. They are a wonderful resource and truly taught me everything I know! But, it seems to be the same stuff over and over, just wrapped in a different bow. And hey, you know, they will e-mail me the articles anyway!
My tennis elbow is not better. In fact, I've recently made it worse by firing objects at the carnival games inside the Disney ride experience Toy Story Mania. (Jeez - I sound so old!) I was just trying to beat one of my kids. He ended up winning during the last few seconds anyway. Argh. I must get it rehabilitated by summer. I can't miss water skiing season!
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| Photo Credit: Disney (These happy kids are not mine!) |
One more thing: I don't like using Active.com any longer. Once the perfect site to locate races, it's now clogged with virtual events. No, I'm not against virtual races - whatever works for you - but I'm looking for actual, physical, travel-to-the-event, pin-on-a-bib races. Why don't they have an option to take out the virtual events?
Ok, it's your turn. What would you like to runfess?
I'm also linking with the DC Trifecta for Friday Five.
It's Free Friday - so I'm sure there will be a lot of interesting topics. Checks out these wonderful ladies.
Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up For What?!, & Mar on the Run!
I'm also linking with the DC Trifecta for Friday Five.
It's Free Friday - so I'm sure there will be a lot of interesting topics. Checks out these wonderful ladies.
Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up For What?!, & Mar on the Run!
I also don't like treadmills so really don't have a reason to get one, but then, like you, I think maybe I should get one in case I really need it. But, if I survived this tough winter, I probably don't need it. I'm a magazine-a-holic, so even though I agree that RW is basically the same stuff re-packaged, I do like flipping through the pages. My runfession is that I have a race tomorrow that I'm using as my long run and not racing, and I'm STILL nervous. Lord, I need to get over this anxiety!!!
ReplyDeleteIf you could run through this winter, you CAN run through anything. I guess I'm worried about not having it during thunderstorms but that rarely happens in the mornings. Everybody gets nervous, I will be tomorrow too!
DeleteRunning on the treadmill usually causes me more trouble than it's worth; I seem to change my gait enough that it exacerbates other problems and if I do it more than a couple of times a week, this is a recipe for disaster. Good riddance - ha! I'm sorry to hear about your elbow; that stinks! I hope you have a great weekend and thanks for sharing your Runfessions!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks TM running is so different! Good luck with your marathon this weekend!
DeleteIn your climate I think you can get away with no mill. I agree with you on RW. Probably don't need it. But then I see subscriptions for 6 years for $1 or something nearly as crazy and cave. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteI used the TM twice last year when we had ice. So, no big loss I guess. It's hard to pass on RW because I feel I'm supposed to read it. Ha. But then it sits there unread.
DeleteI hate the treadmill tool. Mine is broken and I don't care. I don't do virtual races either. if I am going to pay, I want the real thing and run with others. I still read RW but just because. The only time I ran 3 halfs in a short period of time, I was too tired for the last one (which was supposed to my goal race.) So now I space them out. it is very tempted to sign up for more. It's hard to hold back.
ReplyDeleteMy thought was that my 2nd one (this weekend) would be the best. But, I'm not sure now. I wanted to do 4 in 21 days to go up a moon level in Half Fanatics. Silly. But, I'll follow through as long as I am uninjured.
Deleteugh - I feel you on Active.com. It used to be the place I went to for finding races but now there are so many other great sites and word of mouth. I don't know that I've ever read a RW from cover to cover since their online mag is so extensive!
ReplyDeleteI think they need a separate section or site for virtual races! It takes too much time to weed through them.
DeleteMy sister also stopped getting Runner's world. She said the same thing. That it is always talking about the same topics. I still have it down loaded on my iPad bad I forget when it becomes downloaded and seem to always be a month behind. I could never get rid of my treadmill. But unlike you, I do use it all the time. I definitely got my moneys worth out of it.-L
ReplyDeleteThat was the thing, my TM just sat unused. Someone should enjoy using it.
Deletei don't like treadmills either but there have been a few times this weekend where i've wished we owned one!
ReplyDeleteYes, I can imagine with your weather lately it would have come in handy! If I had the space (like a basement or spare room) I would have kept it.
DeleteI let my RW subscription go for just that reason! I bought one off the shelf a few months ago when they did a write-up on vegan runners, but that's the first one I've bought in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one! I thought I'd be blasted for that comment. Ha. I hope your hip is better and you got in to see the doc!
DeleteI'm with you on both treadmills and RW - I know my stride is completely different on the mill and it feels unnatural. I let my RW subscription for the same reason and just read the occasional article online if something catches my eye.
ReplyDeleteYou make me feel so much better on both counts! I'm glad I'm not alone. :)
DeleteOh, I LOVE these runfessions!! I am also in a weird taper/recover cycle right now and am starting to feel like I never run. Except that I totally do. So strange what the mind will do.
ReplyDeleteAnd I stopped reading RW for the same reason. I still follow them on FB and Twitter because I like to keep a toe in, but I don't really feel like I have much to learn from them anymore.
Have you tried runningintheusa.com? I find a lot of my races from them, and they have pretty good filters if you need to only race on certain days or something.
Isn't this taper/recovery thing weird? I feel like I've forgotten how to run and yet I ran 4 times this week. Huh? I guess because it's not the normal amount or effort maybe? I'm a big fan of runningintheusa. Their filters are wonderful. Sometimes they have outdated information though.
DeleteI have never enjoyed treadmills, sometimes they come in handy. But I will run outside in nearly any condition so it has to get pretty bad, or super late at night for me to consider pulling out the treadmill:)
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for stopping RW. I have enjoyed it through the years, but the last few issues I haven't even read yet. I didn't even think about it until I ready your post, but I agree I think my inner mind already knew what I was going to read, so it's lost its excitement to crack open as soon as it arrives in the mail:)
I know - I used to be so thrilled when I found it in the mailbox. It's a little sad, really, that I don't get that feeling anymore. I would stand in the kitchen and start reading back to front (don't ask me why!).
DeleteI feel the same way as you do about Runners World. Except that I get a free subscription with my Chicago area runners association membership. But I have 3-4 issues sitting on my nightstand, waiting for me to read them!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I'm not alone on this! I took the last 3 issues on a recent trip thinking surely I would read them. Didn't happen.
DeleteI laughed when I read that your treadmill is gone. Ever since I started training for marathons, I absolutely despise the treadmill. I only use one at a gym, and it is very infrequently. As for Active, I don't do virtual races, and search for my local races through a couple local websites. Last weekend, I "raced" a half marathon for the first time in 16 months. Now that does not mean I had not run a few in 2014, actually, I think I ran 5. But none of those were for time because they were either part of a challenge, on a super hilly course (hello Asheville Half Marathon), paced a friend, and ran an international race. Finally racing again was wonderful. It's hard to do well in every race, and setting your sights on "racing" just a few helps me alot. Good post!
ReplyDeleteI agree, you can't race all of them! You have to turn that switch off. In this series of 4 I'm running right now, I'm trying to run smart, strong and healthy. I plan to actually train for and race one in April, if all goes well. Your finish time was amazing!
DeleteTreadmills are the worst. We don't have one and I just can't see ever having one. You're probably better off without it. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't let your head get in your way. Easier said than done, but trust your training and let your legs do what you've been using them to do. :)
Good advice. Too often, my head does get in the way!
DeleteGosh, I sympathize with so much of this. I'm keeping my treadmill though, although I only use it in emergencies. I've found that it's good for hill intervals, but I have to be careful using it for speed intervals because I tend to get injured. I haven't read RW in years, but I do follow their FB page and click through to a lot of their articles ....
ReplyDeleteI still have a Y membership. If I had to, I could always run on their TMs.
DeleteI always felt I was somehow fighting against the belt. The ground is not moving. But, the TM is! I hope you feel NO MORE spots in your leg! EVER.
ReplyDeleteI hope your elbow feels better soon! And I hope you figure out a good cycle before your last two halves! You can figure it out!
ReplyDeleteMy RW subscription is ending and I am letting it go. Yep, too much of the same thing over and over (and I CAN read it online, like you said). I prefer Running Times and am sad they are only doing 6 issues a year now.
I stopped RT years ago because at the time, I felt it was for the more elite or professional athlete. And, that certainly wasn't me. But honestly, I haven't read their magazine in years. I should probably give them another try.
DeleteI totally agree with the TM, but it's at least gotten me started with my training! I also agree with RW minus the human interest stories. It's all the same stuff...
ReplyDeleteI started out running on the TM, it just seems to cause problems for me now. I wish it didn't.
DeleteI ran on the TM at the gym last night because when I got off it was raining. I wanted to get in a run before this weekend but wanted to do it early enough in the week. I have a hard time running on that thing. I don't know how people do it for long periods of time. 40 minutes was about my limit. But I did get in a good sweaty workout if that counts. I've noticed that about active.com too. They do need an option to search for real races. Hope you have a great week and I hope to see you Saturday! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's been a crazy week so far! And, I can't decide how much to run before Saturday. Yes, I hope we can meet Saturday. I'm just driving over and not spending the night.
Delete