Run: 3 miles at 6.3 mph for 1.5 miles, then 6.5 mph for 1.5 miles
Distance: 3.0 miles
Time: 28:13
Performance Stats (out of 5 ★)
Legs: ★ ★ ★
Gut: ★ ★ ★ ★
Energy: ★ ★ ★ .5
Mind: ★ ★ ★ ★
Overall: ★ ★ ★ ★
Soundtrack: Pandora, The Crystal Method Radio
As the speed get faster and faster on the treadmill, it's always important to remember one thing - this doesn't necessarily translate to the same amount of speed or endurance on the road. This is probably intuitive, but for some reason, I am usually pretty surprised to find that even after I start increasing my speed and distance on the treadmill, if i jump into an early 5K (like the one coming up in January), I find that my training seems not adequate at all, and my time for the 5K is much slower compared to the shorter races in the fall.
The biggest problem actually is less training. I certainly make it out a lot more often when I'm running on the roads. Yesterday was actually a beautiful day out, but there was enough fresh snow on the ground that running around moving cars just wasn't going to be safe. So in I went again to the treadmill at the gym. This works on the motivated days, but I can tell you, on the not-so-motivated days, this just doesn't happen.
The other part is that the training is different. There is a lot less change in terrain and incline. I also tend not to use my settings well, and don't build in the equivalent of intervals or hills. I know that you can do this with a few settings on the treadmill, but for the most part I'm like a crock-pot on this thing - set it and forget it!
But you have to appreciate it for what it is. Three miles on the treadmill, especially with starting to pick up the pace is still three miles behind you - even though you didn't move far from your actual position! A run is a run for your legs and health, and each day is one day closer to Spring. With some good motivation this week, we'll try to keep up the early morning runs through the Christmas celebrations, and see how fit we can be for the new year!