Treadmill.........you are not my friend

I don't know about anyone else, but I really used to dread winter running. I also used to live in Michigan, where on any given day there could be 10 inches of snow and ice, with a temperature of zero.

It goes without saying, but that really never happens in Tennessee. The high is usually between 45 and 55F, which to me is perfect running weather. The only thing that still gets me is the lack of sunlight. The sun is only up from about 7:30am-5:15pm, and on Monday-Friday I am usually at work at those times--thus leaving me with the option of running in the dark, or running on a treadmill. Neither of those options sound too appealing.

I've been running on the treadmill during the week, and outside on Saturday mornings with the Knoxville Track Club. There are some positives that come with treadmill running, which include:

--You don't have to bundle up--you're indoors
--The bathroom is always nearby
--You can set a pace on a treadmill, thus 'forcing' you to run at a certain speed
--You can stop at any time if you feel tired or injured
--The surface of a treadmill is softer than the concrete--thus reducing stress on your joints

If you've read my blogs of yesteryear, you know that I really dislike the treadmill. Here's why:

--You're indoors!
--The scenery never changes
--There is a temptation to just quit when the run is getting tough
--I usually set the pace faster than what I really want to run...my own fault, I know
--It's a mental drain to endure a treadmill 5+ mile run
--One false move and you're thrown off in an instant (I think this contributes to my mental drain....too much concentration required for me to run on a treadmill)

Don't get me wrong, the treadmill does work for some people. I like using a treadmill when I am trying to run at a fast pace for less than 3 miles. When it comes down to it, I would rather run indoors on a treadmill than outdoors in the dark. There are too many injury risks when you can't see where your feet are planting for me to take the risk of night running.

As the days get longer (which they are....) I'll be back to my preferred routine of outdoor running right after work. Until then, I will either be running with the sunrise or running with the 'virtual partner'(or nemesis, depending on who you are...) of the treadmill.....ugh.

On a positive note, I completed a 12.5 mile outdoor run this past Saturday with 8:30 mile splits throughout. The time is good and all, but I had absolutely no knee pain! Dr. Phil Bevins has really made a difference in my running, and he deserves a shout out. If you live in East Tennessee, look him up. He's the bomb, as the kids would say.