Today I Ran
Course: Treadmill Heart-Rate Intervals
Distance: 5.9 miles (no, that's not a typo)
Mood: "was that really almost six miles?"
In a very surprising turn of events, I discover that by slowing down and actually staying in my target heart rate zone I can run for much longer and (hopefully) get a better workout in than I can by pretending I'm Michael Johnson at the Olympics and bonking after 2 miles. Will wonders never cease? So all those magazine articles and books about running and training were right. Who knew?
Note to self: listen to the experts, and not my own fragile, misguided ego.
2 comments:
i totally know how you feel. as someone who never trained for long distances, i was totally on that florence griffith joyner (my hero) tip and training for explosive strength and speed. and i never felt like i was getting a "real" workout unless i was basically in that ridiculous red heart rate zone. my only problem with staying on the treadmill for longer distances is boredom...any ideas?
I'm hoping that now that the weather is nicer, I can leave the treadmill behind and hit the streets and trails (if I can find any trails). But one think that I found that helps with treadmill running is putting it on some kind of interval setting, so that the speed and incline fluctuate. Most treadmills have a random hills setting that can make for a good challenge. It keeps things a little more interesting because you have to keep adjusting, and also it's helped me become a little more aware of how much the slightest increase in pitch or speed changes my heart rate.
I'm a little bit geeked out at the gym with my heart rate monitor, which automatically works with the treadmills at the gym. I use a Polar monitor. I'm sure when the novelty wears off, I'll stop keeping an eye on my heart rate and things will become less interesting.
I definitely find myself itching to run outside instead these days.
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