Treadmill Thursday

Say hello to the treadmill I ran on last night.

Hello new treadmill!

No, I didn't get a new treadmill for home. Instead, after skipping the training plan's Thursday two mile run for the past two weeks, my schedule finally allowed me to attend both Pilates and get my cardio in on a Thursday. Normally I would do 30 minutes on the elliptical after Pilates, but since the training plan now calls for an additional two mile run on Thursdays, that's where I headed.

Technically, I could have run OUTSIDE before Pilates, but I didn't really want to go do a bunch of mat work all sweaty and gross. I've done that before in the past and I found that I don't work myself as hard if I do my cardio beforehand. Regardless, the warm weather and the fact that I could wear SHORTS outside without freezing to death put a nice spring in my step. Also, I have to admit, I was excited to run on a treadmill that I knew would actually show me what incline I had it set at.

So, after Pilates (in which I actually managed to do Open Leg Rocker with my legs straight...although I'm sure I'm nowhere near as graceful as the girl in that video), I headed to the fitness room and hopped on a treadmill. I ran my first mile at 5.5 MPH and the second mile at 5.6 MPH...both actually at a 1% incline. It's been awhile since I ran on a treadmill other than my own. Funny how different treadmills actually feel different. This one, while nice and cushy, felt kind of unstable. Also, it made my calves ache for the first time in a LONG time. Maybe what I've been thinking is a 1% incline on mine isn't even close. Still have to do the measuring to find out.

Anyway, two miles in about 21 minutes and I called it a night. Got to rest up for my second 9-miler this weekend. It's supposed to be in the 40s and rainy. It's been a long time since I ran in the rain. I don't even own a nice rain jacket. I'm going to try and be tough and run outside instead of letting Mother Nature drive me to the treadmill, but we'll see.