I Hate It!!

Have I mentioned on this blog that I absolutely HATE running on the treadmill?  

I woke up this morning and I knew what I had to do.  I knew that I needed to get to the gym to run.  The only way I would forego the gym?   If the weather was bad.  I looked at my weather app on my phone.  I don't know if I should call what I felt upon seeing the report  disappointment or excitement.  Yeah, the weather was clear enough for me to travel to the gym.   Off I went.

Have I mentioned that I absolutely HATE running on the treadmill?

The sidewalks and roads were a bit slick with a fine sheen of ice.  I didn't have any issue driving, but it was treacherous to get to and from my car!  And while I may or may not HATE running on the treadmill, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that running on the treadmill was definitely the best choice for the morning.   

You see, I have plans.  I have a 10K that I am registered to run.  It is the Cooper River Bridge Run......I did this one last year and ended up walking it.  I vowed to return and run it.  So I am a girl on a mission!   So in foul weather treadmills are kinda necessary.  I have reconciled myself to doing it....and have even tried to turn it into a way to better myself!  

I made it though and I pushed out two miles.  Nothing extraordinary.  I SHOULD have gone longer.  I was aiming for anywhere between 2 and 3 miles, so I am OK with hitting the two mile mark.  I did it in my overall average pace.  HOWEVER, I am happy to say that I did it while doing intervals.  I would walk a song...and then run a song.   So how did I manage to do this run in the same (a few seconds better a mile) pace as my typical run/jog  pace?   I cranked up the speed on my run segments.  Not so much that I thought I was going to die....but enough that I felt it.   I also walked at just a hair below a run...so a fast walk.  So a shorter run, but one in which I pushed in order to better myself. 

As I drove home I went down some of the roads that I typically run when I'm outside.  Ahhhh I want to run outside!   (Because Yeah, in case you didn't catch on....I hate running on the treadmill)   I am sooo looking forward to a pleasant outdoor run!   I was scooping out the sidewalks and alleys and I could see the slick ice and chunks of icy snow dotting the paths that I like to run.  Ahhhh sooon.....so soon!  (and then I will lament that my membership at the gym is costing me money and I'm not using it....as I run by the gym on my glorious outdoor runs!)

That said....I KNOW that I need to start using the gym for more than a place to go and run a few miles on the treadmill.  I KNOW that I should be utilizing the classes......and the other equipment..... I should be doing some toning too!    Yeah, I'll get right on that!

So today was my weigh/reporting day for my Pity The Fool challenge.  I didn't start out as strongly as I was planning and hoping.  I didn't gain...so that is a victory.   I DID actually lose.......2/10ths of a pound.  Yes, I dropped to 231.6 pounds.    Not looking at it as a failure......just a slow start!

My plans for the week ahead of me?   I plan on running tomorrow....yeah, probably the treadmill again. (Have I mentioned that I hate the treadmill?)  This weekend the weather is supposed to be FANTASTIC and Jason has already talked about getting outside and doing something!  YAY.  So that will be activity.     I will get to wear my new water resistant/quick drying pants. (May even get some benefits from the sunshade properties to protect my skin from the suns damaging but oh so good feeling rays!)  That will be a bonus because some of these other hikes have been 'WET'  as my pants soak up the water and NEVER dry during the hike.