Fitting Remarks: Top 10 Worst People to Run Next to on a Treadmill

In my weekly recap from yesterday, you probably noticed that there was a lot of treadmill miles...in fact, all 45 miles of last week's running were on a treadmill- eeks! Not fun.

Though I started to get kind of used to the ol’ treadmill, I can't say I have learned to love it. I definitely prefer to run outside. It was a lot of time indoors pounding out the miles, but it did give me a lot of time to think about all the different people who I ran next to. 

With that said, I have come up with what I consider the Top 10 Worst People to Run Next To on a Treadmill.

1. The Chatty Kathy: I had one of these next to me the other day- he wanted to talk about my pace, what I was training for, how far I was going, etc., etc. Sometimes, I don't mind making small talk, but it’s not really that easy to make polite eye contact when running on the ‘mill without a high risk of an epic fall. Also, most of the time, I just want to zone out, rather than being locked into a conversation with a stranger- a conversation that everyone else at the gym is forced to overhear….

Most of all, I don't want to end up like this little guy:

2. The Lurker: This person doesn’t show up too often at my gym, as there are usually enough treadmills to go around. Yet occasionally, there is a lurker...that guy who is peering over your shoulder, trying to make sure you're not disobeying the 30 minute cardio limit (but really, who only runs for 30 minutes?) This guy is quick to hop onto your treadmill if you make a quick bathroom break. He also doesn’t hesitate to call you out for going over the time limit allotted by your gym policy. Need to wipe the sweat off the ‘mill afterwards? No time! The Lurker has already hopped on.

3. The Unwelcome Competitor: Every time you change your pace, he changes his. Every time you increase the incline, he peers over and does the same. At this point, I usually try to position my sweat towel over the pace/info so he can't see. Take that, Unwelcome Competitor!

4. The Faker: This guy turns up the treadmill as fast as it goes, sprints for about a minute, and then puts his feet on the sides for a "break". He spends more time "breaking" than actually running, but hey, look how fast he went!

5. The Jeans Guy:  Okay, more power to you for working out at all…but in jeans? I don’t want to know how nasty it gets inside those sweaty Levi's. It’s like skiing in jeans…100% failed fit!

6. The Cell Phone Talker:  I don’t want to hear all about your drunken weekend escapades.

7. The Grunter:  You’re working hard. You need to make sure we ALL know just HOW hard with several ugh, arghs, and uffdas…

8. The Overwhelming Body Odor Guy: The stench..it burns the nostrils! This guy hasn't washed his gym clothes in months, and has no plans to do so at any point in the near future.

9. The “High Perspire”: This person is sweating all over the place! I might be guilty of this one- I swear, the heat is always super high at my gym, and I finish most of my runs totally drenched. But there's nothing worse than getting a sweat shower from the guy on the treadmill next to you.

10. The Gas Passer:  I am wearing headphones.  Not a nose plug.

Just remember, the first rule of treadmill running is that you always select a treadmill that is on the end of a row if possible. Hopefully that means you only have to deal with a person on one side of you. Otherwise, you could be sandwiched between TWO people from the above list.

Do you have any others to add to this list? Please share in the comments!

Weekly Recap: Last Week of February and a Snow Bunny Bachelorette Party!

The week I was in Utah didn't deserve its own weekly recap, as my workouts were minimal (except snowboarding of course). I'll consider it a "cutback" week, and not stress too much about it.

However, by Monday, I was ready to delve into my Flying Pig Marathon training. Unfortunately, Minnesota weather wasn't on board will this idea. We received a foot of snow while we were in Park City, and the temperatures were still crazy low, so the trails (and roads for that matter) were still extremely icy. 

Icy trails and extremely cold temps meant that this week turned out to be a whole lot of treadmill time...

Monday: 7 miles on the treadmill, wall sits and planks

Tuesday: 8 miles on the treadmill with three 10-minute tempo intervals

Wednesday: 5 miles on the treadmill and kettlebells class at Balance Fitness <-- great class!

Thursday: 9 miles on the treadmill with "simulated" hills. I cranked up the incline for 4 minutes, then 4 minutes at zero incline, repeating this about 6 times. It felt pretty similar to our hill workouts with the club.

Friday: Rest.

Saturday: 16 miles on the treadmill. I broke it up into sets of 4 miles. It didn't seem as daunting if every time I got on the treadmill, I only had to run 4 miles (instead of thinking about the 16 total.) After each 4 mile set, I would take a water/Gatorade/GU break, stretch, maybe even switch treadmills, and then get back on for another 4 miles. Now, I could have run outside, but the temperature was about -5, and the trails were still so icy! Plus, I knew that none of my regular running buddies would be at the club yesterday, so the treadmill was where it was at for me. I really hope that was the only time I have to do my long run on it! 

Sunday: Another rest day.

Total: About 45 miles, 2 rest days, 1 strength day, and no yoga.

After Saturday's long treadmill run, I hurried home to shower, eat, and pack to hit the road to Anandale for my run club friend's bachelorette party! 

Her maids of honor had planned such a fun weekend at a beautiful cabin on the lake. (If you recall, another friend's summer bachelorette party was also in Anandale- read about that one HERE) This party was a little different since it was the middle of the winter, so there was a snow bunny theme! We were encouraged to bring ice skates, cross country skis, snowshoes, sleds, or any other outdoor winter activities. We arrived a little too late to participate in all of the outdoor activities, but we were all on board with our snow bunny attire!

There was a penguin, a snow bunny, some bunny ears...I wore a faux fur Marmot vest that I purchased after seeing my little sister's similar vest in Park City (find it HERE). I wouldn't normally wear the vest without anything underneath, but we were all having a great time celebrating and bonding at the cabin- there was no need to go out on the town! Instead, we stayed inside where it was warm and cozy, where a faux fur lined vest without a shirt underneath is perfectly appropriate!

We played a few fun games, and there might have been a little imbibing in the spirits...even some moonshine soaked berries! Those were a bit strong...

I had such a great time celebrating with this wonderful group of friends (and some new friends too!) and I can't wait for the bachelorette's big day this summer.

FYI- I found the gray/pink/white sweater I'm wearing on "Life with Emily"'s blog. I just loved the way she styled it, so I ordered the same one for me! Check out that post here.

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday afternoon. Are you prepping for some Oscar watching? I've added it to my TiVo, but I'll be honest, I'll probably fast forward a lot of it. 

Tell me- what's the longest you have run on a treadmill? I think 16 might have been my maximum...

What are you most looking forward to at the Oscars? The dresses!

Fit Fanatic: Another cold day....

By Cool J in Minneapolis

You're probably tired of me talking about how cold it is in Minneapolis...

But seriously? That's cold. Besides, Minnesotans love to talk about the weather! With temps like that, it was to the treadmill for me (again). I did give the Nike Flyknits another go:

{eew, the locker room floor at my gym is nasty!}

My feet got tingly again towards the end of a 5 miler. It wasn't unbearable, but just strange. I'm continuing to rotate these in on occasion. I did a 5-4-3-2-1 workout again (~1.5 mile warmup, 5 minutes fast, 2.5 minutes slow, 4 minutes fast, 2 minutes slow, etc, with a cold down at the end.) 

Then it was off to the dog park in my failed fit sleeping bag jacket. 

Even in her performance fleece jacket, Matilda wasn't a fan of the cold weather. She kept running on three legs, lifting a back paw that must have been too cold. Needless to say, we didn't stay very long. Vizsla are great running dogs, but probably not the best winter dogs! Poor thing.

I have to share this picture from Saturday at the same dog park. It's not an "official" dog park, but a volunteer sets out plastic bags and garbage cans, and then empties them every week with his poop mobile! Minneapolis...you can be cruel with your weather, but I still love you and your quirkiness!

Fits Do Product Reviews: Nike Flyknit Shoes

By Cool J in Minneapolis

This was what my outdoor thermometer read this morning:

So this is where I ended up:

But it was a good opportunity for me to try out my new Nike Flyknit shoes.

I only managed about 5.5 miles (but with a 1.0 incline!), but it was enough for the “beast” (i.e. the dreadmill). As for the shoes? They were very light. I barely felt like I was wearing shoes at all.

However, my toes started to get tingly towards the end of the run. I wasn’t sure what that meant. The D-man thinks that it’s just because it’s such a different type of shoe than I’m used to. It’s probably a bit stiffer in the sole to make up for the softer structure elsewhere. I hope it doesn’t mean they are a failed fit for me.

For now, I’ll rotate this pair in with my Brooks Adrenaline...

{my reliable Brooks}

....at least when I’m on the treadmill. They are significantly lighter and they sure are a fun color, aren’t they?

Again, the technology behind the Flyknit shoe is as follows:

"The innovative Nike Flyknit Racer Unisex Running Shoe gets its structure and support from Nike Flyknit technology. As a result, it's incredibly lightweight, with a precision that feels like a second skin.The one-piece knit upper seamlessly integrates areas of high support, breathability and stretch where you need them most—without overlays, which add weight. For an adaptive fit, lightweight dynamic Flywire wraps the foot and is adjustable through the laces."

I hope the Flyknit shoes work out for me. They are definitely a nice change from my clunky Brooks!

Failed Fit: Why Treadmills Are No Fun....

By Cool J in Minneapolis

With the temperature in Minneapolis around 1 degree, and with wind chills below 0, I decided the treadmill was the right fit for me today.

While on the treadmill at the gym, I overheard a trainer talking to one of his clients while she warmed up on the treadmill. She was training for her first 5k, and wanted to know what she could expect to run on race day based on how she was running on the treadmill. The trainer told her that she should add at least 30 seconds per mile to her treadmill pace to determine her outdoor pace (particularly because she wasn’t using an incline on the treadmill). As though the treadmill isn’t hard enough…now we have to run even faster to maintain a respectable fitness level that translates outdoors! 

Gees...treadmill running is no fun!

After that little bit of discouraging information, I started thinking about all my little grievances with regards to running on the treadmill…here it goes. 

What SUCKS about TREADMILLS by Jess:

1. You are way too close to other runners: 

Other runners smell. Other runners have sweat that flies into your personal space. 

2. 30 minute limits: 

Most gyms set a 30 minute limit on their cardio equipment. This means you may have eager New Year resolution-makers rubber-necking over your shoulder to see if you’re close to the limit. These eager beavers are quick to ask you to move along after 30 minutes. *My tip: use a towel to cover your screen so no one knows how long you’ve been on the treadmill!

3. Reset at 60 minutes: 

Let’s say that somehow you avoid the 30 minute limit on #2. You’re feeling good, thinking about running 8-10 miles on the ol’treadmill. And then you hit 60 minutes and the darn thing stops. Now you’re super sweaty, but are back to mile 0. How un-rewarding! (Also see #6)

4. Acute Awareness of Your Pace. 

Running on a treadmill means that you have to be very conscious of what pace you’re running, whereas when running outside you can run how you feel. Even if you’re wearing a Garmin, you can vary your pace throughout the run, but you have to consciously change the pace on a treadmill.

5. The Mental “Countdown”: 

When running on a treadmill, I often find myself watching the seconds tick by, minute after minute. If I were running outside, I wouldn’t even been aware of how long I’d be running, but on a treadmill? Oh, you know.  See #2 for my towel-tip, which can also help here.

6. Other People Judging Your Pace: 

I don’t need that Under-Amour-clad gym rat judging me based on my current treadmill pace, or how hard I appear to be working! Mind your own business there buddy! Yes, I am going slow, and yes, I am extremely sweaty. Hey now- for all you know, my treadmill may have reset multiple times! Yep, that’s right- I’m on mile 105!

7. No pause on the treadmill! 

God forbid you need to take a quick bathroom break or even stop to fill up your water bottle. Either your treadmill will reset or that New Year's resolution-keeper from #2 will have taken over your treadmill faster than one of my sisters takes over the cheese tray at a holiday party (I kid… )

8. TV selections… or lack thereof. 

I can only handle so much Fox News. Or Days of our Lives.

I could probably go on about what sucks about running on a treadmill, but this is supposed to be a motivational fitness blog so let me tell you some things that are awesome about a treadmill.

1. You can run in shorts in the winter in Minnesota (or anywhere else in the Midwest)

{Yay for running in shorts in December..though this was in Memphis}

2. You can break a real sweat in the winter in Minnesota

{I Heart Sweat shirt, purchased from Ali On the Run- check out her blog- one of my favorites!}

3. You can safely do speed workouts in the winter in Minnesota, without worrying about breaking an ankle on the ice.

{No need for these babies on the treadmill!}

4. You can avoid all of the cold weather necessities discussed HERE and just wear your warm weather clothes on the treadmill.

5. You can do it anywhere. Seriously. Maybe you’re traveling in a dangerous city; I bet your hotel has a treadmill. Maybe it’s sleeting outside- I bet you can find a gym that offers a day pass, and I promise you, they’ll have a treadmill.

6. And the top reason to love a treadmill? Well, the runner’s high from a great treadmill run is just as sweet as that from an outdoor run. The calories burned count just as much as running outside. Running is running, so get it in where you can, outdoors or on a treadmill!

So tie up your running shoes, leave your yak-traks at home, fire up your ipod, and hop on that treadmill!

{Merry Christmas from the Right Fits and from this guy...who loves Christmas!}

Functional Fit: Imagination

By: LL

As you read here, I'm currently training for 1 (potentially 2) half marathons for September. So far, it bas been rough going due to the record high temperatures - even at dawn, which is when I prefer to run. And yesterday morning was the worst yet. Since my husband and I are in the midst of moving to our house today (thus the free time to blog while the movers do all the heavy lifting), I had to do my long run yesterday morning. No biggie! Except that when the alarm went off at 4:15, it was pouring rain. I had to run a 10k on a dreadmill.

I know some people enjoy the treadmill, but I find it painful for any distance over three miles. In order to get through the run, I had to use my imagination (cue the Willy Wonka song...). We all do it - whether running inside or out. We create different run scenarios or reflect back on memorable runs. For some it is crossing the finish line for the first time. Others might imagine themselves running along the beach. For difficult runs, you need to escape where you are and take your mind out of the equation, because it is your mind giving up, not necessarily your body.

For me, I imagined myself on one of my favorite routes that I used to run when I lived in East Lansing, Mich. It was a fall morning - 57 degrees fahrenheit. The sun had just risen and leaves scattered along the sides of the path and danced in the breeze. It was quiet - the city still slept. I could smell autumn. I was there even though, physically, I was pounding away on the treadmill, going nowhere, in a hot gym, with the rain hitting the windows and the lightening flashing.

As runners, we know that many times the challenge of running a long distance is not the physical at all; it is mental. I believe, and you may disagree with me, that beyond the half way point (i.e., 13.1 for a full marathon; 6.2 for a half), your body can do it, but your mind is what you have to train. And a little imagination - training your mind to get outside of your run - is what helps you accomplish your goals. I even ended up running seven...on a treadmill!

Failed Fit- Treadmill time....

By Jessie

Last Thursday, I was at work late, and ended up missing my second scheduled kettlebell class. I needed to "fit fitness" in somehow. I thought about running outside, but unfortunately our 50 degree heat wave was over. The temperature had fallen quite a bit, and as I left my office around 7 pm, the blustering wind and 6 degree temperatures quickly eliminated my fitness motivation.

So, I decided to break down and hit the treadmill. I have a membership at LA Fitness-

It's not a great gym- there is no towel service. You have to bring your own lock for the lockers. There is nothing fancy about this gym. But there are multiple convenient locations for me, and membership is only about $30/month. Between my Corepower packages, run club membership, and other random fitness expenses, $30/month "fits the bill.".

So, there I was- on the treadmill. Why is it so much harder than running outside? What sort of things could make it better?

Even though I didn't follow my own advice on that boring treadmill run, I do have some tips and advice to share for surviving the "dreadmill":

Run with a friend: I've posted in the past about the benefits of running with a run club . Running with your friends can definitely keep you going. In these dark, winter months, a group of run club ladies have started a facebook group that allows us to post about whether we'll be making it to run club on a particular night. Posting a message to all the girls that you'll be there holds you accountable. The treadmill doesn't allow for the same opportunities for "commitment", but you can still help pass the time with the company of a friend. If you and a friend belong to the same gym, get her to run on the treadmill next to you. You can motivate each other and provide distraction to make your workout time go by faster. And one great thing about treadmill running with friends is that you don't have to be the same pace, so you can run with friends who you wouldn't normally run with outside!

Try an interval workout. Rather than running at a constant pace, mix up your run with hard and easy segments. It can be as simple as: A five-minute warm-up followed by three sets of four-minute intervals (two minutes of hard running and two minutes of easy running), followed by a five-minute cool-down. Personally, I find myself staring at that timer on the treadmill, slowly counting down the minutes, and they never seem to go fast enough. Splitting the miles into these short segments can really make the time go faster.

Zone out. This is an easy one. Unlike running outside, treadmill running doesn't require that you pay close attention to your surroundings. You don't even have to think about your route. So running on a treadmill gives you a chance to lose yourself in the rhythm of your breathing or your pounding feet. Try blocking out everything around you and enter a peaceful, relaxing state. Just don't get caught being a "starer" as discussed in this article (The 7 Jerks You Meet in Every Gym)

Do a pyramid workout. The time flies by during this treadmill workout because you're paying so much attention to your interval times. After a 5-minute warm-up, run hard (5K pace) for one minute, recover one minute; run hard two minutes, recover two minutes; run hard three minutes, recover two minutes; run hard four minutes, recover two minutes; run hard five minutes, recover two minutes. Then work your way back down the "pyramid" and run hard four minutes, recover two minutes; run hard three minutes, recover two minutes; run hard two minutes, recover two minutes; run hard one minute, recover one minute. End the workout with a 5-minute cooldown.

Listen to music. Listening to music on the treadmill can be a great way to combat boredom and run longer. LL posted about the motivational aspects of running with music here. I don't usually run with headphones outside, but I definitely recommend it for the treadmill. Choose motivating songs and create a playlist for your workout -– it will help prevent you from continually checking the clock to see how much more you have to go.

Alternate with another cardio machine. Try breaking up your run by alternating with the bike or elliptical trainer. If you want to do a 40-minute cardio workout, run on the treadmill for 10 minutes and then jump on another machine for 10 minutes, and keep alternating until you've reached your total goal time. If you run on a treadmill at home and that's your only cardio machine, try running up and down the stairs for five minutes, in between running segments.