Friday, September 25, 2015

A Torture Device. Now, That Makes Sense.

I don’t love the treadmill.  Fact is, I would prefer snow, wind, heat and any other elements outside (except ice, no ice) to being inside running on SW (Satan's wheel). Sure there is a time and a place for it (speed workouts, when it’s icy or dark outside, when you have bowel issues and need a bathroom ASAP), but I am simply an outside runner. Plain and simple.

Here I am on a treadmill. Not loving it:

2048

I know there are some major treadmill fans out there. I’m not saying it’s wrong. It’s just not Beth’s personal preference (do you like when I talk about myself in the third person?)

Why don’t I like it?

  • It’s boring as hell
  • Snot rockets are frowned upon while on the treadmill. And I love a good snot rocket.
  • On a treadmill you don’t see all of the goodies you see on an outside run like used condoms, empty beer bottles and underwear.
  • I fell off of one once and have PTSD.
  • I don’t like staring at walls.
  • I live in Colorado and like being outside.
  • There are no trails on the treadmill.
  • I don’t think it simulates real running. If I’m training for a race that is not on a treadmill (that would be 100% of races) then I want to train on the surface and in the conditions I’ll be running in on race day.

That’s why Beth thought it was hilarious to listen to this TED Talk the other day. Title: “Treadmills Were Actually Designed to Torture Us.” Maybe you didn’t know you came here for a history lesson, but it’s too late to back out now.

In the 1800s a version of the treadmill was created to punish English prisoners. They would have to walk on a wheel for up to 5 hours per day. The prisoners moving the wheel actually created power to make the water mills work. Genius! (hence the name treadmill). What was found was that it wasn’t the physical challenge that tortured people but the monotony of the treadmill.

Can you imagine if the gyms in our country utilized power from all the people on the treadmills for something? The options are endless: making smoothies, heating saunas, propelling power toilet flushers.

In 1911, the first patent was obtained for the treadmill. And, so it goes.

So, if you’ve ever had moments of disliking the treadmill, now you know why. In essence, you are torturing yourself. In the best way possible.

Treadmill vs. outside –> what is your preference?

Do you have a treadmill in your home or do you go to a gym? We have one in the basement. I don’t use it.

SUAR

27 comments:

  1. Ha! That is awesome. A torture device. :-) Honestly, I've never used a treadmill in my life, and don't ever plan to for the very reasons you list. I live in beautiful Oregon, and I'm going to get out and enjoy it rain or shine.

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    1. I'm with you Jeff. I just layer it up in the winter and enjoy all Portland has to offer.

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    2. Yep, I just need varying levels of Under Armour if it's cold enough, and a hat with a visor when it rains. I run in Molalla or Silverton, so I'm never at a loss for natural beauty.

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  2. Only out of desperation (multiple days in a row of below zero and ice) do I succumb to the dreadmill. I agree with your list and will also add they are too hot with no wind in your face. I sweat enough outside

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  3. I have a treadmill and it helped me start running slowly and without being embarrassed. I was 50 pounds overweight and needed to loose them. Now, less those 50, I love trail running as much as the treadmill. During the ice and too-dark-thirty, I don't have any excuse to not get moving with my treadmill. Proud to say I have done many races up to and including half marathons. Prepping for those, I hit the trail and roads. Sometimes I just need to go numb and just go forward without thinking about falling on my a $$. That's where the treadmill and I are besties. Just. Go. Forward.

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  4. I find that I get bored on the treadmill and I start playing games with myself like speeding up so I can get done sooner, throwing in bursts of speed, etc. and this leads me to overdo and sets me up for injury. I hate doing treadmill workouts so much that I once did a memorable long run of about 9-10 miles in 0 F cold doing endless loops around the cleared paths on a college campus. It was like one of those National Lampoon movies: "Hey, look kids! It's that weird phallic statue again!" This was the week after I tried to do a longer loop and ended up unexpectedly having to plow through 18" of unshoveled snow at one point. Good times. Heart rate got right up on that one.

    On a related note, some gyms/schools/colleges have indoor tracks, which are an awfully nice alternative to treadmills when it's awful outside. It's a pain in the butt to do 12 loops to the mile or whatever, but better than breaking yourself falling on the ice. A tip someone else shared with me for counting laps is to figure out how many laps you need to do to get your desired mileage, and then put together a little baggie with as many jelly beans/peanuts/raisins/etc. as laps and eat one per lap (or do one per 2 or 4 laps, whatever). When you run out of treats, you're done!

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  5. Hahahaha! This is awesome and confirms my hatred. So thanks. Outdoors almost always before the gym unless I am going to be struck by lightening or eaten by a bear. Well, maybe I'd rather be eaten by a bear.
    Luckily, my gym has an indoor track. Running in circles (16 laps = 1 mile) is not that much better or less boring than a treadmill, but I try not to complain.
    Funny you mention making smoothies...one year at the Nike Women's Marathon race expo, they had blenders attached to stationary bikes and as you pedaled, you actually made a smoothie!

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    1. Seriously? That's hilarious. I thought I made it up.

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  6. I don't think I"ve ever seen a picture of you on a 'mill. I have an 18 year old treadmill that gets used very rarely--we get some really extreme weather in Chicago and the only time I use it is for speedwork in the winter and/or when it's icy. That's it. My husband has replaced the belt. Sometimes it spits pieces of plastic at me. Speeds up and slows down randomly.

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    1. Confession: I am testing shoes (Hokas) at a shoe store in that picture because that's about the only picture I have of me on the 'mill. Also explains why my hair is down - not something I ever do when I run!

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  7. Oh gosh....I HATE the 'mill. I used to call it "Duh'Mill" and think I offended a lot of my page followers. I agree with you...it does not simulate outdoor running, and I believe it gives people a false sense of security in their own abilities because the 'mill does a LOT of the work for you (you actually are just "keeping up with it," after all). I do see the benefits is using it for speed work, but there is a danger in setting the speed too fast and sacrificing your form if you can't maintain it. Also for me, the constant repetition does not feel good on my legs; I need the great outdoors (with its various terrain) to work all of my muscles effectively. #myopinion

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  8. Outside! We lived in Hawaii for a year and I always thought it was the funniest site seeing people on treadmills there as I went running by. I did have a treadmill when I first started running, but can't last more than about 10 minutes on one now.

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  9. I live in a city where running outside isn't always a great idea, so I have a treadmill at home that I use about twice a week for short runs (like a 5k) and speed training. To overcome the boredom on the treadmill, I usually place an iPad on the monitor, crank up the volume and watch/listen to music videos. It's important for my brain to see and hear variation while using the treadmill. I also find that it's best if I cover up the clock & mileage display on the treadmill with a towel because I hate being constantly reminded that I'm not anywhere near done. I try to keep track of the time by counting how many music videos I've watched.

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    1. Great tips and it sounds like you've found a way to make it bearable!

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  10. You don't realize how much the treadmill sucks until you get off and run outside under the real-world force of gravity. You discover you're not as fast as that machine suggested you were.

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  11. Obviously I am in the minority here, but I love the ol' dreadmill. Listening to awesome podcasts (Leviathan, Wormwood, Serial, Joe Rogan) or watching a movie makes time FLY, and I can zone out and listen without worrying about what's around me. I also run super early before work, and am crazy scared of the dark and don't feel safe running outside at that time.

    It works for me, though it's definitely not for everyone! I do love a good outdoor run on the weekend or when my work schedule allows for me to run later in the morning. Don't be hatin'!

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  12. Hah! That's crazy. But 100% makes sense. Treadmills are crazy boring. Especially if you live in a gorgeous place like CO (I visited last month & regret flying back home every day -_-)
    They ARE useful though. I get my fair share of mill time in the winter when it's dark outside and I don't want to run alone. Or when it's icy. Or snowy. I hate winter.

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  13. I am SO AWKWARD on the treadmill. SO. AWKWARD. My gait must not be even or something.
    So I hate the treadmill.
    But I like the lateral machine. :)

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  14. I have a love/hate relationship with my dreadmill. My husband calls me the hamster wheel warrior. As soon as the weather cools off, it's all about being inside. I hate the cool, cold, icy, windy, etc. weather. Give me the dreadmill any day!!

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  15. Totally agree! Chores come to mind when I have been on mine: the oven suddenly needs a deep cleaning! I live in Alberta so the weather is similar to Colorado, however I will take my chances with snow, wind, and ice before I get sentenced to the treadmill!

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  16. I agree with you 100%. The only thing that makes me get on that beast is ice. Living in MI it happens more than I wish.

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  17. Not a dreadmill fan either, but I live in Michigan, not my homeland of Puerto Rico, so el husbando bought me one for those winter days when it's 40 below or icy. Meaning a whole lot of days from January through March...

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  18. I 100% prefer outside over the treadmill. But living in northern MN, there are days...weeks...months where the treadmill is necessary. I'm lucky enough to have one in my basement, complete with TV & Netflix available, so it's not all that bad. Well, it is, but it's bearable.

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  19. I prefer outside as well. Being a single parent does not allow that method of training, so treadmill it is...

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  20. I absolutely hate treadmills. I ran on one on my honeymoon because we were basically in the desert. I enjoyed nothing about it. In 15 years of running I've used a treadmill maybe 15 times. There are lots of run studios popping up though and it makes me revisit the benefits but I am not looking towards a treadmill anytime soon. The last two years in the Northeast has seen substantial snowfall but I still had no desire to jump on that machine. I'd rather use a mechanical bull.

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