Random Traffic Through Nick's Brain

Treadmill

• Better pacing. Hit a button, voila. I’m running at the speed / pace I want. On the other hand, I’m forcing myself to a pace, instead of what my body feels like.
• Available clock / odometer. Good in that I know how long / far I’ve been running. Bad in that I frequently get focused on how slowly time / distance is progressing.
• I can jump off the treadmill at any time. Not good for dedication. Good for when I’m just plain tired. I can also easily get water if I need it.
• Boring scenery.
• Temperature / climate / terrain controlled.
• Only at work. On the other hand, easily available at work.

Outdoors

• Need to self pace. My body gets to do what it wants, but no machine to keep me from slacking.
• No clock. Might want to consider buying a watch. Probably not though. The timelessness feels good. Since I run around the river, I have a general idea of how far I’ve run.
• Unless I hop a cab, I need to complete my run. Unless I backtrack, I need to commit to anywhere between ½ and 2 mile increments, depending on which path I choose.
• Need to carry water with me.
• Variable temperature, wind, sun, etc.
• Bumpy terrain.
• Obstacles, traffic lights, bikes, pedestrians.
• Scenery.
• Eye candy. I frequently find myself looking at other runners thinking “If I just keep running I could have a flat stomach / nice pecs / a cute ass / an effortless stride / a faster pace just like him / her.” For some reason, I rarely find myself thinking “I could have a nice rack like her.” How some of these women put up with what looks like obvious and utter discomfort is beyond me.
• Seeing other runners in various states, from elation to pain, is encouraging. Someone else is going through what I am, and they’re pushing through it. The occasional smile or wave is also encouraging. Having other runners pass me as I’m walking is also good encouragement to start running again.
• Millions and millions of allergens streaming through my respiratory system.
• I don’t like running in the dark, since I can’t see well. This leaves me few hours in the day with which to run.

All in all, outdoors is way better. More thoughts on this as I think them.

Ran a 10K in Central Park last weekend. My right foot fell asleep from about mile 2 to mile 5. As Dina points out though, I should be able to deal with the little bumps in the road. Total time: 1:01:38. Pace / Mile: 9:56. I was aiming for under an hour, so I’m quite disappointed.

• Forgot my BodyGlide today. Air conditioning in the gym wasn’t working. Lotsa sweat = lotsa chafing.
• Walked 4 miles yesterday.
• Ran 4 miles today. I’m getting a bit frustrated. I can’t seem to continuously run for longer than 2 miles lately. I need to take frequent breaks after that distance.
• Spring has sprung. Time to take out the bike and start cycling to work.
• My running goal for this year was to run a 5K with ECB. My stretch goal was to run a 10K with ECB. Unfortunately, she hurt her ankle, and we haven’t been able to run together… at all. I actually haven’t run a 5K, only 2 5M’s so far. But I’ll count that as having run a 5K. This weekend, I’m running a 10K in NYC. Since I’ve mostly accomplished my goals for the year, I think the next thing I want to do is be able to run a 5M comfortably or easily.
• I’ve been eating more nutritiously. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to maintain my do-not-eat-like-a-pig diet. I think I need to put a bit more effort into that.
• After warming up, with some stretching, and while wearing shoes, I can touch my toes more often than not.

Ran 4 miles in 39:45. Did 45 minutes of yoga. More uplifting is the fact that this is the first time in weeks that I’ve felt good when finishing a run, both mentally and physically. I actually wanted to run for longer, feeling that I’d hit my stride, but yoga class was starting.

4 miles, 45 minutes. Combination of my back hurting and not feeling up to exercising over the last few weeks have conspired to both slow me down and sap my endurance.

Gross side note: my towel was wet… someone used my towel. Eewww!