The Cool Side of the Treadmill

Like I said, the treadmill is probably the greatest disincentive to my running. But there is a another side to that coin.

If I run on the treadmill, there's inclement weather, or both, that may mean a temporary respite to the routine cycles of a training regimen. Perhaps I don't run. Perhaps I run less than planned. But the moral of the story is, I've got more energy stored for the followup run(s).

So, Sunday was to be a ~7 mile run outside, but instead was 3m inside. Monday was a rest day. Tuesday, 3m. So today, at dusk, I get my cold weather gear on and get outside, where it's 36 degrees but calm winds. I absolutely flew. My start was a bit fast, but overtime I got faster, not slower. There were points during the run where - although I knew I was on flat ground - my speed and gait felt like I was going downhill. Heck, even my eyes were making me feel like I was stumbling downhill. Perhaps it dizzying speed, or that I was running so fast that my stride was a bit out of control. Anyways, it felt great, and I probably averaged 7:15min/m which is fast for 6 miles miles given my current fitness level.

Word to the wise after such a glorious run? Stretch, because your body was just stressed far more than usual given the effort. I don't want to wake up tomorrow in pain, or be tighter in tomorrow's run and tweak something that'd send my whole plan down the toilet.