To Hit The Treadmill, Or To Run Outside?

This guy used to be my arch nemesis.

After finishing my field hockey career, I took some time off from the workout circuit. I was so tired of being forced to work out every day, and I just wanted some time to regroup.

After a few months off, I was itchin' to get back in the game.

I haaaated the treadmill. I would force myself to run a mile, but I'd get so bored I'd have to get off and go do something else. Needless to say, my gym time wasn't so productive.

I'm not really sure what converted me to a treadmill runner. I started reading magazines (everyone would come up and ask me how I ran and read. "I don't know. I just do, okay?") Then, our college gym got a makeover and a TV distraction became realized.

And NOW, at the YMCA, I get my very on TV on my treadmill.

I can now go for miiiiles and miles! Give me a few episodes of King of Queens. Hit me with a Sex & The City marathon. Turn on some Criminal Minds for me, and I'll punch out a quick 8 miles no problem.

I'm easily satisfied when I have a TV in front of my face. I'm like a baby under a ceiling fan.

So, do I have a problem?

The girls from my school's cross country team would always yell at me to get off the treadmill and start running outside. But ya know what? Running outside is COLD right now. My nose runs, my legs are numb, I get shin splits, and my lungs burn. Waaaah!

When I hit my 7 mile run this weekend, though, I was surprised with how well I did with no distractions. I had Jamie for a few miles, but for the majority of the time, the run was just me, my Forerunner watch, and my thoughts (my itouch no longer holds a charge. what the heck? anyone know a fix for this? do I go buy a new battery?). And I wasn't bored at all.

can you tell I'm still learning to set this thing up? I realized .4 miles
into my run I had forgotten to reset it from my LAST run.  oops.

When I realized how much faster my pace is off the treadmill, I realized just how much I really need to get back outside. My trusty Forerunner showed me that without having to set my own speed, my legs do pretty well on their own.

So.. I want to know your thoughts. I know the treadmill is hard on your knees, but pavement and uneven ground gives me shin splints. Do you run faster outside or on the treadmill? Do you prefer outdoor runs? Do you get bored? And WHO can solve my itouch battery problem?

Half Marathon Training & The "About Me" page... finally!

Well, I've finally done it.

I've been working on an "About Me" page since the start of my blog, but it was quite the struggle to sum myself up in a page.

It took much longer than it should have, and I finally finished as Chloe supervised.

"I'd prefer you hurry that up and play with me."

I rambled, I over-shared pictures, and I'm done.

Enjoy here.  ;)

Also, as The Shamrock Half Marathon approaches, I'm checking the Hal Higdon Half Marathon Training Guide. As this is my third half, I'm assuming I should be following the "advanced"training guide.

For my first half marathon, I was worried I couldn't even get through it. I followed our running guide to a T. For the second one, I did my own thing while checking the guide every once in a while to see where I should be.

When I checked it this time around, I realized I'm pretty ahead of schedule... again.

The below schedule from MarathonRookie.com is the one I used for my first half, and it differs a little from Hal's plan.

10-Week Half Marathon Training Schedule

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
1	3	Rest	3	3	Rest	4	Rest	13
2	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	5	Rest	15
3	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	6	Rest	16
4	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	8	Rest	19
5	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	10	Rest	21
6	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	11	Rest	24
7	4	Rest	6	4	Rest	12	Rest	26
8	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	9	Rest	22
9	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	8	Rest	18
10	3	Rest	3	Walk 2	Rest	13.1	Rest	21.1

Whenever I train, I've been running a whole lot more than these two plans call for.

To my runner friends, how do you tend to train? Do you follow a plan, or do you plan your own routine? I want to know if I'm the only one out here over-training, and if I'm doing something wrong. Leave me a comment with your input!

I got my butt kicked by a DVD.

Yesterday, I had an "oopsie."

I'm extremely busy on the reg. It's very rare that I find myself with free time and nothing to do, and a product of my... productivity... can my a little bout of absentmindedness.

After work yesterday, I went to change into my gym clothes, as per usual, and I discovered... shoot. No shorts. Meeeeeh.

Since I'm not one to go run 5+ miles on the tread in sweatpants (Shamrock Half Marathon training is in full swing), I rolled my eyes and figured I'd go home and run outside.

Of course, since it's the middle of winter, I forgot that it would be pitch dark out by the time I got out the door.

SO... pepper spray, keys, iTouch, AND my new Forerunner GPS training watch in tow, I chugged outside for a quick 2 miles.  I'm a baby when it comes to running in the cold much like good ol' Julie, so getting out there in the chiiiiilly temps was a pretty big leap of faith in myself.

my new training friend, thanks to Mr. James. now I can track my pace during the halfs! (halves?)

I probably looked like a paranoid, lost psychopath determined to lose my holiday poundage.

don't mess with me. I've got the red one and I'm not afraid to use it.

After the lung-burning, snot-dripping 2 miles around the neighborhood (thank goodness it was dark), I popped in this new gem from the $9 holiday rack at Wal-Mart.

"nine dolla, you say? I'm in."

I'm typically not one for the video workout. I find them boring, annoying, and not near challenging enough for a good workout.

Jackie kicked my booty.

I found myself huffing and puffing to this 32 minute weight plus strength workout with three jacked-beyond-belief girls on screen telling me "it's not that bad." I silently cursed the overachievers and the fact that I don't have any hand weights less than 10 pounds.

As I struggled through the routine, I came to several conclusions:

10. I'm coming down with a cold. That's why this is so hard.

9. See? My body really does hate the cold. It shuts down after just 2 miles out there.

8. I need to go buy 7.5 pound dumb bells. Maybe 5 pounders. Okay, Maybe 3.

7. I really hope no one can see me through that window.

6. I hate her. And her jacked friends.

5. Do I really care if I have sculpted shoulders? Does anyone notice those, anyway?

4. She has bad hair. I'd rather have nice hair and not-so-sculpted quads.

3. I need to start putting extra shorts in my car to escape this hell and go back to my beloved treadmill.

2. Jackie doesn't know how to count 10 seconds.

1. Jackie must be the real deal.

If you have a $9 rack at Wal-Mart, go hit up Jackie.  She'll make you wish you didn't. ;)