Treadmills: my arch nemesis

As a general rule, I avoid treadmills…at ALL costs. I find them boring, slow, and generally quite repulsive. Unfortunately, Colorado weather has been at odds with me, and on occasion, the gale force winds have forced me indoors. Much to my chagrin. I seriously debate my options of running OUTdoors and literally being blown off the trail or running INdoors and literally counting down the seconds to when the run is over. What is it about wind that just pisses me off so much? Is it the fact that the run feels more like a resistance workout, when I don’t necessarily want one? Is it the fact that I don’t like tumbleweeds rolling into me and scratching my legs? Is it that fact that even through sunglasses, the wind hits my eyes and they just water and water? Despite the use of wind as a power source, I find that it is good for very few things…flying kites and sailing.

Okay, okay, back to treadmills. I’m perturbed to report that I’ve run on the treadmill…too many times in the past few weeks. I feel almost like a running “snob” because I dislike the machine THAT much. Yet, I have friends who swear by it, and prefer to run on it. God, help them. ;) For me, it makes time drag. There is just nothing like the feeling of being out on the open road or trail enjoying the beauty of nature. Experiencing the elements, save the wind, is part of the fun of running.

For me, treadmills are the arch nemesis of running. It’s like Lex Luther to Superman, Joker to Batman, Zoom to The Flash, Dormammu to Dr. Strange, Black Manta to Aquaman….you get the idea.

I can only hope for some reprieve in the next 5.5 weeks of my Boston Marathon training. Otherwise, it’ll be a long 5.5 weeks…yeah, right.

~ by copiaverborum