That Treadmill is a Temptress...

I was dealt a large dose of running reality this morning.  My husband provided me with the generous opportunity of a morning run before he had to head off to work.  I took it without hesitation and laced up my shoes, still basking in the glow of my last run...on the treadmill. 

The Treadmill. 

 I have, apparently, become quite comfortable with The Treadmill...that naughty temptress.  I have been lulled into believing that running on The Treadmill is like running on the road.  Not so.  I have gotten used to a flat, uniform, homogenized run.  And, this is where I have to admit that while I do employ variations in speed in my treadmill runs, I do not often vary the grade (and by "not often", I mean pretty much never).  So, while I am still proud of the 8 minute miles, this morning's run--outside, on a real road, with real hills, real wind, real potholes, real mud puddles--taught me a lesson:

Running on The Treadmill

IS NOT

the same as running outside, on the road. 

 And, that I'd definitely benefit from adding some more variety/difficulty to my treadmill runs.

Not only have I gotten overly accustomed to the feel of a treadmill run, but I've also grown very dependent upon the treadmill screen and all it's bewitching numbers.  Since I am probably the last runner on earth who does NOT own a Garmin, when I head out the door for a run I do so not knowing how fast I'm going or how far I've gone.  I'll admit, there's something beautiful about that, but once you get used to knowing those things while you're running, it's hard to go without.

So, without my steady treadmill overlooking the placid pool in the bubble of my gym, and without my informative treadmill screen, I ran around our neighborhood for a quick 30 minutes.  My legs felt a bit like lead, my feet like blocks of cement, my lungs and throat like they were slightly on fire, and my fingers stung a bit from the early morning chill.  And, for goodness sakes, my nose ran like crazy (at least something was!).  But, I was out there moving, the sun on my face.  And, I had 5 new songs to listen to on my ipod.  This was the first one...

It was a good start to my day, and a good reminder not to get too dependent on that temptress, The Treadmill.  The joy of running, for me, has always had so much to do with being out there in, and connecting with, creation.  You definitely don't get that on a treadmill...

Do you enjoy running on a treadmill?  Do you prefer it to running outside?

There are definitely things that I like about running on a treadmill.  But, I'm a control-freak, so that's no surprise...I do prefer running outside, as long as the run provides some visual interest.  I particularly love running outside early in the morning.

What do you think are the benefits, if any, of running on a treadmill vs. running outside?

For me, since I don't own a Garmin, running on a treadmill is the only way I can monitor my speed and distance.  Unless I go run with my neighbor, who has a Garmin!

What's your favorite song to run to?

Well, that Kings of Leon song I posted above is pretty awesome right now.  But, I also love anything by Phoenix, The Kooks...I'm really into "All These Things That I Have Done" by The Killers.  Generally speaking, I LOVE music and find it to be one of the great joys of the running experience.