Thank Goodness for Football September 30, 2007
Posted by kimayars Run
Digg! this story.
, trackback
The weather here has been absolutely miserable, so today I bagged on running outside with Beth and ran inside on the treadmill. We knew today was going to have to be at least 6 miles, which means an hour at a respectable pace. Running outside for an hour seemed completely doable. Running inside was another matter.
I packed all my necessities for treadmill Hell: my Sansa player (double-checked the battery), the arm band to the Sansa, the headphones (I have forgotten those before), my Polar HR monitor and the Polar HR transmitter band. Jeff was kind enough to mix up a batch of his mystery drink “Hammer Gel” and loan me a water bottle. I felt prepared.
After arriving at the gym, I walked out for 5 minutes while I got all my straps and wires adjusted. Then, I began my tortuous journey.
About 2 miles in I was bored. Bored, bored, bored. I had set a 10-minute mile pace, and had upped it to a 9-minute mile at mile 2, but quickly realized that I would be able to maintain that pace for the remaining run. My heartrate spiking to 182 was my first clue. At mile 3, I went back to the 10-minute mile. Still bored. I had heard everything on my “Jogging Playlist” so even that was boring. I was starting to contemplate pausing the treadmill to go get a magazine. But I didn’t want to stop (it’s a pride thing) and I wasn’t even sure I could run and read at the same time. Bored, bored, bored. Then someone changed the channel on one of the two TV stations broadcast at the gym. Could it really be? It was! Football!
I really enjoy football. I haven’t watched it for a while but when I was younger (muuuuuch younger) I used to make Monday Night Football an event, complete with pizza and beer. I think it has been at least 5 years since I saw a non-Superbowl game. This game was between Oakland and Miami. In their day, this would have been a great matchup.
To fully demonstrate how much I was enjoying this, imagine me running along, eyes glued to the TV. A young guy (fairly handsome) gets on the treadmill next to me, walking out from his weight workout, also watching the game. I have now tuned my FM transmitter to hear the game. He has no such electronic device. Oakland intercepts the ball, and shortly afterwards throws for a touchdown. When they catch the ball in the endzone, I *skipped* on the treadmill and yelled, “YIPEE!”. Not , “YEAH” or “SWEET!” but “YIPPEE!”. With my headphones on, I was just one of the crowd. To everyone else in the gym, I was a shrieking lunatic. Let’s just say I scared the snot out of the guy next to me. But what happened next totally cracked me up. HE ACTUALLY MOVED TREADMILLS. I guess he needed a buffer from crazy yelling skipping lady.
The football game was my savior. The treadmill stopped after an hour (I guess it costs too much money for one more LED digit on the screen) so I started it up again and decided to finish off one more mile. I had begun to feel tired and achy, and wanted to push beyond that boundary just a smidge. An extra mile seemed attainable, and it was.
It’s now several hours later, and I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. This is the farthest I have ever run. AND I did it without stopping (well, the treadmill stopped, but that was only for a few seconds). I’m quite happy with my effort today. Football rocks. YIPPEE!
Logbook Activity
- Type: Run
- Date: 09/30/2007
- Time: 09:30:00
- Total Time: 1:11:00.00
- Average Heart rate: 162
- Max Heart rate: 182
- Calories: 708
- Distance: 7.2 miles
- Average Pace: 9:52.11/mile
Comments
Thanks for giving me a giggle “crazy yelling skipping lady”. Your description of events was perfect. I could see the guy next to you freaking out in my minds eye. Its so funny how “afraid” people get when another person steps just slightly off the beaten path. Keep having fun. Next time wear a video camera & start adding “hidden camera” video to your blog postings
Congratulations on your run! It’s a toss up whether you want to get wet and run outside or be bored to tears on the treadmill.
I can relate to feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck. Sometimes I feel nauseus after a long run or an intense one. Replacing fluids and eating a little carbohydrate within 30 minutes of running helps prevent that feeling.
If you can do 7 miles on a treadmill 13.1 will be no problem!
In two consecutive weeks, you and your hubby have scared the snot out of a member of the opposite sex because you momentarily forgot yourselves & your surroundings.
Maybe that’s the secret to a good marriage???
[…] Tomorrow is Beth’s and my long run (7 miles). It’s supposed to rain, but we’re going to do it outside anyway. I hope I will survive. I’m honestly not so sure. Oh wait, I guess I’ve done it once already… Hmmm, I don’t remember that going so well. […]