Outside or Inside and Track or Treadmill

Running is going to the biggest challenge for me during training and quite possibly during the Ironman race. Last August (when I decided to do the Ironman), my swim was up at 4,000 yards and my bike felt extremely stable (distance not speed . . . yet). However, I did start running again in August. My first attempt at running again was a short jaunt across Alum Creek Dam at Alum Creek State Park. My heart was pounding and I was almost shaking I had so much adrenaline rushing through my body. However, I finished it and felt really great (I am still not sure it was much of a run. It may have been more of a very fast walk). My next attempt (a few days later) I tried to run 7 miles. Oh, I finished it (I had to finish it), but I could not walk for days. I had to hang onto the railing of the staircase so I wouldn't fall on my face on the way down since my legs were so stiff.
*NOTE* This is one of those moments where you think "I am never going to be able to run 26.2 miles at this point. What in the world am I going to do now?
I have, however, come a long way from those days (it has been 7 months after all). I feel great and yet am still a bit skeptical about the run. I think my skepticism has arisen because of winter and may "come up to speed" when the snow melts and it is warm air hitting my face, not air containing little ice pellets that smack and sting the skin. During the winter months, those of us who live in "snow states" have to decide if we are going to run Outside or Inside and then if we are going to run inside, if we are going to run on a treadmill or the track.

THE TREADMILL: This nightmare of a machine jacked up my leg muscles. I spent a few months running an hour + on this devil machine, and aside from truly watching my heart rate and form, I spend most of my time trying to entertain myself for an hour by watching one of 6 televisions or simply trying to stay on the machine. At this point, the treadmill is ONLY for emergency use and is my LAST RESORT choice for any type of training - YUCK you STUPID INVENTION!
THE INDOOR TRACK: The indoor track is, well, not too bad if you have the ability to zone out and make light of the fact that you will be playing "dodge the elderly" during the entire run. I believe I calculated 60+ laps around this thing for an hour run. It could be more, but I tried not to count or look at the clock for that matter. I only looked at my watch when I felt I had been running forever. The track is "ok" and I did enjoy the view as a spectator, as I almost ran into my elders who were attempting to make it around the same track once. I guess running in circles is not my idea of fun.
OUTSIDE: Certainly outside is the best option for me. I much prefer outside to inside any day anyway. However, it does require preparation (by preparation I mean proper attire so that you are not weighed down and yet are still able to keep warm where warmth is necessary). There is something magnificent about knowing you fought the elements and still completed the workout. Even as a kid I loved the feeling of coming inside from the below zero temperatures. It made me feel alive as my cheeks burned hot and I put my damp clothes into the dryer. Winter can be brutal when training, but I am learning how beneficial it can be to "weather the elements". It allows for a sense of empowerment only given when you face your fears and trudge through the snow to come out victorious (and a little sore) on the other side.


February 15 - February 21

• February 15 - Swim 1:20/include sprints - I swam 1:20 today because I felt extremely strong in the water. I combined 10x25 sprints @ 10 seconds with 500 pull drills. I think adding sprints is really going to make the swim more interesting. Seriously, I love staring at the black line on the bottom of the pool for over and hour and everything, but really, how exciting is it? Eight more inches of snow fell fell today - not sure when I'll be able to run outside again. Ironically, I do prefer running outside in the cold to the track inside or the treadmill.
• February 16 - Nap 3 Hours - I had my first "exhausted day" where instead of completing my scheduled run, I fell asleep for a very solid power nap. Exhausted the rest of the day, I just took it off to heal my body.
• February 17 - Run 1 Hour/Swim 4,000 yards-drills - Nothing really to report. It was a decent workout. I think the nap helped a bit.
• February 18 - Bike 1 Hour/Swim 4,000 yards - drills - Having just completed two days of "arms and legs" I feel pretty good. There is no real pain and my swim feels very strong. The sprints I was terrified of (former swimming injury concern) may enable me to swim faster in 6 months. Having been stuck at 1:03 for the 4,000 yard swim (pull only to save my shoulders) started to bother me and I have to make that number drop somehow.
• February 19 -Extreme Friday Run at 8:30/mile - Yep, I did it again and LIVED!
• February 20 - Debi's House of Pain/Bike 2 Hours (trainer) - Yep, I did it again and LIVED! Again, can I just reiterate how much I love the feeling of kicking the crap out of myself and then stuffing my face with breakfast food.
• February 21 - OFF

The week overall was a success. I had my first "exhausted day" where I saw my body crash. I welcome the rest now and realize it is a vital part of this training process. I learned that I despise running machines and prefer frigid temperatures outside to the chaos of the indoor track. I fought through any doubt I felt to complete my workouts. It's hard to believe I have already completed week 3 of 30. This race will be here before I know it. It is my job now to make sure that I am ready.