Running Outside > Treadmill

Only a couple more days until the Ras na hEireann 5k!
Today, on my way home from work, I picked up my bib and t-shirt at Marathon Sports in Melrose.

The funny thing is, when I signed up for this race, I thought all my friends were going to sign up too.  It turns out that none of them did, and I don't know anybody running this race!  I'm fine to do it myself, but I just would have liked to have a running buddy.  Oh well....at least I'll have my personal event photographer, CJ. :)

This week's training has been going well.
Saturday:  I ran 3 miles and took an upper body express class
Sunday: Unintentional rest day
Monday:  3 mile supah fast run!  time: 26:22 and pace: 8:46
Since today was unseasonably warm so I took advantage and went out for a run after work.
I decided to try and run faster than normal, just to see if I could meet my 5k goal of under 27 minutes and I succeeded! 

I know I've said this before but:

Running outside is soooooo much better than the treadmill!

Treadmill = boring, repetitive, has lack of scenery, lack of wind, unnatural, and reminiscent of a hamster wheel.

I shouldn't hate on the treadmill too much because it was my savior during the winter months when I couldn't run outside during my training for the black cat race.  I'm just happy to give it a little rest for the warmer months.

after my run

Running outside = more hills.  Yes, you can increase the incline on the treadmill, but I very rarely do that.  Why punish myself?  But, as I learned in my 10 mile run, training on hills is essential.  Hills are hard, they take a lot out of you and then you have to recover.  They slow me down.  Now, when I see a hill approaching, I remember the advice my brother gave me, I keep my chest up and lifted.  My tendency is to lean forward and hunch, but if you keep your chest up and your eyes forward, it will help.

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