Like most of the country, we started to have some real winter weather this past week. It started with snow on Sunday morning, which fell for about 2.5 days straight. There was some ice mixed in too. For most of the week the sidewalks were snowy and icy, plus it was cold and windy out. This meant I was training on the treadmill!
We did have a reprieve on Friday/Saturday, before more snow moved in today. Looks like it will be another tough week until it melts again!
Weekly Run Down: Training on the Treadmill
Monday: Strength Training + 4 Treadmill Miles
Tuesday: 6.2 Treadmill Miles (with hill intervals) + Core
Wednesday: Strength Training + 4 Treadmill Miles
Thursday: 6.3 Treadmill Miles + Core + Mobility
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: 8.5 Miles with 3 x 1.5 Miles at Threshold
Sunday: 4 Treadmill Miles + Core
Training on the Treadmill for a 5k
I’ve really started to lose my motivation for doing a 5k thanks to the weather. After 4 good weeks of training, my workouts just weren’t the same this week. I cannot run as fast on the treadmill- I worry I will fly off. So I did some hill intervals and increased my speed as I felt comfortable, but it was not even close to what I would do outside. This coming week will probably be more of the same. Even if I could run outside, I probably couldn’t do speedwork because of the patches of ice that end up all over the streets and sidewalks.
In some ways I would probably do better training for a marathon in the winter, when I don’t have to worry about running fast, but just about getting the miles in. Then again, I don’t think I would want to be doing 20 milers on the treadmill!
Long Run Workout Outside
I finally got outside on Saturday, so decided to do a harder run. My legs felt fresh after so many days of easier runs. I started with a mile warm up, then ran 3 sets of 1.5 miles around a 7:30 pace. These tempo runs have been done at more like a 7:40 pace in past weeks, so I was happy to see faster times. I guess this week was kind of like a taper!
Not sure what this next week will bring, but it may look alot like last week. If I can just get outside for even 1 run, I’ll make that my workout day and that will have to be good enough. Gotta love training for races in the winter weather!
You may also like:
Running Through The Peak Of Winter
Moving In The Right Direction
Fartlek Friday: Use Your Core Work As a Warm-Up For Your Run
Have you had to take your workouts indoor lately?
Have you been dealing with winter weather this week?
I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down!
This was definitely a good week for indoor workouts! We had a lot of snow on Monday but luckily didn’t get too much ice. We’re in the middle of another snowstorm right now but hopefully it won’t dump more than 6 inches.
I hope you don’t get too much today! Ours ended up turning to rain and then it got sunny out and the little bit we got melted by the end of the day!
We were lucky; we only got about 6″ of snow, and no ice. So I was able to run outside twice, because looking at this coming week, it may be a lot of treadmill runs again. Which oddly feel easier to me right now than running outside — maybe because of the cold air? Whatever, doesn’t really matter right now.
This time of year is always really hard! I think I do better if I have a goal I’m training towards, but since I don’t — well, it makes it easy not to worry about the weather so much, anyway.
Fingers crossed you get to run outside this coming week!
The snow today ended up being a bust, but I’m still worried about ice because everything melted and there are puddles everywhere right now. Since its only going to be like 19 degrees tomorrow morning, its probably not a good idea to run outside in the dark!
After a strong January of running, I am also not thrilled about the weather this first week of the month. I don’t have your discipline to do longer runs on the treadmill. Hoping this week turns out to be not as bad as it looks! Way to get it done this week and thanks for linking up
At least today turned out not be too bad! Hopefully the rest of the week is ok.
I’ve been inside for 3 weeks now and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. It’s just too icy here. I kind of feel like speed work doesn’t translate as well to the treadmill as it does to road running. Oh well, winter is not going to last forever and we’ll get through it with our fitness intact.
Exactly! Hopefully by the time March comes we will mostly be done with snow and it will start to warm up.
I’m missing long runs–I just can’t do them on the treadmill. We’re getting little snows now, thank goodness, not the big ones. If it would only warm up…
We haven’t had any big snowstorms either, which is good. It just feels like the little bit we do get sticks around forever!
I’ve done a few 20’s- and even a 22 miler one- on the treadmill. I broke it up into 5 mile increments and it wasn’t the worst…I agree that speed work can be tough. I’m personally better zoning out for longer just watching TV and running.
Fingers crossed for an early spring 🙂
It definitely helps to zone out on there! I don’t have a TV near my treadmill so I wish I could figure out a way to watch shows. I think that would help alot.
I already know I’d never be able to do long runs on the treadmill. I’ve done one 10K, and that was a major struggle, so I’m content to do the long runs in the heat of summer. Not everyone’s gig, but it’s mine 😉 We got a lot of snow last week as well. It’s supposed to be very cold t his next week, so nothing will be melting any time soon….
I think in general I prefer long runs in the summer. Even though its hotter at least there is more daylight!
My longest run ever on a treadmill was 8 miles and it took everything I had to get through it. I couldn’t imagine training for a marathon!
The snow’s falling pretty heavily out there now so it looks like another week of mostly indoor workouts. Counting the days till spring! 🙂
Hopefully you don’t get too much! It was pretty heavy there in the morning but ended up melting by the end of the day!
Before we headed down to Florida I was doing many of my runs on the treadmill. I do love speedwork on the mill. I’m still pinching myself at our good fortune for being able to get out of Chicago right before it got really cold.
That was perfect timing! Enjoy your time there!
Our weather has been very similar to yours. I was shocked at how much of this morning’s snow had melted by late this afternoon. Hopefully, this coming week won’t be too bad, but who knows because the forecast keeps changing.
I had to run practically all of my long runs on the treadmill when training for Boston in 2010. I would go into the gym before it opened and run alone and try to finish my 15-20 miles before it opened. If I wasn’t finished, I’d have to pause at 6 AM to unlock the doors for the members. I hadn’t purchased my treadmill yet and didn’t want to hog one of the five treadmills in our small wellness center gym.
I am supposed to get my second dose of the vaccine on Thursday so I’ve been stalking the weather like crazy, and it keeps changing! As of right now I think I’ll be ok to go, I just hope my mom can make the drive up here to watch my son.
That’s crazy that you used to do that many miles before the gym opened. Total commitment!
I used to run on the treadmill regularly when I had access to a gym… now I only have a bike, so a lot of my indoor workouts have been on the bike or floor exercises, but it’s better than not exercising at all. 🙂
Yes, definitely! I stopped going to a gym about 5 years ago, and shortly after that we got a bike, and then 3 years ago we got a treadmill. The bike is a great option to have!
Interesting. I definitely run faster on the treadmill because I can make myself do it (for intervals at least) and can focus on my form without worrying about uneven sidewalks or potholes.
I know alot of people say they run faster on the treadmill! Maybe if I get more used to it I can start running faster on there.
I actually kind of like speedwork on the treadmill- maybe you just have to get used to it? I do think it’s more effective to do it outside where you can monitor your own pace rather than having the treadmill do it for you. Anyway, you’ll be happy with all the fitness you’ve gained when spring comes! Hope you have a great week.
I probably do need to get used to it! It will probably take some time to build up to faster paces. But I agree, its probably more effective to do those workouts outside anyway.
Long runs on the treadmill aren’t that bad. It is all mental. You need to break them up. Lots of snow here too. I am not liking February and want to fast forward to March.
It really is all mental! February has definitely been tough so far. Only a few more weeks until March!
I give you so much credit. I haven’t been on a treadmill in a few years. I think my longest run ever was 6 miles and my hips hated me for days after. For some reason, it just doesn’t like my body.
I think its super common to change your form a bit on the treadmill. I notice tightness in different places when I run on there alot.
Hey those hill workouts will help your speed anyway so great to do that on the treadmill! We’ve had lots of indoor workouts too. I’m going stir crazy. I walked in the thick snow on Monday and it took f o r e v e r to do 3KM. No one cleans the streets or sidewalks here. I think we’re all just so stunned that we have so much snow and no one knows what to do out there haha!
I do hope you can get outside more soon.
It sounds challenging to have all that snow! Hopefully it clears up soon and you can get back to regular runs and walks!
I used to prefer doing my speedwork on the treadmill. Lately, I’m not very speedy so it’s a challenge to get used to the treadmill at those paces. It sure is different than outdoors! That’s really cool that you can hook up your headphones to your treadmill. My treadmill lacks those fancy features because it’s old!
I actually just connect my headphones to my phone (through bluetooth). I could also connect my phone and my treadmill but I worry it will be too loud and wake everyone up:)