apparently I have had this thought before, because I already joined this comm

[alexseanchai]

So I walked a 5K yesterday. 56:28, and too nearly last (out of about two hundred registrants, 139 of whom were walking) for the comfort of my pride. In an effort to salvage said pride, I picked up a book for beginning runners at the library (authored by the Sport Medicine Council of British Columbia, so I figure they know what they're talking about) that has a thirteen-week program, three sessions a week of run X minutes walk Y minutes repeat Z times (and the final session is run a 10K). I'm planning to start that Tuesday. Or maybe Saturday. (Y'know. Once I'm over the ow ow ow from doing too much in the 5K and without stretching properly first. I'm not sure what I was trying to prove but I don't think I proved it.)

My question is, should I run around the neighborhood or should I run on the treadmill at the neighborhood gym? It'll be easier to track time and distance on the treadmill, and walking the three blocks to and from will serve as a warm-up and cool-down, but the scenery is...not exactly scenic. Not that my neighborhood is a particularly pretty one, but at least the view changes as I move, you know? And I'm not sure which will bug me worse, repeatedly pressing a button to change the treadmill speed (I don't know if there's a way to change the speed on these treadmills other than by increments of 0.1 mph) or repeatedly changing and resetting the timer app on my tablet.

So treadmill sounds better at first blush, but I'm wondering if there are other reasons to prefer sidewalks to treadmills.

(Wish me luck, y'all, I'ma need it if I'm actually going to get and stick with the program this time...)

Comments

[ilanarama]

Whichever you will find enjoyable enough to stick with. Or both, as your circumstances dictate.

Personally I hate treadmill running and avoid it unless I have no other easy choice (for example, on a business trip where my hotel was in an area that wasn't good for running, and I only had pre-dawn or post-dark time available to run in) but there is nothing inherently wrong with treadmills other than that they are boring.

I would totally run around the neighborhood, given a choice. You can figure out distances using something like mapmyrun.com (or Google Maps, or any sort of mapping, really) and just time yourself by checking a watch or a clock or the timer on your phone. In fact, that's how I started out running - I had moved to a new city and wanted to explore it, so I explored it by running.

Good luck! Have fun!

[alexseanchai]

Nod. Thanks. I'ma check out that link now.

[thalia]

Yay you! I hope you enjoy the program!

Personally, I hate treadmills with a passion, so I'd definitely say run outside. Other people have very different opinions. [g] You might find you like reading or watching TV while you're on it, especially if your gym has the kind with a built-in screen.

On the timer front, if you have a smartphone, search for an interval timer app. Or a timer like this one will let you program run/walk times and beep when it's time to switch. There are ways around having to constantly reset a timer.

And BTW, if you feel like the program is moving too quickly, there's no shame in not moving forward at its pace. 13 weeks isn't a lot of time to work up to a 10K; you might want to spread it out over a longer period.

[alexseanchai]

Thanks! Also, nod. I don't have a smartphone but I do have a Kindle Fire; maybe I just have the wrong timer app for what I need it to do.

[nanila]

I like both treadmill and outdoor running and tend to mix the two. Treadmill running because it means I can go to the gym at unsociable hours and/or when it's dark (especially useful in winter) and feel pretty safe. I also find that when I'm a gym member, I actually do run regularly, partly because I need to justify the expense to myself, and partly because I get into a routine, usually of getting up to go in as soon as it opens. I find it more difficult to stick to a routine when I'm running exclusively outside. I'd say try both.

Oh, another nice thing about rolling out of bed and going straight to the gym is that it takes some of the boredom out of it, since I'm not really awake until I shower and leave!

[alexseanchai]

The neighborhood gym is actually membership-free, I just need to have community center access. Which is to say, live in the neighborhood. Maybe if I belonged to the Y, the need to justify the expense would keep me going, but I dunno. I've never had a gym membership.

Thanks for the advice!

[blnchflr]

If you haven't run before, or have been injured, 13 weeks to 10K may be too fast - make sure you listen to your body, and don't be afraid to repeat weeks!

I hate inside/treadmill running, too, but if you're more likely to exercise on the treadmill, then by all means go for it.

Do keep us updated on your progress :)

[alexseanchai]

Nodnod. Thanks!

Shall do.