I always think of a tempo run as something that’s supposed to get your body familiar with a faster pace. So running one on the treadmill seems like cheating to me (because you just set it and go), but we all can’t always run outside, so go ahead a call me a cheater.
Besides I haven’t officially started my training plan anyway. Technically, I can do whatever I want and actually, I wanted to do a tempo run because I’m weird and I like them. So while T Junior slept off his fever, I fired up my running machine.
I walked a quarter mile and ran .75 to warm up, then set the ‘mill at an 8:20 pace for three miles while watching the NCAA women’s swimming championships and listening to my St. Paddy’s Day playlist twice. ESPN U has really been saving me lately. I cooled down for one more mile, ending with a total of five.
The last half-mile of my cool down was brutal. Why? Well, I was running slow, but I could barely catch my breath watching the fly portion of a 400 individual medley. Zoe and I swam one lap of butterfly a couple weeks ago. I basically tried not to die. Butterfly is like prolonged drowning. It’s evil. In fact, I bet the devil just looooves swimming butterfly. You know, if he swims.
Satan swimming butterfly totally makes me think of those Seahawks commercials in which Eugene Levy was the devil. Does anyone else remember these ads? I’m so sad I can’t find them online. I can’t even find a picture. The Internet sucks!
So now I’m way off topic, but there’s not really a lot to write about when you do a tempo run on the treadmill. Besides, I’m pissed that I can’t find a picture of Eugene Levy as the devil to go with this post. I’m sort of not getting over it right now.
Do you do tempo runs? Do you like or loathe them? What do you watch while you’re on the treadmill? I have a hard time watching anything with an actual story line since the TV has to be on, like, 150 for me to hear it.
5 comments
I am like you, I like a good tempo run….especially on the treadmill!
I do run tempo runs and they are fun but what I really enjoy are intervals! I think today I figured out why too. I like intervals because they remind me of basketball and running lines and sweet sixteens and not to mention up and down the court during a game. I know I’m a weirdo because I enjoyed running lines and sweet sixteens but I think that explains why I like intervals and why I’m a runner. I go to the gym to run on a treadmill so I’m at the mercy of whatever is on, which is usually crap but I prefer sports too since you don’t have to pay attention that much to what’s going on. Great Tempo run!! I’m thinking your going to be setting a new PR at the RnR half 🙂 Oh and I would love to run with you when you come to Spokane…if I can keep up with you!
I did my 5 mile tempo run on the treadmill also today, because I knew it would be easier. 🙂 I did push myself at a faster pace though because of that.
I agree with Kris;I, too, like intervals on the treadmill. Hubby checks out old British mysteries to put on while we work out together. Envision the treadmill AND the bike going at the same time. We turn it up loud and really like it when there are subtitles too. Give me outside, but the basement gym gives me a good focus in this crappy weather.
I try to switch training plans, from tempo, long and interval runs. It do them as a nod to my younger days, when I played basketball and soccer. I just added the long run because I really suck at distance running. I prefer the sudden runs and stops of my sports.