Running indoors is boring.
It was freezing tonight, so I decided to run at the downtown YMCA tonight.
Good idea, right? Warm, sheltered, flat...
BORING!
Problem #1: You're only allowed to use their treadmills for 30 minutes at a time.
I have an issue with this: seriously, what proportion of their users do you really think want to run for more than 30 minutes? Not enough to cause a problem, methinks.
Meanwhile, their policy means I have to interrupt my run (and rhythm) mid-flow and head upstairs to the running track half way through my run.
Problem #2: They have a 110m (ish) track. It was one of the selling points for me when I was looking for a gym.
Running track = cool, right?
Wrong.
Running track + long run = dizzy + bored.
Oh, and seriously people, if you want to read the paper, do it somewhere other than the running track! I kid you not - there was a lady walking (barely) slowly around the track while reading the newspaper.
You know, you could do that at home without paying the gym fee, and you'd probably get more of a workout getting up from the couch occasionally and making coffee.
I planned to run for between 75 and 90 minutes tonight. I cut it off after an hour so I didn't go postal on someone out of frustration.
Oh, my run info, for those of you who care:
- Distance: Roughly 14km
- Time: 1:01:43
- Avg heart rate: 157bpm
- Max heart rate: 170bpm
- Not killing the old biddy dawdling around the track: priceless.
4 comments:
Dave, I agree with you. I used to run at the University of Toronto Athletic Centre, which at least has a 200m track (but alas, no treadmills). My new job is closer to the YMCA, but I've resisted joining for the very reasons you mention. I wish there was a covered 400m track somewhere in the city...
I hate running on indoor tracks, too, mostly because the direction never changes, which is hard on your inside knee. My favorite indoor run last spring was at my local YMCA during spring break when about 75 kids from the latch-key program came upstairs to walk the track. Talk about your roadblocks!
See, to me, 30 minutes on the Y track is more than enough! And that's a fast walk. No newspaper, though.
I don't know how you do it, Dave. And now you're training for Boston?! Wow!
James - If you find one, please tell me. Pleeeeease!
JazzyJo - you're absolutely right - I think those runs actually tire me out more than runs outside for just that reason... even without the kids! The YMCA is the worst at the weekend. Ugh.
Donna - I'm not sure I could do that - I'd get so bored walking for that long. Wait a minute, I get bored running... I think I'll just have to stay outside unless the weather's not manageable... but my new job is directly across from the Y! Oh the dilemma!
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