Guest Post: Treadmill Day ...by Pat Walsh

 * Treadmill day *

The plan / recovery program said a 5k. Wind, rain, wet surfaces and a general lack of ooooomph to get out and be a man on the road. I’m a snowflake, I admit it, and the approaching Storm Amy sounds frightening.

So nothing for it only to get on the old hamster wheel and churn out the KM’s. OMG, I hate the treadmill. I love the countryside, birds singing, animals moving, fields and ditches going through their yearly cycle of growth and life. Hills are alive to the sound of music and all that stuff.

And then all you have is, look straight ahead at the wall and listen to the boom boom throbbing music in the gym. I did it. I mixed with the gym bunnies.

Straight face, make no eye contact, pretend you’re bored, stare at your phone (I didn’t), blend with the natives.

Check your biceps in the mirror, jaysus I have no upper body strength but I do look good in these shorts and the tan lines are holding.

Take the positives.

I didn’t give in.

It is good for for focus and mental strength.

It is good for an even paced training run.

It is good for concentration because if your mind wanders too far you could be flat on your arse at the back of the machine.

I stayed dry and listened to the rain hammering off the roof.

Once I settled, I dreamed I was back in Sardinia.. I revisited in my head the memorial to.‘Il Piccolo Principe”, The Little Prince.

Key learning. Don’t give up, find a way to do it.

Rough weekend of weather ahead so be careful if you are running. For those in late stage of Marathon training make sure you do nothing to upset your plan, your health, your confidence.

I’m out of touch with the DCM routine as I haven’t participated since pre-Covid. All I know and remember is the work is almost complete. It is resting and recovering while still training. You don’t need to get sick or injured by running in adverse conditions.

Before you run, ask yourself why you are doing it and will you be recovered before the big day. If you are not certain of the answer then don’t be going mad.

Rest, recovery, nutrition and positive mental strength are the key factors for October not flogging yourself to death on wet country roads.

Have a lovely weekend, stay dry, stay safe and keep running.

#pwr