1,2,3 The Mill is Good Enough for Me

I will admit that I only started running because I liked participating in races, specifically Disney Races.  I didn't particularly enjoy the training runs and I hated the treadmill, but those were just necessary evils to get me to race day.

Fast forward a few years later and I will tell you that I actually enjoy the training runs. I love being on the trails, at the island, and just being outside. I don't mind running in all sorts of weather (above freezing of course), and I've seen SO many interesting things from being an outdoor runner.

However, since the beginning of the year, I've fallen into a treadmill rut.  I've always hated the treadmill and only used it when necessary but lately I've been choosing the treadmill ON PURPOSE and I am actually enjoying it!


So why the change?

As much as I love getting outside, I love being at home even more.  On days I run outside, I come home from work, change clothes, let Baylee out for a minute, and then leave her again to go run. I hate seeing her sad eyes when I leave.

But when I stay home and run on the mill, she is much happier.

I've learned to enjoy the treadmill at home for the following reasons.

First off, it's so convenient. I obviously don't even have to leave the house.

This means it also saves me time.

Baylee can lay right beside me as I run.

I can multi task. This means I can read my e-books, read blogs, or watch my daily dose of Judge Judy!

Also, I've noticed that when I run indoors, I do more stretching and strength training than I would do when I run outside. I'm at my home gym anyway, so I might as well take the time to lift weights and do my other exercises. Hey, that's one more episode of Judge Judy I get to watch!

I kind of feel bad that I am enjoying the treadmill runs so much. Even on the warmer days I've been choosing the mill over going outside.  I will never convert to being a treadmill runner over an outdoor runner but I am glad that I am at least to the point were I enjoy it. -M


We will be linking up with the gals from TOTR.

39 comments:

  1. I really like the treadmill. I hate when people bash treadmilling, like it's not real running. I've had some excellent workouts on it, especially tempo runs. It is helpful if you live in an area with a lot of traffic and your runs would have a lot of stops normally, because you can do workouts safely. Also, you can catch up on trash TV, which is my favorite thing to do!

    I love running outside and enjoying a beautiful day, don't get me wrong- but treadmilling is far from the torture some people seem to think.

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    1. I am glad you enjoy treadmill running too! We seem to think alike on this issue!

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  2. I don't like the treadmill but I'm glad I have mine. It's gotten me through lots of runs when I couldn't get outside!

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    1. I could have cared less about it too when we first got it but I am thankful for it and have grown quite attached!

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  3. Totally with you on the time saving qualities of the treadmill. There are times I definitely choose it because I'm time crunched, and occasionally if I need to keep an eye on a furkid, that's another good reason.

    Bandit is the only one that will stay by me when I'm on it. :)

    Although when they were younger, the boys (Giz & angel Simba -- angle because he's been gone 5 years) used to jump up on the control panel WHILE I was running! There was also one memorable time when there was tension between myself & Mr. Judy & Chester got up on the mill while I was running, only to slide off the back . . . which was very funny (he wasn't hurt).

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    1. oh no! I'm glad he wasn't hurt but I bet that was comical at the time.

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  4. I'm a meaner dog mom than you - I'll leave Paco to go run outside, no problem there! Baylee's face in that picture, thought - what a sweetie. I can see how you don't want to leave her behind.

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    1. I'd love to take her with me but old girl just can't keep up anymore.

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  5. I'm glad you have a treadmill and can choose it if you want to! I think we all go through cycles with our running whether it's indoor vs. outdoor, road vs. trail, morning vs. afternoon... you get the idea. 99% of the time I will choose outdoor running. The other 1% is why I have my gym membership.

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    1. You are right. During the summer I will want to be outdoors more for sure! (Well, maybe)

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  6. I've definitely gotten to the point that I enjoy my training runs too, and really like being outside. But the treadmill is definitely convenient at times, and I like that it lets me catch up on Netflix shows while working out :)

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    1. Yes, kill two birds with one stone with the TM, right?

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  7. I'm actually a fan of the treadmill. I like to do my tempo runs on the treadmill because I can control the speed to make sure I hit my tempo paces. I try to do about half of my tempo runs on a treadmill when I'm training.

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    1. Yes I do like that I can control my speed on the TM, that's something I can never seem to do outdoors.

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  8. Yes! I we *choose* to use the treadmill, it becomes our friend and it definitely has its advantages.

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    1. I am developing quite an attachment to my treadmill...lol!

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  9. I learned a while ago if I want to run outside when I get home, changed immediately, and don't sit down on the couch. That's Allie's cue that I'm ready to snuggle with her. Then I feel bad when I have to say no, and she looks at me with those eyes. Cats and dogs are great at the guilt.

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    1. Aww those pets have a way of making us feel guilty for leaving the house again don't they?

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  10. Honestly, I feel like that’s a great place to be! I can understand and appreciate those perks of running on the treadmill, too!

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    1. Yea, I'm glad that I am appreciating it more. I feel like having a nice space for my TM helps.

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  11. I can totally understand how you'd grow to prefer the mill! I go in phases between the two and I'm really glad I have one. Lately the Ozzy pup is trying to hop on with me though. That's some excitement I don't need!

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    1. Oh no! I don't think Baylee has ever tried to get on the treadmill.

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  12. Good for you ;-) I'm slowly getting back (emphasis on SLOWLY) to tolerating the 'mill more than in the past. I have just accepted that I cannot do long runs on it. If I know I'm only doing 2-4 miles, I can suck it up and go....anything longer and it's pretty much over before it starts.

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  13. I can only use the TM for short runs too. My longest TM run was 10 miles but that was because my favorite movie was on!

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  14. ha I literally avoid it all costs! I find it so hard to run more than 3 miles and those 3 miles go so slowly. I feel so invigorated being outside! Glad it's working so well for you though :)

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  15. I can relate to alot of this. It is so convenient to just hop on the treadmill! I have also not wanted to leave the house this winter so its nice to get in all my workouts just by doing down to my basement.

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    1. I rarely want to leave my house either which is a shame because there actually have been some really nice days this winter.

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  16. I'm the same way lately. It's just so convenient to jump on the treadmill after I lift weights!

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    1. I need to add more weights into my routine after TM runs too!

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  17. I understand the convenience if you have one at home. If I had one at home I may do more shorter runs on it as well. I hate long runs on the treadmill though. It bores me to tears. And when I first started running, I was like you too...I hated the training and loved the racing so I trained just to stay in shape to race. Now I like most of my training runs.

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  18. Glad you like the treadmill. It will never replace outside running but definitely convenient.

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  19. I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying the treadmill! It's funny though, I used to love watching Judge Judy will on the 'mill too, haha! I think it's good to mix it up on the road, trail, and/or treadmill. I really wish I had one at home!

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    1. I will tell you I also love Judge Milan ( on The People's Court)...haha

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  20. I read your first paragraph and realized that sounded exactly like me! I picked up running, because I liked doing races! and for a long time, I didn't like training runs.

    I love catching up with Gossip Girl while on the treadmill! I think that is the only reason I've been on it so much this year.

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    1. Glad there was someone else out there that enjoyed racing more than the training runs...haha

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  21. I like the idea of the side by side treadmills so you can talk! I'm sure that makes it more fun!

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Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.