My treadmill.
It's a cold, wet, dreary, windy day. This kind of day is a good day to hop on the treadmill.
Two years ago this February, my new treadmill was delivered at home. I had not been on the"dreaded" treadmill since March 2020 when the pandemic struck, and my husband Jon and I cancelled our Planet Fitness membership.
In the past I didn't care much for the so-called "dreadmill." Who hasn't dreaded the treadmill.
I now know why in the past I wasn't thrilled with the TM. Fitness centers are noisy; a lot of blaring music over the speakers. The fancy treadmills with built-in headphone jacks for your phone earbuds and small screen TVs didn't always work. And from overuse by so many people, the treadmills were either out of service, missing parts, or just plain unsafe.
But in the comfort of my home, the treadmill is a good friend and training companion. I'm in the quiet and cozy comfort of my home. I don't need to hop in the car and drive to the fitness center.
I've collected many TM miles, running and power walking, since February 2023 when the weather has come with gusty winds, rain, sleet, snow storms, and frigid temps. My treadmill was also key in healing my left injured knee in the summer of 2024. I walked very slow on it.
I prefer running outside, and I love running under the hot sun and heat. When I collect my running and power walking miles outside, my treadmill rests.
My treadmill also keeps me disciplined; I have no excuse for not collecting miles when the weather is not inviting. The treadmill does not bore me. I either turn on the TV in the family room or place my iPad on the treadmill and watch documentaries, movies, and series episodes on Netflix, Hulu, or Prime.
This kind of multitasking makes for productive time. I learn a lot, especially from watching documentaries, some related to running. I watch all kinds of movies, documentaries, and series on my iPad. And the miles and time go fast.
All my years of running since I began racing in1988, and time on my feet training for ultras outside and running ultras on race day(s) since 2005, have prepared me for training on the TM. Time on my feet and running/power walking indoors in place on a motorized, moving conveyor belt adjusted at speeds/inclines I control is better than running outside on a cold, wet, windy, and rainy day. That type of weather is reserved for race day, which I can't control. And If it's snowing while I'm training, I go snowshoeing; it's great cross training.
Training and racing on a high school track has also helped me to train on a treadmill. Circling laps on a track and running in place on a treadmill both require discipline and patience.
Collecting miles on a treadmill, like collecting miles on a track, is not boring but meditative.
Collecting TM miles, along with road miles, has not hurt my performance at ultras. Since I got my TM, I have placed ninth female at the 2023 Dawn To Dusk To Dawn Ultras 24-hr track ultra with 70.32 miles and tenth female at the 2023 Loopy Lopper12hr in the heat with 45 miles; a PR.
I placed first female at the 2023 Beast Coast Productions Hainesport 48hr in cold weather with 117.93 miles, and placed seventh female at the 2024 Dawn to Dusk to Dawn 24-track ultra with 69.88 miles 10 days after my early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.
After beating breast cancer and healing my knee injury, I placed seventh female at the 2024 Hainesport 12hr with 42.62 power walking miles. I placed seventh female at the 2024 BadgerPalooza 12-hr backyard where runners run/walk to beat the clock every hour before starting the 3.1 mile loop again. I walked it and collected 37.2 miles in 9:10:56.
I'm loving my treadmill as I continue to train for the Endless Endurance 2025 Old Six Day 6 ultra in April. I'll be circling laps on the small 5-lane track in the 3-day event, peppered with naps, sleep, and sleep deprivation along the way, at age 66.
I no longer run as fast as I once did, but I'm still a pretty good power walker with a lot of endurance, one of my superpowers; my other two superpowers are suffering and resilience!
I highly recommend a treadmill. It's a good investment. It doesn't need to be fancy schmancy with all kinds of high-tech features and buttons.
The treadmill comes with physical and mental health benefits. Don't let it collect dust. It will keep you motivated and moving whether you're training for a race, healing an injury, or just moving to stay fit and off the couch.
©2025
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I am the author of Come What May, I Want to Run: A Memoir of the Saving Grace of Ultrarunning in Overwhelming Times. Order it from the Wipf and Stock Publishers, Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes & Noble here. It's available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and Kindle.
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