This is normally such a crazy time of year- it seems strange not to be running around frantically. This weekend in particular is usually the one where every single event seems to fall. For one thing, my son’s birthday is December 8th so we would normally be having a party. This year he’s having two friends over for dinner, and they’ll eat out on our patio. If anyone comes in the house to use the bathroom, we’ll all mask up! It will definitely be different, and once again I’m reminiscing about years past.
One December weekend in particular stands out to me- it was 2017. All in the same weekend we had a sleepover for my son’s birthday, my holiday karaoke party for work, and Tuba Christmas. What in the world, you may ask, is Tuba Christmas??? It’s a concert of Christmas music played by a band made up entirely of tubas! My son plays the tuba so he participates in this event every year… er, except for this one.
At that time I worked on Sunday mornings, and my husband had several work obligations as well that weekend. Oh, and one more thing- I had an eighteen mile run on the schedule.
I was training for a marathon (that I never ran because I got injured- but that’s another story) so I needed to get that run in. With all the other events happening, there was a very small window on Saturday morning for me to do it. The problem was, the weather was terrible. I don’t mind running in the rain but the forecast showed 100% chance of thunderstorms for the whole morning. I debated several options, but finally realized the only way to guarantee getting the whole run in would be to do it on the treadmill at the gym.
I got to the gym early and was the first one there. I got the treadmill I wanted and settled in. My plan was to listen to podcasts for the first two hours, and then music for the last part. I had three gels which I planned to take at 4.5, 9, and 13.5 miles. I also planned to take a bathroom break at mile 6 and mile 12. Well…
From the beginning, I couldn’t get comfortable. You would think it would be easy to settle into the pace, but the pace I usually run outside just didn’t seem easy. I was also hyper-aware of the minutes ticking by. My podcast was a distraction, but for some reason it was slightly irritating as well. Taking the first gel was a nice way to break it up, and then using the bathroom at mile 6 was something to look forward to. I ran to the bathroom and back, and it felt strangely good to be running across the gym as opposed to running on the treadmill.
I made it to the second bathroom break, and then took my last gel. Things went downhill from there. I was mentally and physically exhausted and at mile 15 I got off the treadmill briefly. I walked briskly across the gym and back, while giving myself a stern talking-to: “You have to get back on that treadmill. This isn’t a 15 mile run, it’s an 18 mile run. You HAVE TO GET BACK ON THE TREADMILL AND FINISH.”
And I did.
Those three miles were probably the most grueling miles of my life. I was literally counting down the seconds. My music was so annoying to me at that point I just turned it off, and I changed the speed and/or incline every minute to shake things up. But I finished the run.
We all know how the most difficult runs are also the most memorable. The memory of that run is one that I draw on when I need inspiration. I think “If I finished that 18 mile treadmill run, I can finish this.” Even though at the time I vowed never, ever to do a long run on the treadmill again, I’m so glad I did it. And…
If I had to, had to, do it again, I would. Next time I would put a towel over the screen so I couldn’t see the time going by. And have a better podcast and different music. But in the end I would suck it up and make it work because that’s what life is all about, right?
This year is certainly different. No concerts, no long run and no karaoke party (well… definitely not sad about that one!). Instead of running 18 miles, I ran one. But one is better than zero! I saw the doctor this week and my foot is getting better, so I’m celebrating!
Anyone else do long runs on the treadmill? Play the tuba? (ha ha… probably not.). Love or hate karaoke?
4 Responses
I love the idea of Tuba Christmas! My daughter is a flutist so we have Flute Choir, Frozen Flutes, etc. It’s all good.
I can totally relate to your treadmill story. I had a similar experience during my last long run before my first Boston Marathon. We got 8″ of snow with rain on top, which made everything a horrible sheet of ice. I carefully drove over to the YMCA and banged out a 22 mile long run. It really proves that anything is possible once you get your head around it.
Great news on your foot!
Hi Marcia! My daughter just started playing the flute this year! My son is now a senior in high school and will be auditioning at colleges soon- he wants to be a trumpet performance major (the tuba was a secondary instrument, just for fun). I love being a band mom.
22 miles-oof. Someday you should write a post- “what was harder- the Boston Marathon or the 22 mile treadmill training run?” That’s hardcore.
Wow 18 miles on a treadmill sound torturous! Treadmill miles count double in my book 🙂 I seriously could never do it. Takes a lot of will and determination congrats to you.
Ha, 18 miles seems so long but then there are people who run ultramarathons on the treadmill! I can’t even imagine.