Today I did something I haven’t done in a LONG time: I ran! On the treadmill, because it was very cold out and let’s not get too crazy.
I really need to do more cardio. You all know I am Team Strength Training, and I feel pretty strongly that strength training is the secret sauce to fitness, looking good and feeling good. 😉
But, at least some cardio is also a good thing. I get a good heart rate pump on leg days, but not as much on upper body days.
I have been aiming for 3 days of cardio per week, but it always seems to be the first thing to get cut when I’m short on time. (Which is like, always.)
Anyway, I decided today out of the blue that I felt like running on my treadmill! I’ve been doing online dance cardio videos (admittedly, sporadically) lately for cardio but wanted something a little more intense. (But not burpees. I think I’m okay if I never do another burpee in my life. I don’t think I need burpees to be fit. If I do, maybe I don’t want to be fit. Haha.)
I used to run, years ago. I’ve run 4 half marathons and 1 full marathon in my running “career”. But it has been a loooong time now. (Asher was about to turn 2 when I did my full marathon!)
But I am so not in running shape right now. I realized this recently when running around in the back yard with Charlie, and I started huffing and puffing WAY more quickly than I think I should have. Hmm.
So, yeah. Goal of a bit more cardio is bumping up the list a little I think. (I also haven’t even been “brisk walking” as I usually do, because now I usually walk Charlie, which is like walking a squirrel. We stop and start and stop and start every 2 seconds.)
I decided to do 3 miles. But since, like I said, I’m not in running shape, I decided to do walk/run intervals.
I ran 0.5 miles at 6.5 mph, followed by 0.25 miles of walking at 4.0 mph. Repeat run/walk intervals until I hit 3 miles
It felt… ok. Hahaha. Running is kinda hard if you don’t do it, um, ever.
What do you think?! Should I keep running more often for my cardio?!! I always prioritize strength workouts, but I DO have a nice treadmill, so… I might as well use it…. Hmm. We’ll see! Might be fun to mix it up for a while and do some running!
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful that my back didn’t hurt while I ran. I still am having back issues- same days better than others. I wondered if running would aggravate it, but it seemed okay today.
GRATEFUL KAE 
I’m in exactly this position. Team strength training all the way but recently read Outlive by Peter Attia and realised that I might need to do some cardio. I’m trying to do zone 2 so for me running is out as my HR goes through the roof with even the slightest jog so I’m using the elliptical at the gym. I’ve treated myself to Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV and won’t let myself watch it at any other time so I have an incentive to get on there and get going. It’s working at the moment so fingers crossed!
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That’s a great idea to tie your cardio with something else. I’ll have to pay attention to my HR if I keep doing some running. My Apple watch died yesterday so I don’t know what my HR was. I feel like it was probably pretty high yesterday since I hadn’t run in so long and my body was like….are we being chased?! 😆😆
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Yay for you! I think running is a great way to get endorphins and I always feel better afterward, even if the “during” is not that fun! I did a lot of running on the TM when I was living in Iowa during the winter, since there was no other choice really, but it was very boring! However, I do like that you can temper the speed and you can control your run a bit more than outdoors. Plus it is not so cold, and there are already enough excuses NOT to run, so it is a great alternative to outside.
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I don’t mind running outside in some cold- I used to do it often when I ran frequently- but I do NOT like running if there is even a bit of snow or ice. So the TM is the best option for much of the winter. I also do like that you can watch a show while running on the TM!
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Well I despise running on the treadmill so much that it is rare for me to do it unless I am desperate for some cardio when traveling or something like that. If you didn’t hate it, it could be a good thing for you to do! If you hate it/dread it, I’d find something else or just do a very fast walk on the treadmill? It’s good that it didn’t bother your back, though! This is the time of year when my exercise routine (which is obviously pitiful these days…) is more focused on strength training. There are some HIIT workouts or components of workouts I do so I rely more on those for my cardio needs. I try to run when I can but I fell so many times on the ice last year, even though I was wearing yak trax, so I don’t know if I will keep running through the winter this year. We’ll see if we have a super icy winter like we did last year. I feel like I’m gambling with having a bad fall that would like necessitate surgery or something! And I do NOT need another challenge thrown my way.
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I guess I don’t really mind the treadmill that much, generally speaking. I used to use it quite often when I was training for races, etc. I’m with you on the no-ice thing. I am a hard pass on running outside if there’s even a trace of snow or ice! Too scary!
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My husband and I are constantly trying to figure out that perfect strength training/flexibility/cardio combo. I say that as long as I’m doing SOMETHING, it’s better than NOTHING, but I also feel like my lackadaisical approach means I’m probably not getting as much out of my time spent working out as I could be. *sigh* I’m not a personal trainer or nutritionist and have no interest in those types of things, so I’m going to just keep muddling along doing whatever seems right for my body at this moment.
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Definitely! I think you seem to have a great balance. Especially since none of us are likely to become professional athletes 😉 the main thing is just to get some of each discipline. I prefer to lean heavier into strength training, myself, but in my ideal world I should still be doing 2-3 days of cardio AND some flexibility (which I really think is important! But I have been doing none of right now…).
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Oh, you know what I’m going to say!!! Okay seriously, I think you’re right about the strength training. I spent the first part of my life doing way too little of it. But if you want to add in cardio, running is just the best. It is really hard to do if you haven’t done it in a long time though! Every time I have to take time off- which only happens when I’m injured- and then I come back to it, even if I’ve been doing all sorts of other things like the stair climber and bike, it’s still SO HARD at first! I’ve realized that nothing keeps you in shape for running other than running. Since you have a treadmill, I think it’s the perfect option for you. And run/walk intervals are a great way to get back into it. Yay!
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Yes, why is that?! I guess on the plus side, it’s also something that you can see pretty marked progress in if you keep it up. So maybe I should commit to running frequently for, I don’t know, X number of months at least…and then I could always switch to another form of cardio for a while. Having the treadmill just sitting there unused always bugs me, so I’d rather use it! And winter here is a great time for it. The stair climber is also really, really hard. I’m not a big fan of biking generally… I guess I don’t really love any of the other cardio machines that much. Maybe I just don’t really like elevating my heart rate. HAHA. I think that’s why I had been enjoying the dance videos- they don’t “feel” like exercise. But I’m not sure I get the same bang for my cardio buck from those as from something more intense like running or a machine. Though they are very fun.
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Another possibility is doing a workout that combines them. A bunch of the 21 Day Fix Extreme videos raise my heart rate and prioritize strength training. Same with PiYo. Just a thought. I don’t work out as much as you, but I generally do 2-3 strength training videos and if I do three, one of them boosts my cardio. Then I do 1-2 day of just cardio with extra PT and stretching afterward.
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What is it about running…I keep saying that I don’t run anymore but yet I can’t quite stay away. If you can go from not really running to running 3 miles on the treadmill in less than 30 minutes WOW. I say that any time that you feel like running then you should run.
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You know how much I love running but I understand that’s not for everyone. I think some cardio is good for health but it cannot be an activity you do regularly if you don’t enjoy it. To make it more enjoyable, I’d definitely run outdoor. There are other cardio workouts that you may like so I don’t think you HAVE to incorporate runs into your workout routine. Boxing is another good one.
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As someone who would LOVE to have a treadmill (and who loves to run), I say DO IT. USE IT. Haha.
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Have you considered a Zumba (or other dance) class? My favorite cardio!
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