I do all my training on my treadmill. The Proform treadmill that I bought used last year for $350 is getting worn out. I already broke the frame once and had it re-welded. The belt is now badly worn, and is likey to fail at any time now. The thing is noisy as all heck. I have probably put close to 2000 miles on it since I bought it in July 2006.
So this morning for my Black Friday shopping I bought a new treadmill. A Horizon T900. I got it for $1000 (MSRP $2200, normal selling price is $1500). I got the extended warranty for an extra $200 (for 4 years). And for another $100 they are going to assemble it, deliver it, and put it where I want it (on the top floor of our house). And I got a free Ipod Nano (the TM has an Ipod dock). And a free $20 giftcard.
Here are the specs:
http://www.horizonfitness.com/products/treadmill/t900.aspx
The 12mph top end speed will be usefull! I am already hitting the 10mph limit on my Proform when running 400m intervals.
I am going to be beating this thing up!!!!
I am hoping to get my wife to use it maybe.
The Las Vegas Marathon is in just over a week, and I am slowly getting over a cold!
Last Saturday I woke up a little stuffy. But it went away during the day. That evening I did my long run (13 miles at 8:00 pace). I felt a little stuffy that night, and woke up completely stuffed up, and tired. I normally would have done some spinning on Sunday, but I was just drained. I went to karate class that night since I was supposed to teach. But I had the other black belts run things. I ate chicken noodle soup, and started using Airborne which some of my friends swear by.
I didn’t go to work Monday. No aikido class Monday evening. I definatly didn’t do my 1000m intervals!
I didn’t go to work Tuesday either. I didn’t spin at all. And there are no karate classes this week due to the holiday.
Wednesday I was finally feeling a little better. I didn’t want get everyone at work sick, so I stopped in, got my computer, and worked from home. I did my tempo run Wednesday night (2 miles @10:00, 3 miles @ 6:45, 1 mile @10:00), but I felt very sluggish! I had to take a couple short rests during the 3 miles at 6:45 pace.
Thursday was Thanksgiving, so no work. I cooked turkey and did some spinning for about 50 minutes. I did the Spinervals Autumn Country DVD. So it was easy aerobic stuff.
Todays Friday. Still no karate tonight, but I plan to do some spinning. Not sure which one yet. I might try 1 or 2 of the 30 minute time-saver workouts that came in my Spinervals Endurance Building 5 pack.
Tomorrow is my last long run: 10 miles at 8:00 pace. Hopefully that goes okay.
Last night as part of my training I ran 5 miles at 7:03 pace. Actually, I ran 3.5 miles at 7:03 pace, took a couple minute breather and ran the last 1.5 miles @ 7:03 pace.
I finished the 3.5 miles in 24:46 which would have put me in the top 4 men from my company in the 3.5 mile Chase Corporate Challenge.
But calculating out the 5k time, I ran it in about 21:52-21:56. Looking at some 5k race results I saw this would have put me in or near placing in some 5k races for my age group. And I could have run a little faster even. I have never actually run in a 5k race before. But I may try it. It would be cool to actually place in the top 3 in a race.
How the freak did this happen? I am not even a freakin runner!
Yeah it was on a treadmill. Always a treadmill. Interestingly, I tend to run even faster out on the road than on the TM. It’s like it under reports.
I just glanced at the local races for 5k’s, but nothing jumped out at me right away. I will look a little further. It is getting cold here, and I really don’t like running in the cold.
But next Wednesday I am scheduled to run 6 miles. 2 easy, 3 @ 7:14, 1 easy. The 7:14 pace is from the 3:30 schedule. I have been doing the paces from the 3:15 schedule for the fast runs, and that has me doing the 3 miles @ 6:45 pace.
Following the Las Vegas Marathon, I intend to up my training paces. Maybe start training on the 3:15 all the way, or maybe even the 3:10? I am sure I can find some good 5k’s in the spring when it is warmer out.
I finished my last 20 mile run on Sunday, now I am officially in taper mode for the Las Vegas Marathon on December 2nd! Yay!
I had to do the 20 mile run on Sunday instead of the usual Saturday due to a busy weekend schedule. So my two run this week are both pushed back a day. I am doing 8x half mile intervals tonight at 6:06 minute/mile pace plus 10 minute warmup/10 minute cooldown. Thursday I am scheduled for 6 miles (1 easy and 5 at 7:00 pace). The next Saturday I have a 13 mile long run at 8:00 pace.
Next week is Monday: 5 x 1000m intervals @ 6:08 pace. Wednesday: 6 mile tempo run with 2 easy miles, 3 miles at 6:45 pace, 1 easy mile. Saturday 10 miles @ 8:00 pace.
This week leading up to the marathon is Monday: 6x quarter mile repeats @6:00 pace. Wednesday: 3 miles (1 easy, 2 @ 7:26). And then Sunday would be the race that I am hoping to run at 8:00 pace.
I am using the first schedule. I tweaked it so I am doing the long runs according to the 3:30 schedule. But I have bumped up the intervals and tempo runs to the 3:15 schedule. I am trying to get a little more buffer room for the race. I would hate to miss my 3:30 target time by a minute or two.
Last night I was scheduled to run 8 miles: 1 easy mile, and 7 miles @8:00 pace. I started to run the easy mile, the belt was tracking poorly on my TM. It was rubbing against the side. So I got off, and decided I needed to adjust the belt.
I knew the front roller was slightly off causing the belt to canted. I hadn’t gotten the front roller exactly straight again after having the broken frame welded. Either that, or the thing shifted some.
I removed the motor cover, and adjusted the front roller, and then adjusted the back roller. I got it running fairly straight. There was a slight fwack, fwack, fwack as the belt went around. The belt is worn on the inside. I have put a lot of mile on this thing. I lifted the belt, and saw some loose pieces. I grabbed a piece of tape and stuck it over the loose pieces. I didn’t want them to catch and tear. This turned out to be a mistake. When I turned on the treadmill, there was a strange noise, and the belt went hard to the one side. WTF? I thought maybe a roller shifted. Nope. The roller grabbed the tape which then pulled the threads from the belt which then wrapped around the roller, which caused a fatter spot on the roller, which then caused the belt move hard to the left. With a knife, and pliers, I managed to get the threads removed from the roller. After a while and a lot of work, I got the treadmill running again. Now it runs like it had before, and the belt runs straight.
I may step up my search for a new treadmill. I am debating about whether to buy another cheap used treadmill, a new home quality treadmill, a used gym quality treadmill, or a new gym quality treadmill. I don’t particullarly want to spead $3000 for a treadmill. I paid $325 for the treadmill I am using now. I have put a lot of miles on it. I am probably doing a lot more on it than it was designed to handle. But at $3000, I can buy 10 of these cheaper used TMs. I only goes to 10mph (6:00 pace). But I was just thinking that for the days I need to run fast than 6:00 pace, I can always go to the community center and use their TMs. I think they charge a $5 fee. I don’t know. Hopefully my TM will last until I find a deal on another one.