Running Intervals... Good; Chewing Gum... Bad

As a treadmill novice, I typically opt for the 'quick start' option. This selection is a manual workout allowing the user to adjust the speed and incline to his or her discretion. Usually, I punch in an incline of 2%, which from my understanding simulates level ground, and between 7 and 8 miles per hour. I watch as the clock slowly counts up and the miles inch toward my predetermined distance. Boring (as well as mediocre in terms of workout quality, but that topic is for another post).

Over the last, cold month of treadmill use, I digressed to listening to audiobooks while getting in my mileage. Plugging in ear phones had long been taboo during my training when I found them a deterrent to listening to my body and paying attention to my surroundings, but I needed help to get through tedious treadmill mileage. While a buzz in my ear distracted me from the drudgery, I lost the connection with what and how my feet and body were doing. Today, I found a new friend to pull me from the banality without unnecessary distraction... intervals.

Braving the treadmill console, I pushed a few buttons and followed a number of prompts. The belt whirred to life under my feet, and I was off to minute long intervals switching between 6 and 8 miles per hour with some incline undulation. I was no longer chugging for the final, distant goal. My run was divided into exciting, digestible tidbits that flew by. Adios, headphones.

While I made gains by way of exploring treadmill options, I lost ground because of tiny piece of flavor-filled latex called chewing gum.

Innocently, I popped a piece of gum in my mouth as a lazy attempt at battling morning breath before an early a.m. workout. Who wants to pant heavily with crippling bad breath churning back into their face? As the workout progressed, my heart-rate increased, sweat began pooling into large droplets, and the need to [chomp] focus [chomp] on breathing [chomp] became increasingly [chomp] important. Needless to say, the gum was a serious impediment to regulating my O2 intake. I fought through to the end without a garbage can in site and vowed to brush my teeth next time.

So, the moral of the story?

Running intervals or other workouts on a treadmill is a great way to make the 'dreadmill' more tolerable. During long, cold winters, a working relationship with a treadmill is valuable, so get to know what your treadmill can do for you.

Avoid chewing gum. No need to prove that you can multi-task when a commercial grade belt is mercilessly spinning below you. It's better to focus on your body, running gait, relaxing, and breathing without unnecessary distraction.

Running intervals... good. Chewing gum while running intervals... bad.