Running Outside VS. Inside

For those who have never experienced a Rexburg winter, let me introduce you.

And there's another 2 feet on the ground in addition to this.

 

Here is Jaren clearing some of it last Saturday with his giant snowblower

But on the bright side - look at it in June!

I have played sports just about my whole life.  Softball and Soccer being outside sports and Basketball and dancing being an indoor one.  Soccer is how I learned to love to run and get in shape.  While living in Washington (where I grew up) I had a few routes I used to run.  A 1, 2, 3, and 4 mile.  There is snow on the ground during the winter, but not all winter and usually it's warm enough (30, 32 degrees) that you can run outside.  So I never ran on a treadmill until I went to college.

Right away I didn't like it.  You can't run at your own pace - you have to pick one and keep at it.  It's boring because there isn't much to look at.  Thank heavens for CD players - do you remember when you had to just carry your walkman to run?, which is what I used until I got an iPod.  I was late on that bandwagon; I didn't get one until the fall of 2006.  I use the same one.  I'm hoping to upgrade to a 16 gig nano someday.  But there are other things on my list that come before that one.

Music was the only way I could run on a treadmill without going nuts.  Guess I'm a little ADD.  I've had to learn how to run on one effectively and how to put up with it. 

When I first got married I informed my new husband that unless he wanted a fat wife we needed to invest in a treadmill before I graduated from College (since I wouldn't be able to use the gym anymore).  Yes, there are a few (2 that I can think of) gyms in Rexburg, but since I live 15 minutes out of town I didn't want to drive into town and then back when I could just change, go downstairs and then come back up when I was done.

Last winter we did a bunch of research and finally bought one.  What is nice is that I have a TV in the room so I can watch and walk/run.  That helps with the being cooped up inside.

As for running outside - you can guess that I LOVE IT.  I love the sun, the warmth, the freedom to control your speed.  The views.  I especially love running in the country (good thing since that's where I live) because I think farmland is beautiful.  I love starting in April when the fields are just being worked and planted and then coming out each day through the growing season and watching the plants grow.

I'm already going nuts with my treadmill even though I've only been training for 4 weeks.  Because I knew I would be running outside a lot I did lots of research and bought a nice jogging stroller.  I've used it a few times around the mall or other places, but not to run with (as there is lots of snow covering the road).  I can't wait to run with it!  It's so smooth and light and amazing.  And Naomi will love being able to look around the outside since she's not seen much of it yet.

So, the good outdoors wins it for me.

I am so excited for March!

What do you prefer?