Gym vs Cycling

[nscrbug]

I'm amazed by the people who run on treadmills year-round, regardless of weather. The only time I've run much on a TM was for 1 Winter when we had record snow and an ice storm that left most of my running routes unusable for weeks on end (since they don't plow/salt/sand some of the more rural roads much at all). Otherwise I wouldn't use the "dreadmill" if you paid me to do so.

While I'm not a huge fan of running on the treadmill, it's about the only option I have if I want to run at all these days. With my chronic lower back issues, I really shouldn't be running...but I do...just not on the pavement because it hurts my back way too much. For the low amount of running that I do (3x a week, 2-3 miles per run with short walking breaks thrown in) I can tolerate the dreadmill.

[zoom-zoom]

While I'm not a huge fan of running on the treadmill, it's about the only option I have if I want to run at all these days. With my chronic lower back issues, I really shouldn't be running...but I do...just not on the pavement because it hurts my back way too much. For the low amount of running that I do (3x a week, 2-3 miles per run with short walking breaks thrown in) I can tolerate the dreadmill.

There are definitely reasons when the TM is the best possible option. Avoiding bugs and reasonable weather wouldn't be one of mine. Plus it gives me vertigo when I get off (my sister has this issue, too)!

[Crankin]

Indy, I feel the same way, actually. Being outdoors riding or running, or doing winter stuff fills my need to be in nature and my need to exercise. That's why if I am short on time, I would rather walk the 2.2 mile loop in my neighborhood, where I can see nature and get my HR up going up the hill. In fact, I originally started mountain biking because I love being in the woods, since I was a kid, in fact. But, the actual mountain biking part didn't work out so well for me, so now hiking is my alternate activity in the woods, during warmer weather.

[Catrin]

I kind of like going between the gym to nature and back again. I need to be out in nature to connect to the world around me - but I tend to do those things solo. The gym rat half of me enjoys going for the range of activities and the challenges of group training, but I couldn't limit myself to indoor activities outside of recovering from something that keeps me off the bike. I need that outdoor connection.

I must admit that I am starting to get frustrated with the rate at which I seem to injure myself mountain biking, I can't seem to stay on it long enough to progress before injuring myself again I can't be the only one in this situation however, and I was warned this would likely happen before I improved. When it works it is so sweet though, just to be able to shut off everything outside of me, my connection to the bike and the woods around me. Hiking just isn't the same! As much I as I like riding the road, that isn't quite the same either...