The great indoors

Today marked the first time I made it outside for a workout in nearly a month. Jacquline and I had a great 9-mile run this morning. Prior to today, though, the bitter cold, the snow, and the as-yet-unmelted ice had forced me indoors. This I expect for cycling: my indoor bike trainer and cycling workout DVDs are permanent fixtures in our guest bedroom this time of year. But I always seem to be able to make it outside to run. This is partly because, unlike for a bike ride, the sidewalks and trails don't have to be perfectly clear for a run--just safe enough for me to stay upright. My desire to run outside, however, has more to do with my distaste for the dreadmill--I mean the treadmill. Avoiding the treadmill and the bike trainer, however, aren't really options for me right now. Ironman and the quickly-approaching Miami half-marathon have me doing long rides (two hours plus) and runs (10 and 11 miles the past two Sundays). Logging these hours means I usually pop in a workout DVD or turn on the TV and hop onto the bike and ride by myself. Likewise, my long runs on the treadmill mostly have been alone--just me, my iPod, and the news. 

I used to look upon the treadmill and bike trainer as necessary evils, last resorts when the weather was most uncooperative. That all changed at Christmastime. Because of my pretty significant goal this year, and because training can't wait until the weather turns nice, I have gained a whole new appreciation for these machines. I've learned that a good balance of indoor and outdoor workouts will make a big difference come June 26. Here is why.

What I appreciate about outdoor workouts. First (indulge me in being obvious), I'm outside. This means gulps of fresh air and sun warming my skin. With every turn, the scenery changes, and breathtaking scenery it is. Outdoors, I have options: I can do an interval workout around the local park and not worry about car traffic. Or I can get in some great climbing without having to venture very far from the house. Or I can head in any direction on the web of bike paths and get in a long endurance run or ride. When it comes to riding and running outside, it's easy to scare up a workout partner or gather a group. And this gives me practice being in a group, which is what I'm doing in races. Thus, most importantly, outdoors workouts simulate race conditions. I can choose training routes that are similar to the race course in terms of terrain, distance, and characteristics. Even better, I can train on the actual race course if it's in the Denver/Boulder area. I view outdoor workouts as "race reconnaissance." I not only become familiar with race conditions, I practice handling the unexpected and unplanned: flat tires, delays, animals, detours, unfriendly weather, etc.

What I appreciate about indoor workouts. I'll start with the most important benefit: I have direct control over speed, intensity, and timing. I can keep exact track of interval duration, change the hill grade in a split-second, and you know how I love numbers! Indoors, I'm also able to multi-task, as best I can. I can catch up on movies and keep up with sports. When working out at home, there's an endless supply of food and water (and my always-willing personal assistant, Steve--thank you sweetie!) and easy access to the bathroom. Thanks to climate-control, I need not bundle up. Nor do I have to worry about flat tires or accidents. At the gym, there's typically some interesting scenery, more the human kind than the mountainous kind. And the most reliable thing about the indoors? It's always there, anytime of day or night.

In spite of our temporary "warming trend" here, I'm trying really hard not to get spring fever. It's much too early. But today gave me a taste for what my training will be like later this year, when I can swim, bike, and run outside without too many layers, for hours and hours at a time, soaking up all the wonder that is the Colorado outdoors. In the meantime, I will soak up all the wonder that is the indoors, Colorado and anywhere my training takes me.