What is it about treadmills??

Ok, I've been a runner most of my life, in some form or fashion, I suppose.  Not so much in high school though.  The more my parents wanted me to do track, the more I didn't want to.  I actually think that's what got me into running now.  I just really started running a couple years ago (well...putting any kind of effort into it, anyways), and ever since, it's like an addiction.  I ran so much in 2011 that by the time the marathon was over, I thought both of my knees were going to crumble and I would end up being peg-legged.  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but you just can't run being peg-legged, right? 

Anyways, I'm usually always having to explain my obsession to the non-runners who just don't understand why I do it.  Well, here are a few reasons:

This is what I felt like after the Marathon!!!

This is SOOO true!!

I have done this many, many, many times!!  But wouldn't have it any other way!

This is my mind-set every single day!!

It took about a month after the Marathon for my body to forgive me, but I'm all good.

With all of the running I did last year, I didn't get to the gym much towards the end of the year.  After running, I was just too tired to even step foot in the gym.  So, this year I'm back at the gym.  Only problem...I cannot bring myself to run more than 2 miles on the treadmill.  UGH!!!  What is it about those things?  I get so, so bored....and fast!!!  I think it's the thing of running in one spot with the same sweaty folks as your scenery.  I don't have the roads, the hills (ok, I can do that on a treadmill, but I have no desire to), the trees, the sun, the dodging of cars, the diesel fumes, the being chased by the BIG pit-bulls and even the little yorkies (HEY!!! some of those little things are scary!!), the rain, the sun, the cold or hot temperatures, the kids that laugh as you run by, the whistles and snide comments from high schoolers (I've learned to not even hear those anymore), etc, etc.  All that keeps the run interesting.  Plus, I know that if I'm running outside and I reach my halfway mark, I have no choice but to run back because it would take way longer to walk it.  Not the same way on a treadmill.  I know I can stop anytime I want to on it. 

One of these, or those, days my brain will accept the treadmill, but until then, I'll just stick to strength training a the gym and leave my running to the roads.