Neil and Me on the Treadmill

By Neil, I mean Neil Diamond, of course. I put 3-4 Neil Diamond songs on my new CD for running on the treadmill. Who knew he was so motivating? You should also notice that I am no longer calling the treadmill the dreadmill. This is a big step for me, and hopefully the treadmill and I are building a more positive and healthy relationship than we've had in the past. I got my planned 8 miles in this morning. A new treadmill record! I have to say, the 1st 6 or so miles were delightful, or at least quite tolerable. Miles 6 and 7 got a little long, but there's hope for the treadmill and me yet.

If you've known me the last few years, you know that I've battled illiotibial band syndrome chronically. You know this because I've probably annoyed the hell out of you by explaning this issue in detail. My wonderful friend Leslie (bless her) who is a massage therapist and works in a PT clinic is the only one who really at least appeared to be somewhat interested in the anatomy of my gluts, outer thigh, knee, etc., but that didn't stop me from explaning the issue to the rest of the world as well. Anyway, the IT band was the reason for my knee surgery. The IT band deal has not reared its ugly head for some time, although I did feel a twinge as my distance was showing as 7.97 on the treadmill today. It wasn't painful, but just enough of a feeling to be aware that things might get worse if I kept going. I'm not panicking about it, but I do need to be cautious and back off it starts bothering me.

I've learned that lesson the hard way. Being tough is sometimes being stupid. Going an extra mile one day is not worth it if it means having to take a month off of running. Tomorrow, according to my training plan, is a rest day or a cross training day. I could take the day off completely, or maybe I could ride my spin bike.

So it's been Neil and me on the treadmill...other artists on my burned CD: Lady GaGa, the Jayhawks, Brittney Spears (how embarassing), Pink, Taylor Swift, Ray Charles, Ryan Adams, Naughty by Nature (yes, seriously),  Run DMC, Katy Perry, Sugar Hill Gang, the Fray, Sugarland, Michael Franti, Warren Zevon, Toby Keith, Lucinda Williams, Coldplay, Five for Fighting, Joshua Radin, Lady Antebellum, Toto, Fountains of Wayne, Howie Day, REM, Meatloaf, Shawn Mullins, Glenn Miller, Queen, and U2.