I’ll run in the dark. And I’ll run in the cold. But I won’t run in the dark AND cold.
What to do to get in a mid-week 5AM run?
Did you know there’s a machine specifically for indoor running? It’s called a treadmill. And I’ve always hated it!
Well, actually, that’s not really true. It just hasn’t ever made sense for me to run on one. If I want to run, I go outside; if I need an indoor workout, I take a day off of running. But now that my schedule has changed, it opened a new door!
I actually think running on a treadmill is very different from running outside. It’s like I push off with my feet differently? I don’t lean slightly forward and focus on making my body run fast. Instead, the belt moves fast and I just quicken my leg turnover. Does that make sense? Defying gravity! I also think you must add a slight incline to get a real-run feel, so I put it on 0.5 minimum and alternate with 1.0 and sometimes 2.0/3.0.
So today I put on headphones and a good playlist of fun music (Defying Gravity and DJ Earworm!) and got to work.
Warmup: Half a mile at 6.6
Intervals: 30 minutes between 0.5 incline at 8:00 min mile pace and 1.0 at 9 min mile pace each for 2 minutes.
Finale: 1 mile at 8:30 pace
Cooldown: Walked quarter of a mile and then stretched
It was an awesome workout! My heart-rate was pumping and I was red in the face from all the speed. Fun!
I came home and made a bear of a breakfast: Kodiak Cakes!
I wanted a bigger portion so I used half a cup of the mix today, which I have deemed to be 1.5 times the portion on the box. I broke out the food scale for more experiments. I think I reported (and some of you emailed me) that 40 grams was 1/4 a cup for me. Well I have determined that 40 grams is 1/3 a cup if you fluff the mix first. I normally scoop flours out pretty tightly so that’s why I was getting 1/4 = 40 grams. So I think 1/3 a cup fluffed is indeed one portion size. Just FYI to those of you who asked!
LOVE licking the batter out!! I love pancake batter 🙂
Half a cup was too much pancake!!!! I kind of ruined it by keeping the heat too low and making it too big
The flip wasn’t pretty. Next time I’ll either go back to 1/3 a cup or do 2 pancakes.
I also wanted to make some of Emily‘s PB2 sauce!!
I used my scale for this too because I wanted the proportion of PB2 to liquid to be exact. I used 12 grams of PB2 (1 portion) to just UNDER 2 tbsp of vanilla soy milk. It whipped up quite nicely!! PB2 tastes to me like Resees – kind of that artificial PB taste, but still good! I really like it as a sauce but I’ll stick to real PB for most of my eating.
I topped the cake with mashed banana, PB2 sauce, flax and a few pecans
Yummy!! It was filling but I’ve had to type this post while I ate and didn’t get to enjoy it 100% 🙁
It looks like Tusker the Kenyan Elephant fell into my coffee!!!
My candle blew out! I bet Tusker did it.
Off to an elementary school to watch a presentation on LOVING your body and then spending the afternoon at WIC. Hoping to learn a lot!
Also hoping to grab a lunch somewhere fun in-between!!!
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad says
Whew! You are speedy. My body hates the treadmill and anything over 6.0 is torture.
Sophie @ yumventures says
That sounds like a great, fast run! I ran at 8.0 for the first time the other day and thought I would fly off =) Yummy pancake, too!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
I don’t like cold PLUS dark either– I passed a lady running last night at 9 o’clock in 25 degree weather and though CRAZY!! haha. Good for her for running though I guess 🙂
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Sounds like a GREAT treadmill workout! And that pancake looks so good!!!! Love it!
Katie @ Health for the Whole Self says
The treadmill can be a pain, but it can also be great for speed workouts and hill intervals! I am horrible at managing my pace on my own, so the treadmill provides the best way to work on my speed. And the areas where I run outside are all super flat, so using the treadmill is the only way I can practice running on hills!
Cole says
Yeah treadmills are no fun, but they’re great for those cold mornings where the idea of running outside is horrible. And yummy pancake!
Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com says
Oh gosh, I’d take cold and dark any day over a treadmill!! The thought of the treadmill makes me die a bit inside…all you can think about (in my uni treadmill – no tv) is the wall in front of you and the stinky person next to you – no fun! Congrats on your workout though, fast and ace!!
Powedered peanut butter? Whatever next…
ellen eats beets says
I need to get my hands on those kodiak cakes!!
Jamie says
I thought you were going to talk about Wicked by the title of your post!! Anyway, I HATE running on the treadmill and will also take a day off of running if that’s my only option. I get so bored and I’m always scared I’m going to fall off!
Jenn @ Livewellfit says
Pancakes…yum!
I have a tough time with the treadmil myself..I used to be able to run on it for ages but now that I have slightly different approach to my workouts (I enjoy every minute of it, or at least tell myself to) I have a hard time running towards a wall. 🙂 Seems silly but that’s all I can think about on the treadmil!
Eileen says
I don’t like cold and dark either. Glad you hit the treadmill though and gave it a good go!! I do tend to feel like a gerbil on my wheel on those machines. 🙂 Have a fun day at LOVE your body and WIC.
Carolyn says
After a horrible run yesterday, I did 2.5 miles on the treadmill yeaterday and even had to up the pace because I felt like I was going to run through the treadmill. 🙂
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
impressive run! I agree that the treadmill is different — i have no problems running outside, but my body AHTES me when I run on the treadmill — it’s horrid. I tend to stick to the elliptical.
I’m interested to see what you think of the presentation – sounds cool!
have a good one 😉
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
Any day that starts with pancakes is bound to be a great one 🙂
Christie @ Honoring Health says
I am so impressed that the school is doing a presentation on body love. That is awesome! There was no such thing when I was growing up!
Abby says
Sounds like an excellent treadmill workout. I might have to try it!
Daniel says
I find the treadmill to be boring and tedious at times as well but I’m the kind of person that absolutely HATES the cold so I stick with it for now. Spring better come soon!!
And now I have an insane craving for pancakes… those look so delicioussssss!
Janna (Just Flourishing) says
Yikes… 5am run! I don’t think I’ve evvvver woken up that early to run!
But I did do a treadmill workout last night… it was painful, but necessary.
Hehe oh Tusker.
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans says
I think as long as you are playing with the speed or incline (or both!) the treadmill isn’t too bad!
Nutritious Foodie says
I agree with you I am not much of a treadmill person.. but if I have to then it will have to work.
Have a great day!
Jennifer says
This breakfast looks delicious! Putting peanut butter on pancakes…great idea…it adds that healthy fat/substance to help the pancakes stick with you a little longer. That has always been my problem with pancakes. The carb load always leaves me hungery an hour later. I think my little guy would even go for this! Thanks for the idea!!!
Gabriela says
YUUM!
Your pancake looked delicious!
And congrats for trying a new workout – and succeding on doing/having fun with it!
Running outside when it´s dark and cold doesn´t sound really good, haha.
Have a great Wednesday!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
JENNA says
🙂 i’ve been craving pancakes like crazy!!! yummy! have a great sunny day!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Yay for the presentation on loving your body! If only all young girls could do that. Ok..if only all women could do that haha
I hate the treadmill!!! But good for you, sounds like a great workout girl!
Rose-Anne says
Elephants and bears at breakfast…oh my! I love the idea of a peanut butter sauce and wish I knew a way to make a good one with real peanut butter…maybe peanut butter + yogurt + vanilla soymilk to thin it? Hmm, that might work! 🙂
Happy Hump Day, everyone! Gotta hustle!
skinnyrunner says
yeah for kodiak!! (i’m from there)
[email protected]://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
I really want to try these pancakes and some of their other products. I found it in the store but it was so expensive. I think I’ll check out their website.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I love PB2…sadly, I am out! It’s funny, when you dress up a pancake…it doesn’t matter what it looks like underneath! I have started to play with my food scale a lot more for consistency sake. It is just so much more accurate when baking.
[email protected] says
sounds like a great running workout! That pancake looks absolutely amazing!
Danielle (Coffee Run) says
I agree- running on the treadmill IS different than running outside. On the treadmill, you’re using your leg muscles to reposition/balance yourself and outside you’re using your leg muscles to propel yourself forward!
The pancake looks tasty 😀
Heather says
pancake looks so good!
you def. run differently on a treadmill. your body is not actually propelling you forward, you are just keeping up with the belt and working different muscles. Not necessarily a bad thing but I definately like running outside better!
Ameena says
Great run and delicious looking pancake! Treadmill running is much easier for me than running outside. It’s easier on my knee too!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) says
Awesome job on that challenging treadmill run! In fact, your speedy run inspired me to get off my lazy tail and go to the gym pronto.
Christy says
Those pancakes look great! I don’t mind the treadmill. I like doing my tempo or interval runs on the treadmill. I also do a rolling hill type of run on the treadmill…..it’s tough!
Charlotte says
Hey, Kath! I enjoy your blog so much! Can somebody please tell me how many grams go in 1 cup of oats? ( Raw rolled oats. ) It’s really important! I have tried to find it everywhere, but I just can’t find it.
Tracy says
I believe it is 80 grams
Kath says
Check Calorieking.com. But I believe it’s 80 too.
Caitlin says
Great workout! I prefer running outdoors, but I love the treadmill for speedwork. Sounds like you had a speedy run.
Btw, I Tusker is adorable!
Anna @ Oats n Boats says
Kath, you rock! I now have Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” going through my head and I’m ready to tackle the rest of my day 🙂 Yay!
sarah @ syrupandhoney says
i have similar feelings about the treadmill but have definitely used it for convenience – better than no workout at all! no idea how true it is, but i remember reading something before about the way people run on a treadmill working muscles differently and resulting in “treadmill butt”, meaning a flat butt. haha!
Jessica says
!!!!!!!! Tusker?! Where’d you get him? Her?
Kath says
Him! I brought him back from Kenya last spring 🙂
https://www.katheats.com/day-6-7-kwa-heri-kenya/
[email protected] Two Lives, One Lifestyle says
Always living places with decently long winters, I’ve had lots of dreadmill runs but completely agree that my form is different. I have been trying hard lately to work on it, but it’s tough to change what you’ve been doing for years! PS- Tusker is cute!
Nicola Gildersleeve says
Nice lookin’ breakfast.
FYI: The incline should be at 1.0 to simulate outdoor running.
Nicola
Rose says
Those pancakes look incredible. And I love that elephant do-dad.
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I’m okay with cold unless it is super cold with snow…then I start hitting the gym and the treadmill. I’m looking forward to getting back to the trail once it thaws out though. But I like the ability to challenge myself with intervals easier on the treadmill. Best way for me to increase my speed.
GurlOnA"Diet" says
I hate the treadmill too- i like enjoying the scenery outside!
Stacey says
I’m totally with you on the treadmill ordeal. I HATE the treadmill, because the whole time I’m on it I would much rather just be running outside. But like you, the schedule has changed so I am having to do a run during the week on the dreaded treadmill. It IS good for speed training though 🙂 And you get to wear shorts while running! Yay! 😀
Becky says
I had a date with the dreadmill this morning, too – snow and ice on all the roads and trails! Intervals are definitely the way to go to keep in interesting. Glad your plan worked – might give it a try next time I have to use the dreaded machine!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
oh, i hope that presentation goes well! that’s something i’ve been struggling with for a long time and would love to take part in it 🙂 hope it’s a good day for yoU!
Allison K says
I dislike the treadmill enough to run outside in just about ANY condition. My coldest temp this winter was 11 degrees!
Wendy says
I agree! There are two things that keep me inside: lack of childcare and ice!
Run Sarah says
I’ve only actually run on a treadmill a few times and I find it HARDER than running outside! I think I’m just terrified I am going to fall right off.
Leena says
there’s really nothing better than warm, fluffy pancakes to start off your morning! i haven’t tried pb2 yet, but i really want to! i wish i could get it at my grocery store!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing says
Kath, you’re FAST! I run at 6.0 for my whole work-out 🙂
Ash @ Good Taste. Healthy Me says
I definitely want to try running outdoors…so far I’ve only done treadmill runs…and to be honest it’s a little boring.
tracy says
Hey Kath, I’ve been adding chia gel (~1/2 T. chia plus 1-2 T. water) and a dollop of Oikos to my Kodiak cake batter…soo good! Tender from the yogurt and little pops of chia seeds! Try it!!
Ally (Exercise and Pies) says
mm, pancakes look awesome! and treadmills and other indoor machines are easy to do if you find what works for YOU. for me, it’s books on the stairmaster and crazy upbeat music for elliptical and stationary bike
Kellie says
I had Kodiak cakes this morning too. I love them. I have been doing more treadmill work lately and I like it. I go faster with speedwork and I think having other people on it next to me, makes me stick with it and try to go faster and harder. I always do a 1% incline to simulate outdoor running more.
Stef says
my pb2 sauce for pancakes recommendation: mix dry pb2 with a couple T greek yogurt and a little bit of raspberry preserves…so good! i wish i could love the treadmill, but i just don’t! those kodiak cakes are getting so much bloggie press, i want to try them 🙂
Tiffany says
I love to do intervals on the treadmill, and I usually do HIIT. I just can’t seem to push myself as hard when I’m running outside because I don’t know my pace during my sprints. And if I go just by RPE, I tend to back off before it gets too hard (RPE 9 or 10). So I like the treadmill in that respect. But I do love running outside for the scenery!
Wendy says
You are too funny with the treadmill description! IMO, intervals are the only way to make the treadmill tolerable. You are one speedy lady – great run!
Andrea says
God, pancakes are the best breakfasts!
I really like treadmills, as much as everyone hates them. I like how they’re gentler on my knees and hips and I can create inclines. I’m the uncool kid that prefers them to the outdoors…
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers says
awesome work out! phewwww!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Yummy pancake! I don’t like PB2 after they changed their recipe. 😕 It used to taste just like natural PB, now it’s smooth and tastes funky. You would have loved it circa 2007-08. 🙂
Jenn
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather says
Holy moly pancake heaven! That’s sounds amazing especially the toppings
Nicole says
And here I was thinking I was the only sick person who loved pancake batter! Yum yum!
Angela (The Lady Loves to Eat) says
I have never tried pancake batter! I don’t think I ever thought about trying it before..I agree treadmill are so different then running outside!
Lauren @ eater not a runner says
I think intervals are the best for the treadmill, makes it less painful for sure!
Lele says
I’m really curious about PB2, because I just got back from Taiwan and there they have what they call “peanut powder” that they use for EVERYTHING- as a hot beverage mixed with rice milk, as a sort of pudding-y thing (I think you would love both of those!), as candy, and in a street snack that consists of… wait for it… a cake of pork blood dipped in barbecue sauce, peanut powder, and green onions (and it’s totally good!).
I’ve tried to find it at Asian grocery stores with so far no success. I’m wondering if PB2 could be used like peanut powder… hmm.
Lauren says
Your ability to find the shapes in your coffee never ceases to crack me up. And I know what you mean about running on the treadmill. I feel like it’s a completely different activity than running outside and I HATE it.
Amy says
Where can I buy PB2?? Im curious to try it!
Chelsea says
I didn’t read all the comments so this may have already been mentioned but they say that 1% incline = running outside on the treadmill. I always run with at least a 1% incline now 😉
Tara says
I’ve been dying to try that powedered peanut butter but it’s on backorder everywhere! Do you eat before you hit the gym?
Kath says
No. I haven’t been hungry enough.
Make Roux says
I can’t help but comment every time you post about PB2. I love this stuff and, while it will never replace real PB for me, I love it in a peanut dipping sauce (mix with Tiger Sauce, water, and a few chopped peanuts), in PB cookies, and last night I tried it in homemade granola. I simply mixed it in with my honey to coat my grains and dried fruits.
Love your blog!
PS – did you check out the free kb workout at mbodystrength.com?
Hannah says
I LOVE how you caught the wisp of smoke from your candle! It’s so beautiful! (as is the pancake, but really, your breakfasts are always amazing-looking).
Jil says
I still have yet to get a hang of the treadmill — I just constantly feel like I’m going to fly off of it. Hence…why I stick to the elliptical haha.
Katie says
I’m so happy I found your blog. I’m in the process of losing 115 pounds (30 down!) and I’m enjoying eating REAL food, 100% of the time. I’ve added your blog to my blogroll so I can visit you often. Great blog you have here!
Kath says
Thanks and welcome!
K says
Kath, I read your blog all of the time and I was actually sort of surprised to see you use PB2. I dont know a whole lot about it but is it artificial? I dont mean this in a mean way at all, I’m just trying to learn since I tend to stay away from artificial foods, etc.
K says
Never Mind – I googled it 🙂
Lindsey says
Know I don’t feel so bad. I have a 3 strikes rule. If I can find 3 reasons why I shouldn’t go out running I will wait until the next day to run and find something else to do today. The allowable reasons (excuses?) include: cold, rain/snow, dark, sore from the day before. Luckily, most of the times is is dark and raining, it is also cold 😉
Becky (flybynyght @ wordpress) says
I *completely* find that the treadmill is different from running outside. My stride and even my stance are completely different. I definitely am not a fan of the tready, but it definitely has it’s place and find it handy when I want to try to work on speed (of which I have very little ;P) or intervals.
Nic says
Andrea:
You’re not the only one…I LOVE the treadmill! What’s great for me is that it forces me to keep up my speed, otherwise I’m highly likely to slack off.
Glad you had a good run, Kath!
Lauren says
Sounds like an awesome run! I love treadmills for this reason. Interval training.
I thought I was the only one who licked the pancake batter. Most people think it’s gross, but I LOVE it! 🙂 I think even more than cake batter.
Hope today was great Kath!
Elizabeth says
i’m going to have to treadmill tomorrow and i can’t say i’m looking forward to it! but i do adore dj earworm!
Kristilyn (My 29th Year) says
That sounds like a great workout! I just can’t get over how fast you run … A warm-up to me right now is definitely NOT 6.6 miles per hour. LOL! When I do running intervals, I’ll get up to 8mph for a minute here and there, but even that’s really fast. I guess I’ll keep working on it!
Your pancake looks delicious!
K
Kristilyn (My 29th Year) says
I am absolutely in love with Bob’s Red Mill products – if I have a choice, it’s always BRM! That soup looks delicious. I have a few pre-made soup packages in my pantry that I’m saving for a rainy day. How much spice do you add to your serving?
Your house looks gorgeous! I personally love that individual bed frame in the guestroom – it’s so tiny and perfect!
My fingers are crossed that your house sells – you guys have done an amazing job of cleaning it up!
K
Kristilyn (My 29th Year) says
Wow – my reply went to the wrong post – weird!
K