I’m becoming a little more friendly with the treadmill as the nasty weather continues and I get spoiled by the gloriously hot steam shower at the community centre.

Here’s a novel idea… I can use the treadmill to try and get a little faster! Because I can monitor my pace so easily. I made a deal with myself. When I run outside, I can run whatever pace I want because I’m running a lot more hills. If I run on the treadmill, I have to run 10-minute-miles or faster (today I averaged 9:40). Because I want to match or beat my existing 10k and half marathon times in my upcoming races and this is one way to work on that.

Sure I’m red-faced and breathing my weird breathing pattern and super sweaty, the least glamorous of gym patrons, and all the chicks in designer workout gear who wear make-up to the gym give me the side-eye from the elliptical machines, but whatever. Divas playlist.