This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Mass Amherst chapter.

In December I decided that I needed a big project and I needed to get back into the shape I was in for my entire life before coming to UMass. I was on a run over winter break when it hit me, I wanted, no, needed to run the Boston Marathon this year. Running a marathon has always been on my bucket list so I figured this year was as good as any to cross it off.

So I got a number through a charity and began training. What I did not take into account was the difficulty in finding a safe place to run upwards of forty miles a week. When I say safe let me clarify that I have never felt unsafe in Amherst based on the people, this worry about safety comes from the conditions of the roads.

Snow every other day is awesome for those who could use a snow day or a nice Instagram picture, but for those training for race day it poses a serious problem. The sidewalks don’t get cleared around town and there is ice and sand everywhere. Runners are forced to run on the road with the cars or take their runs inside. I try to stay outside as much as I possibly can but on days that it is physically impossible I am forced to hit the Rec.

Treadmills are every college girl’s favorite and least favorite thing in the world. If you’re anything like me, you can run about a hundred more miles outside than you can on a treadmill. I’m sorry, but could time go by any slower when you’re running on a treadmill? Outside you can establish a route, people/pothole watch and best of all, you get to breathe some fresh air. Ok, ok, back to treadmills, sometimes you’ve got to do it. I’ve learned some tips in the last few months that help me get my workouts on them in the least painful way possible.

Tip 1: Treadmill position. It is of utmost importance to pick a treadmill in a good spot if you’re planning to be on it for a good chunk of time. We’re lucky at the Rec that there are TVs in our view almost anywhere we look – so choose one with a show that you can zone out in. I personally avoid food shows (don’t know what it is but when we’re working out do we really have to be watching the Food Network?). I also shy away from news (yes I probably should be watching it but now is not the time). I generally try to choose some sort of garbage sitcom that I can just watch without much focus. Something that will pass time quickly but that you don’t have to invest yourself into.

Tip 2: Cover up your treadmill screen. First thing I do when I get to the gym is get a towel. After I walk for a few minutes and am ready to begin my run I get everything situated and I throw the towel over the time clock. Out of sight out of mind. If you’re constantly looking at the clock it’s going to feel like it’s not moving. What’s that saying – watched pots don’t boil. Well, so true.

Tip 3: Don’t be playing peek-a-boo with your neighbor. I don’t know if you’ve experienced this first hand but when I feel someone’s eyes on my treadmill trying to check out my pace I get mad. I know as college girls we tend to get a little competitive but worrying about what’s going on with the treadmills to the right and left of you isn’t going to make you any skinnier. Plus it’s very embarrassing to get caught doing it so don’t be that girl.

Tip 4: Lastly, if you’re training for a race of any length like me and have to run double digit mileage most days staying on the treadmill for over two hours can seem virtually impossible. A little trick I’ve been doing lately is to get about half my mileage in on the treadmill, (or whatever I can) then move over to the track. Switching up the scenery has helped me greatly. It almost feels like you’re having two separate workouts.

So get running. Take advantage of the environment we are all lucky enough to workout in at the Rec. Seeing people work out makes you want to work out so take advantage of all the positive energy spilling out of the Rec lately. While reading up on various marathon training guides I came across a quote that has helped me a lot throughout this: “Lost days are simply lost.” If you miss a day of training, don’t beat yourself up or try to overcompensate the next day. We all live a crazy lifestyle and as college kids we should.

Her Story: Trying to Train for a Marathon In Winter Weather Conditions

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