When I ran outside and took 10 minutes to complete 1 mile (or 1.5 km for those more familiar with the metric system), I was a little unsure of whether I could duplicate the results. I also wondered if I’d be able to do the same on a treadmill.

It’s not that I’ve never spent time on a treadmil before, and yes I realize treadmill running is easier than road running (obviously, since the road isn’t revolving under your feet), it’s just that I tend to find the treadmill a bit boring. There’s nowhere to go and most of the time you end up staring at a wall, the backs of other runners, or a television that you can’t focus your eyes on without feeling nauseus. If you’re really lucky, you get a window view.

So I sucked it up and cranked the volume on my MP3 player. After a warm-up I increased the speed to 6 MPH, the incline to 1 percent and settled in for the not-so-long haul. And I did it pretty comfotably for 11 minutes, which took me past the mile marker. The best part was I felt comfortable enough to continue jogging at a reduced speed for another 10 minutes.

So now I know firsthand that the wisdom I impart to others is true. Small increases can help you reach your fitness goals without burning out.

Next goal…I think I’ll work up to a total running time of 30 minutes before addressing speed again.