Three treadmill sessions, one half-marathon

Run #22 was, without a doubt, the most boring of the challenge so far. The entire distance was on a treadmill and, unlike Run #9, I wasn’t on a cruise ship this time—just indoors because it was raining. I went to VillaSport Athletic Club, where I usually go to the gym, since the rain was coming down pretty heavily when I woke up and the day was on the cold side. I don’t mind a little rain when I’m already warm, but getting completely soaked for almost two hours on a chilly day didn’t sound like a smart idea.

When the treadmill decides for you

The treadmill had its own plans: it stopped automatically after one hour, which forced me to check the distance, do the math on what was left, and start a new session. Then, for some reason, it stopped again just before the 40‑minute mark, so the half‑marathon became three separate treadmill runs stitched together. By the end, I had a total of 13.15 miles, but it definitely didn’t feel like one continuous flow.

Chafing lessons the hard way

To make things worse, I ended up with chafing in several places. Looking back, it was clearly a combination of bad decisions and conditions: I didn’t use any anti‑chafing cream like I normally do on long runs, I wasn’t wearing my backpack (which usually helps reduce friction on my nipples), and there’s absolutely no wind on a treadmill to help cool sweat and reduce moisture. Even though the gym’s air conditioning was working fine, the lack of airflow plus sweat plus time was the perfect recipe for skin irritation. Definitely a reminder that skipping the small prep steps can cost you later.

Small mercies: water breaks

I also forgot to bring my water bottle, which wasn’t ideal for a long indoor run. In that sense, the forced treadmill stops were not completely bad: each time it shut down, I could hop off, walk over to the water fountain, and drink a bit before starting the next block. It wasn’t the smooth, steady hydration I prefer, but it kept me going.