Belt Slipping. Momentum Holding.

My treadmill belt is on borrowed time.

I was hoping to squeeze one more season out of it, but every run lately has felt like a gamble. I tried a temporary patch—Flex Seal across the top layer—but the real issue is underneath. The two-ply base is separating, starting to ride unevenly on the roller, creating heat and friction. Not exactly the kind of mechanical variable you want at 8+ mph. 

I finally broke down and ordered a new belt.

Of course, replacing it is its own project. Nothing about treadmill ownership is ever just “simple maintenance.”

Because of that, my mileage took a slight hit—and I’ve been getting outside more. In February I logged 10 treadmill runs and 11 outdoor runs. There’s always a small adjustment period when switching surfaces. The loading is different. The stride feels different. The legs remind you they prefer consistency. But I’m mostly through that transition now and things are settling back into rhythm.

I did hit a slump the last week of February—just one mile total from Monday through Thursday. Energy dipped. Motivation lagged. It happens.

But I reset over the weekend and knocked out 7.23 miles in exactly one hour—an 8:18 pace that felt controlled and sustainable. Not forced. Not survival mode. Just steady.

Despite the late-month wobble, I still closed February at 103.05 miles, hitting the 100-mile goal for the second month in a row. And February isn’t exactly an easy month to stack mileage:

• Fewer days

• Winter weather

• A failing treadmill belt

• And fitness still rebuilding from November and December

Given all that, I’d say I’m in a solid position moving forward.

Track season starts for the kids next week, which always adds another layer of energy and motivation. There’s something about being around the track, watching them grind through reps, that makes it easier to lace up your own shoes.

The belt might be failing.

But the momentum isn’t.

On to March.