So I am, I suppose, a runner. Which is to say, that when I’m being a good boy and life permits, I get out and run thirty minutes a day, five days a week. (I have not been a good boy lately, but I’m trying to do better.) I enjoy running outdoors; running on dirt trails is the very best, but running on sidewalks will do, even if it’s the same damn sidewalk every day. And I don’t mind if it’s cold; I just put on the proper clothes and go do the needful. (Once upon a time, I was equally religious about running in rain–but with a treadmill just across the road, it’s hard to convince myself to do it. A shame–I tend to run faster in the rain, for whatever reason.)
Anyway, what I do not like is running on a treadmill. It’s boring, the lack of airflow makes me sweat profusely and get very warm, and I can’t keep my eyes off the damn timer, which makes the whole thing just streeetch on forever. But I live now in an area where, variously, there aren’t sidewalks, or the sidewalks aren’t maintained against snow (which then turns into ice). I don’t feel comfortable running in the street; there are great big metal wheeled things on the street that may or may not be interested in smooshing little runners into moist red paste. Besides that, its winter, and daylight is limited; even if I had the stones to run in the street during the day, I wouldn’t dare it at night. So it seems that if I’m going to run at all over the winter, it’s going to be on a horrible treadmill.
Might any of you have some advice on how to make this less sucky? I listen to podcasts whenever I’m running; they don’t keep my eyes off the damn timer. I’ve tried reading, but I just can’t manage it with all of the bouncing and jostling about. I’m pondering trying to watch something on my iPad, but that would require figuring out something to watch five days a week that’s at least 30 minutes long. (On the bright side, it’d cover up the damn timer.) Any advice appreciated, of course. Thanks!
Cover up the timer. You can check every once in a while, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll rejoice to see that 5-10 min has passed since you last checked.
Listen to MUSIC or watch something that takes your mind off the fact that you’re running on a treadmill.
I agree with the suggestion to do intervals, it makes the time fly for me.
I’m training for a February half marathon, and last weekend was bitterly cold in Calgary, so I had to do my long run on a treadmill. All 8 miles of it. It was brutal. Luckily, today was beautiful, so I ran my long run outside. Such a difference!
Do you have Netflix? Maybe find a series with lots of episodes to catch up on to fall in love with, plus set the treadmill to random. I don’t know your tastes in tv so I’ll just randomly suggest:
Justified
Supernatural
Misfits (this might be a huluplus exclusive though)
Breaking Bad
Being Human (BBC version)
When I watch on hulu I do speedwork intervals through the commercial breaks, which probably just makes things worse, even more interminable.
Ummm…
I was able to read using a kindle and increasing the font size, but it is a pain to flip pages so often. Still, since you have an ipad it might be worth a try.
When all else failed I tried to make anagrams or numeric codes from the motivational posters they had. I hate dreadmill running, for all the reasons you mentioned. I have come to the conclusion that people who train for marathons using mostly treadmills have wills of steel.
How about something on Netflix or Hulu? I’ve been known to watch a movie, in pieces, on my exercise bike. Recently, I’ve discovered Doctor Who, and have been watching episodes of that. I bike 45 minutes, which works out just about right after fast forwarding through commercials.
It also acts as an incentive - I don’t let myself watch an episode while just sitting on the couch. If I want to see something, I need to get up and earn it.
Watch something on your TV or iPad (Netflix is awesome, I watch Tv shows and Documentaries) Download ZOMBIES, RUN! Find some treadmill works online and do intervals…
Running on a treadmill sucks. I only do it when the sidewalks are treacherously icy or when it’s melty but still freezing and slippery.
Thank you all for the suggestions. Music is no good, I’m afraid; I need something to engage my brain a little bit, take it away from the “joy” of putting one foot in front of the other. Podcasts and audiobooks work for me (when not on a treadmill); music doesn’t.
I’ll give netflix/hulu a try and see if I can find something that will work. Movies, in pieces, might, or suitably long TV episodes. Perhaps I’ll try that American version of House of Cards that was all the rage a while back; I did love the UK original. Will also try intervals/random some, but I’m not sure that’ll help too much, as it’s still just putting one foot in front of the other. A fan would be lovely, but I’d need to find something I could clip to the treadmill. This isn’t a personal treadmill, this is a treadmill over in my apartment complex’s fitness center.
Side question, entirely unrelated: This evening, there was some fellow on the treadmill next to me. He kept… doing this thing… where he’d like… raise himself up with his arms and just barely tippy-toe run just barely touching the belt. As if he were an aeroplane trying to take off. (Perhaps not, but I couldn’t resist.) My thought at the time (and still) was that he looked like a complete tool, but then, I do my best to avoid treadmills and the Great Outdoors is woefully free of things with which you can defy gravity while running. Is there any sense to what he was doing, or was my first impression correct?
Some sort of propriorection form drill? Just breaking up the monotony by being silly and scoring some upper arm strength training? No idea, really.
My favorite is when people crank up the incline to the max and then hang onto the front bar with a locked-elbow death grip, slamming their heels down in a repetive knee shatterig stagger. It looks and sounds awful.
Music doesn’t work well for me either. I do books on “tape” or TV.
Seconding the cover the display suggestion. I put my towel over it. That way I can’t concentrate on it but get to see it occasionally when I wipe the sweat off my face.
Another trick I use is to use the incline to break the monotony. Set the incline high and lower the speed. Slow speed/high incline also makes reading easier.
Another suggestion for iPad + Netflix + episodic TV. I ride our spin bike in the basement when it’s not good outdoor-biking/skiing weather, and have the same problem you do. A great fix is getting into a good series on Netflix; I have a rule that I can only watch my exercise shows when I’m actually exercising, and if I’m really into the show it definitely motivates me to get on the bike.
I’m just finishing up season 2 of the “The Killing” and even though it’s turning into GREAT skiing out there, I’m guessing I’ll end up on the bike because I only have 2 episodes left and I gotta see who killed her.
I do a lot of treadmill running because the treadmill is in the basement and in Minnesota, the roads are icy and I’m “of an age” where I don’t want to start breaking bones.
The fan. Definately the fan. Maybe even - if you can - an open window. My treadmill at home is in front of a window I can open - that way I get real outside air blowing on my face (although not when its 2 degrees outside - then I leave the window closed and live with the household air.
Episodic TV is good. If there are series that you can discipline yourself to only watch on the treadmill. For me, I’m propping my ipad over the display - so I’m not so focused on the timer either. (My favorite is The West Wing - no one said it had to be new tv and for me West Wing is not even new to me - I know what will happen, but I enjoy the banter).
I like to play Settlers of Catan on my Ipad while walking the treadmill. I don’t know if it’s possible to do it while running though. Maybe you can look for some games that will suit your needs. Maybe trivia or some other non-action game that will let you take time to choose your actions or moves.
I watch TV shows that I don’t allow myself to watch unless I’m on the treadmill. I try and choose a series that I really enjoy so when I want to watch the episode I need to be on the treadmill.
I read too when I run out of tv to watch. I have a book shelf on the treadmill and when my ipad is on it it neatly covers the timer readout so it would solve both your problems if your setup is the same.
Does your apartment complex not have any fans by the treadmills? If not maybe you could suggest some to management. The gym I go to has huge fans on stands in the treadmill area and one fan seems to cool about 4 treadmills. It seems to me that could be a good investment for management.
Newp! Better still, the treadmills are actually in the line of fire for some HVAC vents. Probably great in summer with the AC. In the winter, with the H… not so much.
