My runner friends go to the nearest high school and borrow their track. Can you not do this?
Note: I have no idea where you are, but I live in a no-snow zone. I have no idea if schools clear their tracks of snow.
Another thing runners do is run down to the college football stadium and run up and down the bleachers.
:: shrugs ::
Sorry, I only run if I’m being chased by grizzly bears, and even then, I’ll only run just faster than the next slowest person. 
I hate the treadmill. I much prefer the elliptical. You should give it a shot. Crank up the resistance though. If you can get it up to 8mpg with just your legs, it’s not dialed high enough.
I second Netflix and audiobooks. I have a heck of a time getting myself to use the treadmill (I need to start again) and those are what keep me going. I also read regular books (ebooks now, on my iPad) and try to keep them to only read when on the treadmill.
I also got “Zombies, Run!” which I plan to try. I’m not sure it’s quite as good on the treadmill (the zombies don’t chase you the same way, I don’t think) but the new version is set up to use with one.
See if your local library has CD’s of college courses. Many do. My husband enjoys listening to them while driving.
This is what does it for me. If I’m on a treadmill, I alternate quarter miles (sometimes half) between a fast run and a near sprint. Varying the speed lets you get some HIIT time in, and a treadmill keeps you from being lazy about it - however fast you turn it up to is how fast you’re going to go. As an added bonus, the more time you spend on the fast interval, the faster you’re done if you’re going for distance and not time.
I’ve been able to read by increasing the font size on my Kindle. It works pretty well for me, although I normally watch TV if I can.
I’ve also tried typing on a laptop while running. That is not easy.
I like to have music on and then something on TV with subtitles is nice to distract from the timer.
You can’t set up the ‘chases’ that use GPS, but the rest of it works fine.
LawMonkey - as far as raising himself up…was he speeding the belt up while standing on the sides? That’s one way to do speed intervals on a TM. You need to kind of…get your feet up to speed before you step back on or you’ll WHOOSH off the back…
Not sure–I was only watching him out of my peripheral vision. It’s a possibility, though.
It looks goofy. Feels goofy too but a 30 minute workout can fly by.
Interesting thread, and good luck to all you treadmillers out there. I’m a little afraid of them after working at a coffee shop that was next door to a gym. At least once a week there was an ambulance call due to a treadmill incident. I’m getting a spin bike for Christmas, and really don’t want to turn it into a towel rack in my living room. These suggestions help with that, too!
I know you said no music, but Imma put this here anyway in case it interests you or someone else. I use music as a sort of gambling tool with myself on the treadmill: I’ll run for 30 minutes or 7 songs (or whatever), whichever comes first. This makes me focus on the music to keep count (instead of focusing on “I hate this so much, I hate this so much, I hate this so much” like I usually do), and helps me to stop checking on the clock so much (which I also cover with a towel). At least until I get to song 5 or 6, then I’m a total clock checker.
I didn’t say it was a great method, but sometimes it helps. I really hate running on a treadmill.
The Charity Miles app has been improved to include treadmill runs. I haven’t tried it yet, but knowing that you’re running for a good cause could be good motivation.
It won’t make running any easier, but it seems worthwhile on its own, curiously enough. 
Thanks!
Not on a treadmill. You’ll never take off.
:smack: can’t believe I set you up for that one
If you can, watch British panel shows, like QI, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, or even game shows like Pointless or Only Connect. They engage the mind while lasting at least half an hour.
Update: Sadly, the clubhouse does not seem to have wifi, which means watching on my iPad would bury me in data charges. 
(I guess I could watch on my phone, which is grandfathered in to an unlimited plan. :p)
So you’re doing this at the gym (this isn’t your own treadmill at home)? And you don’t like music? (wow, I canNOT work out with no music, at least not effectively, the bpms get and keep me moving)…anyway.
Have you considered the elliptical instead? I hate the treadmill, so jarring, but the elliptical is smooth enough that you could read an e-device, or watch TV comfortably (so easy on the old knees too). On the rare occasions that I’m caught without music, the elliptical seems much less boring than the treadmill (don’t know why), and if you need to train for speed or something you could always finish up with some sprints or something on the treadmill. I take it your gym doesn’t have a track?
Oh, I like music just fine. But I need something more engaging when I’m exercising. Elliptical’s boringer and suffers from the problem I have with bicycling (as exercise): I can do it for hours and not feel like I’ve worked out. 