At the gym I visit, the treadmill used to be a drag for me too. They have TVs, and of course I can bring my own music, but I still found that even for a short session, the minutes dragged by.
I need to interject that I don’t run on the treadmill, but rather walk at a brisk pace. I’ve discovered that if I take a book with me, which of course covers up the timer when you set it on the little ledge, even longer sessions don’t seem onerous at all. I resist the temptation to peek at the time, and just keep reading until it’s time to quit.
I suppose it’s the same in any situation…reading engages different parts of the brain than watching TV or listening to music. In any case, it works for me.
Interesting. Well that blows my suggestion then. I find music helps me work out harder and more efficiently, I concentrate on the beats and just the enjoyment of the music and keep up with the high bpm songs. I also choreograph dances to my favorite ones in my head (though I no longer teach dance class, it’s still fun).
I’m pretty much opposite you re: the whole reading or watching TV thing, it disrupts my rhythm and motivation if there’s nothing or just a TV in the background and I enjoy reading way too much to screw it up by having to concentrate on whether I’m working out hard enough.
I’ve never figured it out, so if you do, let me know. Even covering the timer, I kept checking it every 2 minutes anyway, because 40 minutes running in places feels endless, compared to running out where the scenery changes.
The TV/iPad thing might work. When I had a job with a gym in the building, some of the equipment came with a mini-TV, and it helped. I’ll also note that I tended to slow down while distracted, though, so you may need to juggle TV with reminding yourself to move your ass while not checking the damn timer display.
One other idea: burpees. They’re not super entertaining, but they are a good form of indoor cardio, and you move through space more, so the timer will have less of your attention. At least it’s an occasional alternative.
My suggestion: download some video you already own and have seen before you go. In my case, watching old seasons of Big Bang Theory or Daria provide a distraction but doesn’t demand attention; I also agree with reading with the font size increased to a comfortable level.
I never figured out how to make running on a treadmill fun. How important is it to you that you be specifically running, as opposed to getting exercise?
What I’ve started doing is running only in the summers (or when it’s warm out), and sticking to exercise DVDs when the weather gets cold. I’m doing Focus T25 right now, and in the past I’ve done Insanity, P90X, and Tae Bo. You can get some pretty good cardiovascular exercise in by doing DVDs, and I find it far more tolerable than running on a treadmill.
I find music helps me work out harder and more efficiently, I concentrate on the beats and just the enjoyment of the music and keep up with the high bpm songs. I also choreograph dances to my favorite ones in my head (though I no longer teach dance class, it’s still fun).