# How do you alleviate boredom while exercising?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-alleviate-boredom-while-exercising/487428>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 25, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-alleviate-boredom-while-exercising/487428 "2009-02-25T21:36:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-alleviate-boredom-while-exercising/487428/41 "2009-02-26T14:21:50Z")

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On the treadmill, I read or more rarely listen to music. A good book will cause the time to zip right on by.

I don’t get bored while lifting.

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**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-alleviate-boredom-while-exercising/487428/42 "2009-02-26T16:32:19Z")

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iPod + music (pre-iPod, I had a portable CD player). This is on a treadmill or elliptical at the gym. I have a playlist of stuff that’s got a solid tempo - not too slow or it’ll slow me down.

I’ll often have that on, and be watching one of the TVs they have wall-mounted. I can use the music to help with my pacing, and use the TV for mild mind-occupation.

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**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-alleviate-boredom-while-exercising/487428/43 "2009-02-26T17:03:54Z")

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They recently installed personal TVs with their own DirectTV tuner on the treadmills at my gym :). That means that I can watch something that _I_ want to watch rather than the standard Sports or Oprah that I see on the big screens.

When I’m running elsewhere, I listen to podcasts on my iPod Shuffle. If I get bored with a particular podcast, I’ll listen to Broadway shows.

Jesus Christ Superstar and Tommy are both good for a 10-12 mile run.

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