4 ways I survive the treadmill

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

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The treadmill was my best friend when I took up running: it protected me from the elements, it never judged me, it didn’t laugh at me because of my pace.

Eventually, though, I wanted to run a road race, and I knew in order to do that, I needed to run on the road. It was scary!

Over the years, I have definitely come to prefer running outside to running on my treadmill. Until thunder threatens, the heat is scorching, the wind howls or the snow flies.

I live in upstate New York, technically the capitol region. It’s possible to run in the cold and the snow, but I prefer to tackle those miles on my treadmill a lot during the winter.

Keep in mind that I am not a nurse, doctor, or running coach.

Watch something!
Many people love to listen to music on the treadmill. I love music, but that simply wouldn’t get me through treadmill torture sessions. If it works for you, more power to you.

I prefer to watch tv. I record the “Today Show” every day because I don’t like to multitask (unless I’m on the treadmill, obviously) and I’m usually working on the blog in the mornings.

On the days I run on the treadmill, I can watch almost the entire Today Show (fast forwarding through commercials and parts that don’t interest me) while getting my run on.

Do speed or hill work
Tempo runs on treadmills are hard. At least for me.

Somehow having the incline or speed change helps the time go faster for me — and I just feel that they’re easier workouts, which is not to say that they’re easy.

The following two are more do as I say, not as I do, because I admit I’ve never done them (although I decided to try a circuit today because it’s about -5 with the windchill):

Do circuits
Run a mile. Stop the treadmill and do some bodyweight (or weighted) exercises. Repeat. It doesn’t have to be a mile, obviously; whatever works for you.

Split it up
I am simply in awe of people that can knock out 15 miles on a treadmill. Mine shuts down at 90 minutes so the motor won’t burn out.

You can run half your miles in the AM, the rest in the PM.

There’s quite a bit of research that double runs can help you become a stronger runner — although if you’re a fairly new runner, it’s not usually a good idea: your body hasn’t yet adapted to that amount of pounding.

Here are some treadmill workouts to try out (if you’re a blogger and have one, let me know in the comments and I’ll try to add them!):

 

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I’m linking up with MCM Mama Runs, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and My No Guilt Life for the Tuesdays on the Run linkup; today’s theme was expo finds. Recently I’ve done a lot of small halfs that don’t have an expo at all.

I did purchase The Stick at my very first half marathon, and I use it a lot. I use my worm a lot, too.

Got a great treadmill tip? Share it!

31 thoughts on “4 ways I survive the treadmill”

      1. Yes, Greg does use the treadmill. If I’m on the elliptical, the TV isn’t too high. I think that’s what I was using when we mounted the TV.

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  3. I listen to music and watch TV. I love going to the fitness room at my apartment complex because when no one’s there, I can put on what I want. Most of the time, I don’t need the TV sound

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  4. How funny. I was juuuuuuust talking with my husband about how when I started running I NEVER ran outside! For years even! Now I can’t imagine solely running on the treadmill. Great tips!!

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  5. I loathe the treadmill. I will run in anything except rain or ice. It’s gotta be really bad to get me on the mill. (Maybe today …50 mph wind gusts??) If I do, I watch tv on my ipad.

    I do multitask – eat breakfast, read blogs, play with the cats & chat with my hubby – all while watching the Today show every morning.

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    1. I’ve found over the years that it doesn’t work well for me to multitask, especially with eating!

      I eat before my husband is up, and he’s gone by the time the Today Show starts, when I’m usually feeding the animals — which is now a lot easier, when Chester was still here, I really had to concentrate because he got a ton of meds/supplements and I wanted to make sure I didn’t kill him or poison Lola!

      Besides, I loathe commercials. I don’t care if the news has already happened, I’ll hear about it eventually.

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  7. I like the TM love, runners are always so quick to say ugh!! I use to enjoy speed work on it, it is only since my injury I really can not get back on one.
    I have a stick too, I like it!

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  8. Today and yesterday with temps of 25-28 in the morning would be great days to jump on the treadmill. Unfortunally I don’t have one at home and my gym while is only 5 minutes from work is about a 35 minute drive from home which is not doable in the morning.Great post maybe one day I’ll get one at home. I actually could do 2 runs a day no it wouldn’t be my minimum of 3 miles each time but I could so do 1.5 and 1.5 🙂

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    1. It’s 2:30. It’s 21, but with the windchill feels like 5. No joke. I ran on the treadmill today!

      I got my treadmill many moons ago (it’s almost 16 yrs old), long before I started to run.

      Back then I lived in TX, so like you, no doubt, needed a place to workout in the summers!

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  9. I started off on the treadmill but prefer running outside now. I will only use the treadmill if I absolutely have to. I often use it for hills because where I live is really flat.

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  12. I had an Achilles injury that was aggravated by the treadmill so I gave mine away. Yep, that I did. I’m unable to add anything to your already excellent list of tips and links. I still have a Y membership. In case of extreme emergency, I could still go there.

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  14. I started on the mill as well and it will always hold a special place in my heart. When I have to bang out more than 10 miles indoors though, I head to the gym in order to not kill my home mill. Maybe that’s a runfession. Thanks for linking up!

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    1. I don’t think I have ever run more than 8 miles on mine, and that was only once.

      Then again, I only trained for a winter half once so far, too. With good reason.

      Even then, I remember having to shovel our very large driveway once & then go run 10 miles (with yaktrax on).

      Good times. NOT!

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  15. You’ve got some great tips here. I love the TM and have no problem running on it- even made a 20 miler once! But it’s all about something good on TV for me. That keeps my attention focused on entertainment instead of boredom!

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