Staying Entertained While On Treadmill

momwhosbusy

I listen to music and match my speed on the treadmill to the tempo of the song and keep track of how many MPH certain songs are. Surprisingly enough a lot of ballads have faster MPH than classic rock, oldies, or rock n roll! lol I then quite often will share my odd findings with my awesome hubby who is very good at pretending to care.

janinab75

I had the same question several weeks back and asked my MFP friends, the best answer I got was to do intervals. It breaks up he run and before you know it 30 - 45 minutes are up in no time. You're concentration on what to do next. It works so well! So when I run on the treadmill I only do intervals.

monkeesmom4

I have my treadmill next to a window, and its positioned so that I can look out the front window and side window. I put on a good oldies station that plays from the 60's to 90's. Then I zone out looking out the windows and listening to great music. What I have recently started doing is carrying either 5lb or 10lb weights for 5 to 10 minutes. Take a 2 minute walking rest and then start carrying them again for 5-10min again. I keep doing that for at least 30 min. Before you know it with the music and scenery, the time is up.

lseed87

I would so go on youtube and get caught up with watching certain user's i watch.

Maybe make a game of it? Like if you see something blue or whatever color then you will do ___ more minutes of it? And keep on doing it?

creativerick

I typically only run for 15 minutes at a time on a treadmill. This makes it easier to be motivated and stay focused. Today I only ran 1 fast mile. When you are running a 6 minute mile, you don't have time to think about much but running. When I run slower, I watch TV and listen to music. I prefer the treadmills that shows a track and my progress on the track. The keeps me entertained as well - running to the next marker, for the next lap, etc. Honestly my best advice is to go HARDER, the more you are exerting, the easier it is to stay focused.

Btw, if I'm walking or biking at a steady pace, I read on my iPad or play Words with Friends.

rondaj05

I listen to music and match my speed on the treadmill to the tempo of the song ..

^ This. And, my treadmill is in our dining room facing a window that overlooks our backyard which happens to also overlook a lake. I watch our cats playing, chasing leaves and/or climbing the tree, the various birds and when it's not gloomy I even catch the sunrise. Lately it's been foggy and gray, some days I can't even see the lake. C'mon spring!!! :sad:

cmasonrock

Not sure how this would work on a treadmill, but it is a lot of fun to use when your going about your day! I got eaten while I was at East Side Mario's yesterday...lol!!

I recommend the Zombies, Run! app.

mreeves261

Not sure how this would work on a treadmill, but it is a lot of fun to use when your going about your day! I got eaten while I was at East Side Mario's yesterday...lol!!

I recommend the Zombies, Run! app.

I just got it last week to make winter on the treadmill a little easier. I absolutely love the app. You use it on the treadmill by setting it to use the accelerometer for distance instead of GPS. I then just add the distance the treadmill gives me.

Damn polar vortex!!! I would love to use it outside! Just not ready for winter running yet, need better running gear for that.

sfbaumgarten

I listen to music or watch shows on my tablet.

ejwme

All these suggestions are great - for what end up as "short runs" for me. I consider anything less than an hour a "short run".

Unfortunately, I've hit sub-zero (Fahrenheit, so you know it's cold) weather on "long run" days, which, for me, is long enough that I'm talking multiple hour runs (12+ miles). So far, I've been able to find movies that interest me enough to keep me distracted. But as the training season picks up, I'm going to enter multiple-movie territory (there are only so many movies worth watching over 2 hours, and most are tear jerkers - I do NOT need to be sloppy sobbing at mile 18 when the love interest dies a horrible, slow death waiting for her savior who never arrives).

Action movies I find are best - up-tempo music, not too many tears, not too many laughs, just the right amount of adrenaline. Pensive dark comedies are next best, with no tears and relatively few laugh-out-loud moments while still entertaining. Rom-coms slow me down, too much laughing, dramas can slog as well. Foreign action movies are good, they take a lot of focus, but reading bouncing subtitles can make me seasick.

I'm counting on the weather turning though, because I'm going to lose my mind. For some reason, I can go for 2, 3, even 4 hour training runs and just not get bored. I can't do much less than a 6 mile loop at that point (I prefer out-and-backs), but I'll look at the same hour of scenery a few times before I've had too much. The thought of watching the same movie or show twice in a row on a treadmill makes me want to lift weights instead.

becky10rp

Pandora..................LOUD...................!

BlueBombers

Listening to my classic rock and metal mix on my iPod \m/

bmtelle

If you have an iphone/ipad, some of these apps might alleviate the boredom while on a treadmill.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/active-theory-inc/id464492757

Linli_Anne

Netflix on my tablet.

For anything less than 5miles I can make do with music, but, 5+ miles and I watch something.

I have to say though, I'm ready for these insane windchills to go away for good because after the 11miles I did on the dreadmill this past week-endI am almost at my capacity for how long I can tolerate running on the spot.

BrianSharpe

During the harsh Iowan winter, I don't find myself running outside much, if at all. I have a treadmill, and that's my main way of exercising other than working out at a gym three times a week.

How do you stay entertained while walking/jogging on a treadmill? I tend to get super bored.

Now you know why I suck it up and run outside (unless there's freezing rain or a howling blizzard)

If you dress properly the temperature is not a problem (it was about -36C when I ran a half-marathon yesterday)

On the days I do find myself on the treadmill (it's in our family room in the basement) I'll just throw a movies in the DVD player (preferably something that doesn't require a lot of attention) and watch it while feeling sorry for myself for running on the dreadmill.

Lyerin

Netflix on my iPhone or Zombies, Run! or podcasts. It depends on my mood. This weekend, I watched 2 episodes of Supernatural on my iPhone while running. Last week, I played Zombies, Run! and then switched to podcasts when the mission was over for the remainder of my run.

I also wish for spring really hard so that I can get outside and away from everyone else at the gym. LOL

kdiamond

I find a TV series I've never watched before on Hulu.com or Netflix,
and take in an episode on my computer screen while working out.

^^^This

Currently I'm watching Sons of Anarchy and I am hooked!

jglovicz

I'm glad I found this thread because I had the same question! I watched the entire season of the biggest loser while on the elliptical. Greys anatomy,,etc. I also like romantic comedies (easy to watch). I'll have to try Sons of anarchy.

Roxiegirl2008

Linli_Anne wrote: »

Netflix on my tablet.

For anything less than 5miles I can make do with music, but, 5+ miles and I watch something.

I have to say though, I'm ready for these insane windchills to go away for good because after the 11miles I did on the dreadmill this past week-endI am almost at my capacity for how long I can tolerate running on the spot.

Bless you! That sounds like my own personal hell!

I have no advise. I see the dreadmill like a doctor's visit...sometimes needed but never loved! HAAAA

Luckily we have had pretty nice weather here so I cannot complain. For everyone else here is hoping the cold breaks and you get to hit the pavement!

dbmata

HealthyMakeover wrote: »

During the harsh Iowan winter, I don't find myself running outside much, if at all. I have a treadmill, and that's my main way of exercising other than working out at a gym three times a week.

How do you stay entertained while walking/jogging on a treadmill? I tend to get super bored.

I was on the bike earlier. Sitting there, smug and perfect.

Judging people around me. Playing games on my phone, and listening to LMFAO.

Then I saw the blind woman on the treadmill and felt bad about my life. I complain about problems... I know nothing.

DeeTee68

Why not try actually concentrating on what you are doing on the treadmill. If you are just pounding away the time at the same speed same elevation are you really getting a good workout ? As someone mentioned before do intervals then you have to concentrate on what you are doing. Speed up for 5 mins, lift elevation for 5 mins, keep alternating your workout and time will soon pass. You could burn double the calories and get better anerobic fitness by adding intervals to your routine.

kyylieeeeee

I agree with many people that Netflix is a good way to kill time on cardio machines. But my thing is listening to podcasts when I work out-- I feel that they are often a little more thought-provoking than most television shows, and it's much easier to just leave my headphones on when going between cardio and strength training if all I'm doing is listening!

sw33tp3a11

I watch CNN or listen to my ipod. Sometimes I do both.

Jruzer

cmasonrock wrote: »

Not sure how this would work on a treadmill, but it is a lot of fun to use when your going about your day! I got eaten while I was at East Side Mario's yesterday...lol!!

I recommend the Zombies, Run! app.

Wow, I totally misread this at first.

TamaraKat

I tend to just zone out and contemplate the meaning of life... because I'm philosophical like that

subversive99

Music works for me. Spotify has some great playlists which let me hear new songs which have a good beat for running. If I'm working hard (and at my current fitness level, everything is hard), I can't do kobo, TV, or tablet, simply have to focus on the effort of running.

AgentOrangeJuice

HealthyMakeover wrote: »

During the harsh Iowan winter, I don't find myself running outside much, if at all. I have a treadmill, and that's my main way of exercising other than working out at a gym three times a week.

How do you stay entertained while walking/jogging on a treadmill? I tend to get super bored.

I always forget my headphones when doing treadmill at the gym, so I just stare at the big screens, trying not to look at the numbers on my machine display, omg I've walked 80 miles in 2 minutes, but the machine says only did .01 miles wtf is wrong with it!!!!

Katiebear_81

I also use Zombies, Run! You can set tracking to "off", so it's not confused about why you're not moving. A kick *kitten* playlist helps. I also try to do some sort of visualization, imagining I'm outside on my favourite trail. But to be fair, I'll run for half an hour, 45 minutes tops. Then I'm done. I will also do manual intervals, like run at a higher speed for 5, lower speed for 5 (although I usually time it by songs, not actual minutes).

Hope it warms up for you soon!

lbetancourt

i do intervals. that usually helps. and, i always play the "how long can i go without looking at the display" game. but, mostly, i am bored beyond belief. i feel your pain. sorry i can't suggest anything brilliant.

ashleycde

Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »

I run hard enough that I'm not bored. Focus on breathing and stride.

LOL. I could do a full on sprint and get bored.

I was just thinking that haha.

I have a stationary bike at home, and I blast music, dance and sing at the top of my lungs while spinning. When I used to work reception at a gym and could workout for free, I watched TV while on the treadmill but still found it kind of boring. I find strength training more enjoyable, but hard spinning/cardio can get me out of a mental funk if I've got some aggression to work out.