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    How to avoid boredom when running on a treadmill

    13»

    Replies

    • Posts: 36 Member
      crank up the speed during commericals
    • Posts: 3,614 Member
      Murder mysteries on my ipod.

      I'm pretty sure the person would still like to stay awake on the treadmill . . .
    • Posts: 1,974 Member
      Netflix on my Ipad
    • Posts: 41,865 Member
      The dreadmill sucks...I'll take outside in all but the most in-climate of weather. It takes a lot to push me indoors to the dreadmill.
    • Posts: 1,025 Member
      I listen to audio books.

      Me too!
    • Posts: 450
      My wife watches TV shows on her iPad while she runs on the treadmill. She got through all of Downton Abbey via Amazon Prime and burned lord knows how many thousands of calories all at the same time.
    • Posts: 383 Member
      Audio books, different music, tv ( I was watching the morning news and the Today show), I also found that the long articles in Runner's world were inspiring and would get me through a few miles.
    • Posts: 20
      do intervals. 2 minutes at 5 mph, 2 minutes at 6.5, back to 2 minutes at 5, a minute at 8, etc. try to change up your speed. make sure some of your intervals are tough so that getting through that and then going back to an easier interval will seem like a reward.

      this, of course, is just an example. make sure to do intervals you can handle.

      How do you log your exercise burn? Do you go by what the treadmill says or use a HRM? I use to do intervals and had no way of knowing how to log it or what I burn because I don't own a HRM or believe the treadmill. My treadmill does not take into fact my weight and height.
    • Posts: 89 Member
      I listen to audio books.

      Me too! It's the only way I have found that I can just zone out and run. It also worked better for me once I started running outside, as well.
    • Posts: 1,739 Member
      show previous quotes


      this^^
    • Posts: 29 Member
      What I do to avoid boredom:
      1. Interval-training
      2. I have my Macbook in front of me and I'm watching TV-shows
      3. I listen to language-learning podcasts to get my brain working while my feet run quite automatically
    • Posts: 1,649 Member
      :happy: app for your phone or ipad: Zombies, RUN!!

      This will keep you from getting bored!!!! :happy:
    • Posts: 89 Member
      stop doing slow long boring steady pace cardio and start doing hiit
    • Posts: 34 Member
      I watch netflix on my phone. I just started the LOST series and only have let myself watch it while im on the treadmill =)
    • Posts: 27 Member
      audio books, television, and upbeat music can all help, but for me, planned workouts (intervals, hills, ladders, etc) worked the best to beat boredom. look up treadmill workouts online and print some out. I have a very difficult time running a steady pace run on a treadmill for any length of time without beginning to wish I'd slide off the back to my doom just to end the run. What helps is going into the workout with a plan that will having me changing speeds, and elevation on a regular basis (can be up to every 30 seconds). This makes it more entertaining and my mind is a bit more actively involved keeping up with the instructions, and I tend to work a bit harder and get in a better workout.
      Good luck!
    • Posts: 2 Member
      :happy: app for your phone or ipad: Zombies, RUN!!

      This will keep you from getting bored!!!! :happy:

      I have the FUNNEST time using the Zombies, RUN! App. It is the perfect blend of audiobook, game and music. If you're competitive at all, it will keep you going.
    • Posts: 955 Member
      For me, music and changing the speed/incline at a set interval helps tremendously, especially the latter. I then think of the run in increments of 30 seconds or 5 minutes or whatever it is I'm doing.
    • Posts: 1 Member
      Tv's have it! I agree it was the best invention for treadmills! Because they are ugh...boring!
    • Posts: 2,916 Member
      show previous quotes

      QFT

      Except the OP's goal is to run a 5k--which takes most people more than 15 minutes of training ;)
    • Posts: 2,916 Member
      Change up your music regularly. I run half marathons and need about 2 1/2 hours of music, so I create specific playlists for events. I try to pick music at varying tempos to match my pace. I know a few people who listen to audio books--I can't, because I have trouble following a plot while trying to run, but it seems to work for a lot of people.
    • Posts: 2
      I change up the speed every two minutes. I also like to listen to playlists and change up the songs every couple times. The best thing to help me is to think of something else, like a dance routine to go with the song - like a Napolean Dynamite routine = very awesome!
    • Posts: 547 Member
      I like the music to be loud! and fast! I made a playlist on my phone with more music than I need for a 60 min segment, so I will pass those songs that are not kickin' it at that paticular moment and still have enough "good music" to finish. I also use a speaker plugged to my phone to make the music loud enough!! ie like a patio/deck speaker. When its a song I really like usually I lose focus of the actual words anyway:happy:

      I havn't had a tv in front of the treadmill, or tried to listen to an audio book seems like you'd have to concentrate too much.

      You can do this!!
    • Posts: 47 Member
      The t.v.'s won! i must say it's not as nice as getting outside and being able to run but when you live in Northern Ohio you can't really do that very often right now! The t.v. and dvd player are hooked up in my garage and i watch 30 minutes of a movie and then stop... that way it keeps me distracted and i try to watch action! call me a nerd but Transformers was my favorite to watch while running! haha
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