If I am honest the treadmill is not just a winter survival tool. I have one in my basement, at our neighborhood gym and the Community Center with child care (key!). So all times of year the treadmill is often the best bet for getting my run in.
I have a few tricks to make treadmill time more enjoyable and fight boredom.
I save shows or movies that I really want to see for the treadmill, it’s especially satisfying to binge watch something so I know I have something to look forward to watching. Bonus points if it’s something that Cory doesn’t like to watch. At home we have a TV in the basement gym, at the gym I borrow one of the kids’ tablets, I worry about breaking my iPad especially since I use it for work, the Fire Tablets have big cases around them and are under warranty.
For longer workouts I keep my favorite snacks with me, like gatorade that are hard to carry with my while running outside.
Last and most important I play games with the treadmill to keep things interesting. Our treadmill at home has incline and decline so I will move it up and down to keep my legs engaged. When I have an easy run planned but mentally I am having a hard time I will change up the speed and it makes the time go by way faster.
One of my favorites is a progression run. I start off really easy then speed the treadmill up .1 MPH each minute (or so, doesn’t have to be perfect) until I am running comfortably hard, then I start over and do it again until my cool down. I also like to one minute hard, 1 minute easy or strides at the end to flush my legs out.
Here are some GREAT treadmill workouts if you are looking for a strength workout or speed work:
This 3-2-1 workout is great, this one and many more HERE.
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Do you love or hate the treadmill?
Any fun tips for making it work?
Happy Running!
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