I like running outside, but not in cold or wet weather. Since it is winter, that kind of comes with the territory! We own a treadmill, and winter is obviously a good time to use it. But…the treadmill is very boring.
The past few days, though, I’ve been experimenting with a treadmill workout that is slightly less boring — and gets me to do some strength training too. What I do is run for 3 minute stretches on the treadmill, then pop off and go do some sort of resistance exercises or weights (we have a dumbbell set, bands, and an old weight machine near the treadmill). I run about 2 miles, total, spread out over these three minute stretches. I set the pace a little higher than I might because, hey, it’s only 3 minutes at a time. And since I’m doing something different every few minutes it doesn’t feel quite so tedious.
If you hit the treadmill in winter, how do you make it less boring?
I do not enjoy the treadmill and rarely use it (but yes if I had like snow and ice to contend with I probably would). However when I do it has to be intervals! Even something as simple as “turn the speed up 0.2 every song for 5 songs, then back down” helps. Or (torturous but not boring) hill repeats (4-5% grade for 2 min at a time running – omg to me this is harder than an all out sprint). Peloton can be fun on a home treadmill but I think you prefer self-directed to instructor (if not though, try it!)
@SHU – yeah, I’m probably not a Peloton person. But intervals are definitely part of my running routine – or even just changing the pace or incline randomly so I am not locked in and bored…
This is genius! I do not like the treadmill either… but this routine would make it a bit less awful.
@Lori C – it is slightly less awful! I mean, it is still the treadmill but…
Good idea! I’ve been back on the treadmill with winter weather and will try this. Agree with Sarah on the Peloton interval classes, those have been my go-to.
@Amanda – I do feel efficient, like I’m killing two birds…
A TV well-positioned in front of the treadmill and the DVR for recorded shows! There were entire seasons of Food Network holiday baking championship that I “saved” for treadmill time at my parents’ house. (I have no patience for sitting down to watch an episode, but perfect for keeping myself entertained/distracted on the treadmill.) Same with Downton Abbey, though that was more difficult to hear over the treadmill motor.
@Amanda – totally. Back in the day I would sometimes go to my apartment gym at 4:00 precisely to watch Oprah. Of course, this depended on no one else being in the ‘mills as it was one TV and the default was CNN. Not worth running to (Oprah was more fun…)
Generally, I don’t, it doesn’t get very very cold here most of the time. But if I do, I use aaptiv (an app) to get me through it, or I use a walk at home YT video
@Elinoora – I probably need to toughen up and get outside more!
I don’t use treadmills at all, Ms. Laura Vanderkam. As I’ve pointed out in my comments in some of the previous posts, my two primary forms of workouts are:
1. Running up and down stairs for a height of 2 meters for 50 times per day.
2. Raising dumbbells 100 times for each arm per week.
The mass of the dumbbells increases over time. These 2 are my workouts regardless of which season it is. So what we’re discussing is whether or not these 2 workouts are boring. I do not find them to be boring, but when I work out, I will listen to audiobooks or presentations or podcasts that have to do with sports.
We must think about situations where no one else is living in the same residence with me versus situations where someone else is living in the same residence with me. In the second situation, I will make sure that when running up and down the stairs, I run 5 times up and down, then listen to audiobooks or presentations or podcasts that have to do with sports for 2 minutes, then run up and down the stairs for 5 times again, and so on. If I am to raise dumbbells, I’ll need to make sure that I’m in a specific room where I shut the door first, then raise dumbbells while listening to audiobooks or presentations or podcasts that have to do with sports. But, you came up with this method a long time ago, Ms. Laura Vanderkam, and I think what you meant was a method that is different this method.
I did a lot of treadmill running last winter using music and internal rage as motivation. I am usually willing to run outside as long as it’s at least 10 degrees F, still light outside, and not icy, which sadly eliminates much of the year where I live.
@omdg – I listen to a lot of Taylor Swift on the treadmill, or podcasts…but still pretty boring. I do wish it were warmer this time of year!
I’ve tried this treadmill/strength alternation but it doesn’t work well for me, because our treadmill is located in such a tight space and we don’t wear shoes in the rest of the apartment, and if I have to take off / put on shoes between intervals it takes forever and. I frequently use short Peloton runs to break up a longer running workout. I play number games with the mileage / time / calorie statistics on the treadmill screen.
But my best trick is that I watch Netflix while I run, and it’s the only time I watch TV. If I want to see whatever interesting series or funny holiday movie they’ve just released, I have to get my workout in.
@Erica – yes, if I were taking my shoes on and off that would be a hard no! My weights are right next to my treadmill, and I guess I’m fine with my shoes being on there (though we generally don’t wear them in the house).
Watch TV? good point.. it can be boring… xo