Although most people refer to the machine as “the dreadmill,” I’m actually one of those rare people who enjoys running on the treadmill. Call me crazy, but I like the comfort and consistency of it. Maybe I’m a just a girl who doesn’t like the unknown, or I just like having my water bottle at hand and a bathroom nearby. Either way, I’m going to try to convince you that treadmill running isn’t as awful as you think!
First, there are several benefits to treadmill running over running out doors. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to argue that there aren’t pros to running outside, but today’s post is all about the benefits of running on a treadmill.
First and foremost: Safety. I’m a 20-something girl living in a big city and when I have to run in the morning or at night my only option outside is total darkness. I’m personally not comfortable hitting the lakefront path at 6am, alone and an easy target for anything from cars to people. The treadmill on the other hand is indoors and, if in a gym, in a place where there are plenty of people around and I feel 100% safe.
Secondly: injury. I don’t mean getting an injury (although a wrong step on an uneven path can definitely mess you up!). I’m talking about if you’re already injured. I’ve been dealing with serious IT band pain over the past year and I’ve had a few incidents where I ran a couple miles away from home, my injury acted up, and I had a hard time getting back to my apartment. The treadmill, on the other hand, is a great way to test your capabilities without risking getting stuck far from home. Plus, if you find out a mile in that it’s not going to happen, you can switch to a different kind of workout right away.
Another great thing about the treadmill? You HAVE to run as fast as you set it! I know sometimes I’ll aim for a pace when I’m running outdoors but get distracted by things around me or my own thoughts and start slowing down. The treadmill is a great way to get in speed work and really push yourself. Although if you’re training for a race, definitely do some paced runs on your own so you know how it feels!
Lastly, I love the treadmill because everything I need is right there. Although my gym doesn’t have those fancy individual TVs on each machine, there are large TVs and running in the morning is the only time I can watch the news! Also, my water bottle is right there so I don’t have to worry about water fountains working or finding one, and there’s a bathroom nearby. No one wants to experience needing a bathroom on a run but being miles from one… Don’t even think I wasn’t going to go there.
Even with all of these great reasons, I’m sure you are all thinking: but I HATE the treadmill! Well, calm yourself, because I’ve got some ways to make treadmill running a little more bearable!
1) Bring Entertainment. Unlike running outdoors, when you run on the treadmill you can bring things with you. For example, an iPad or Kindle are great for watching a TV show or reading a book while you run or walk. These are perfect for steady runs where you just want to zone out on something else.
2) Make a great playlist. No matter what my mood, a great playlist can make any run more bearable. Personally I have a couple on my phone that I can alternate between, some being really upbeat to get me going and others that are more calm if I’m feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Also, reward yourself for hitting running milestones or other achievements by buying new music! I like to buy new music and then only allow myself to listen to it on the treadmill, that way I have one more reason to look forward to my run!
3) Vary your speed. The BEST way to entertain yourself on the treadmill is to vary your speed. This gives you a bit of a challenge and paying attention to your intervals makes time fly. Try using a workout that you find online, like my 3 Mile HIIT running workout, or just start messing around with speed on your own. Go back and forth between high and low speed based on distance or time, or gradually build up throughout your run.
4) Make up stories in your head. Okay, yes this one is a little more “out there” but it’s by far my favorite way to spend my time on the treadmill. If you’re ready to just settle in to a nice pace and zone out, then I recommend using your imagination (I do this outside as well). The other day I had a 3 mile run and ended up getting so distracted in my imagination that I ran an extra 0.2 before realizing it.
So what do I think about? Usually I’m the hero of some sort of story, for example: saving a kidnapped child, but being shot in the process so then I’m in the hospital and people are visiting me and of course the gorgeous doctor thinks I’m amazing and asks me out… and you see how this goes. It may seem weird, but it really kills time and you forgot you’re running!
So there you have it: four great ways to make the treadmill a little more bearable!
Are you training for a race?
Do you run on the treadmill or outside more?
Do you have a vivid imagination?
I am in complete agreement with so many of these! first, I like to read my iPad while I run, and can do it easily on the treadmill. It makes the time fly by, too. I am also too nervous to run outside in the dark, so I have a limited window to get a run in. Great points you made!
Reading definitely makes time fly!
We just bought ourselves a used treadmill so I can run early morning before my girls wake up and school starts for me. LOVE it!
Ah so jealous! Wish I had one here in my building so I didn’t have to venture out into the cold!
I love treadmill running. I think it actually makes me a faster runner because I set the pace for what I should be running and not what I want to run (which is normally pretty relaxed). One of these days I want a big fancy treadmill but for now the gym will do.
I agree – I can control my pace which really helps for speed work!
LOL. I rely on trash tv to get me through a long treadmill workout!
Haha sounds good to me!
I am one of those weirdos who loves the treadmill too. :). Love the ‘work your imagination’ tip – I am totally going to think up an awesome scenario where I’m the hero next time I run!
Haha I HAVE to live in my imagination when I run, it makes the time go by so much faster!
I do almost all of my speed workouts on a treadmill. I haven’t had a running partner my speed for a while and it’s hard to keep myself motivated on a track. Like you said, you HAVE to keep the pace on the TM!
I’ve never had a running partner! Haha I guess the treadmill is mine!
Good points…. but I still hate the treadmill and only use it when its less than 10 degrees outside and/or unsafe to run. To each their own :).
Haha agree to disagree.
I have what you would call and extreme LACK of imagination. The story part definitely wouldn’t work for me. I like your post though.
I typically log on to the gym’s Wifi and watch Netflix. They also have a row of TVs (on around 12 different channels) so I can just plug my earpods into the speakerbox on each treadmill to tune to whatever TV I want if something looks interesting.
I feel a little “wobbly” since I’ve only been running on one for maybe 3 weeks, but it’s gotten a little more comfortable.
oh that’s nice, my gym doesn’t have wifi. Haha it’s pretty bare bones…
Haha I love the story element! I find with the treadmill, I need to do some sort of intervals to keep myself occupied. Steady state running on the treadmill kills me a little – but I can’t run outside in the winter so I’ve had to get used to it over the years!
I either have to do intervals, or just go slow and disappear into my mind!
Totally agree! I secretly love running on the treadmill. I always feel like a bad runner when I do because everyone says outdoor running is the best ever…. but sometimes I just want to be inside.
I agree – sometimes I just don’t want to head out into the cold!
I definitely used to fall into the category of people who liked to refer to it as the “dreadmill”, but learned to appreciate it when I also had an IT band injury. I didn’t take enough time off after a marathon this spring and I got a really bad IT band injury. I kept trying to stretch it and foam roll, but the one thing I found that really helped me was doing strength training exercises because I found a lot of sources saying the route cause of IT band injury is actually muscle imbalances/weakness. I found these exercises really helpful
http://strengthrunning.com/2011/02/the-itb-rehab-routine-video-demonstration/
The book advanced marathoning also has a lot of good exercises to strengthen your hips and glutes that really helped me and might help you too!
Definitely got a lot of strength training exercises from all the PTs I saw, thank you though!
we have pretty much the same taste in music! and i always buy new music as a ‘treat’, like if i’m going on a longer run or am having a tough time getting myself out the door.
i think i’m definitely going to have to start using the treadmill a little more now that i’m training for a marathon, and daylight savings has started. i went for an 8-mile run the other day and had to cut it short to 5 miles because it got too dark (and running by myself in LA at night is pretty much my worst nightmare).
Yea, I try to not buy a lot of new music and wait until I know it’s a song I’ll want to listen to over and over!
i don’t run on the treadmill that much anymore, but it is important. Especially for injury prevention and keep up with speed work.
oh and i looooove the story
Haha I have soooo many. Yesterday I was engaged to Prince Harry.
You brought up some great points about the +s of a treadmill! I definitely agree about the injury thing especially. Getting around in Chicago is pretty easy, but not if you’re desperate to get home and hop in an ice bath! Also work prevents me from running on the lakefront path in the daylight (either too early or too late at night) so I just wait til the weekends. It’s always more fun when tons of people are running around you anyway!
Oh I love the lakefront path on Saturday mornings – so many runners!
when we used to run we enjoyed running on the treadmill, we did run outside but like you said we liked the consistency of the treadmill 🙂
Haha I’m all about the comfort of consistency
I did so many runs on the treadmill when I trained for my first half marathon but then I found a running group and always had someone to run with outside no matter the time or the temp. Ever since then it’s been incredibly difficult to go back to the treadmill!
I think I would be more motivated to run outside if I was meeting someone. Chatting makes the time go by faster than anything else!
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