I completly agree with bluetoblue, I love the treadmill and I don't think i could live without the Mp3 player BUT sometimes I still get bored lol So to make it more interesting I almost break up my treadmill time in intervels Ill warm up 5-10 min at a easy pace then slowly up the speed and the incline, every 2 - 5 minutes, then slowly go back down every 2- 5 minutes, then the last 5 minutes I totally go all out and run my butt off (At least Im hoping thats what happens lol) then I do the good ol cool down....a trainer seen me one day doing that and asked me who told me to do that and I said "no one, is it wrong?" ...he told me that It wasn't wrong infact it was great and a really good way to burn more fat
I also can't read on the treadmill, its like trying to read in the car, the words jump around and i start feeling dizzy lol AND My Gyms has Tvs usually I don't listen but one day a funny show was on "my wife and kids" and I decided to tune in and listen...BIG mistake I started laughin so hard (luckily so were other people lol) thaaaat yea I almost fell off the treadmill lol
i think there's some great help for you. i personally dont' have any suggestion because i, like you, don't like the treadmill. but i'm a big outdoor fan so i preferr running/walking outdoors. It gives me energy. but hope you find something that helps you
The only way I can suffer through a dreadmill workout is if I do intervals or speedwork. and no preprogrammed either, I have to manually make the changes that way I have an excuse to clock watch. My favorite is start a bit slower than steady state and every 3 minutes or so (depending on how long you want to go) bump up the speed 0.1. I set it up so the middle interval is my normal steady state.
Or every 3 minutes change elevation
And now I see that is exactly what bluetoblue said! that is what I get for posting without reading!
But I will do anything and I mean ANYTHING to avoid running on a treadmill and run outside instead. 4:45 am? ok. Dark..no problem. Cold no problem. Rainy no problem. Glare ice....ok thats a problem! I havent run on a treadmill since last winter.
I meet a buddy at the gym in the mornings, and having someone to talk to makes all the difference in the world in my ability to tolerate "dreadmill" time.
Last edited by phantastica; 10-03-2007 at 02:15 PM.
Just for starters, I HATE the treadmill. I also am not a fan of Steady-State cardio in general. When I was doing a lot of SS Cardio, last year, I listened to Audiobooks on my iPod to stay entertained--I rarely listened to music. I think, though, that if you can read while you're on the treadmill/elliptical/bike/whatever, that you're not moving fast enough to get much of a workout (no offense meant). I guess there's the idea that "something's better than nothing", but if you're gonna get on a blasted machine, you might as well WORK it, y'know? Personally, I think I'd get queasy trying to read a magazine/book on a cardio machine, even if I was taking it really easy.
Have you looked into classes at your gym (if you're a member of one) or looked into ones at a local gym if you're not a member? Often the classes are free or reasonably priced for members, and a little pricier for non-members. I think classes are a GREAT way to get cardio in without being bored to tears.
At my University gym, they offer several classes. I love the Cardio Kickboxing class they offer and I go two nights a week for an hour. It's never boring because the instructor is constantly changing directions, keeping you moving, teaching you new moves... My heart rate stays HIGH (I have a HRM, so I know!) and I stay interested.
Outside of that class, I'm doing HIIT three days a week. 5 minute warm-up, then sprints for 10 minutes (Sprint from x to x, then walk back and repeat).
Angie hates the treadmill! She says why would I do "that' when I have the entire outdoors.
I love the treadmill...I have my TV....my stereo....my fan....my shelf I can reach with water, my cell and home phone, tissues for my tears and I can work-out in my boxers! The last time I did that outdoors I was laughed at...not a pretty picture.
I love the treadmill...I have my TV....my stereo....my fan....my shelf I can reach with water, my cell and home phone, tissues for my tears and I can work-out in my boxers! The last time I did that outdoors I was laughed at...not a pretty picture.
And it is really a mental image I could have done without
I don't have access to a treadmill anymore...wish I did. But when I did the treadmill, I would either pop in a video/dvd to watch, listen to music (I'd highly suggest getting an iPod or some CDs...anything but being relegated to the eek! radio LOL), or I'd read. I got a steno stand that attaches to a desk but attached it to the back of the treadmill instead and got a page marker that holds your book open. It never got boring.
I am with the treadmill haters...okay, I don't hate the treadmill...the treadmill is my friend. It just bores the heck out of me. No amount of music, or t.v helps with the boredom but I walk on it anyway, lol. I miss up my routines so it doesn't become monotonous. I walk at the park 3-4 days a week, walk the neighborhood, and do videos. If I didn't do this I would not be able to walk on the treadmill. I do it in between, or when the weather is too bad outdoors to walk, or when I've had a busy day and couldn't get outdoors to walk. I would rather be outside for sure.
While I don't *love* the treadmill, I have found ways to make it less boring for me. I try out all the different workout settings, which keeps me from getting bored. I also love audiobooks (ones that I only allow myself to listen to while treadmilling), grammar girl podcasts and CarTalk. I use peppy, silly music and find if work out in 20 minute intervals I'm less apt to get bored.
Nevertheless, there are still times when the treadmill is so boring I want to cry and usually I get off it and get on the elliptical. 20 minutes on the elliptical and I'm grateful to get back on the "boring" treadmill.
And it is really a mental image I could have done without
....well...not really!
