Five tips for surviving (and maybe even enjoying) a long run on the treadmill

I once ran 20 miles on the treadmill while staring at a brick wall…so I’m not really the best for advice on distracting yourself to make the time pass more quickly, which is why today Erika is chiming in with some great tips you may not have considered.

This past winter was rough in Virginia and really, much of the United States. It seemed that every few days we were setting a new record for windchill or straight up actual temperature. Even on days that were not wicked cold, there was a lot of ice and snow on the ground.

But I had races to train for! I needed to be running lots of miles!

What’s a Southern girl to do when the weather is suddenly similar to living in the tundra?

Hit the treadmill.

Personally, I think the treadmill is an awesome adventure and I’ve used it a ton in my running career, but I generally tried to get my long runs in outside. Long runs are hard enough as it is. I didn’t need the added difficulty of running in place for hours.

But I did it and I even kind of enjoyed it with these tricks:

• Streaming video – I saved up some shows I wanted to watch and put them on while I was running. The key for me was to not choose shows that required a lot of mental effort. I tend to zone in and out when I’m running, so missing important happenings in the show was just not going to work.
• Read a book – I’m here to tell you that those large print books at the library aren’t just for people with vision issues. Nope, they are perfect for a long run on the treadmill. Even better is if you have an e-reader – just bump up the font a bit and it’s an easy way to read on the treadmill.

  

• Surf the internet – Tablets are a runner’s best friend on a long run on the treadmill. All those things on Facebook that you never have time to look at? Now’s your time. I also like to catch up on blog reading, even though doing it during a run means that there’s no way I’m commenting.
• Distraction – Running at the gym? Make up stories in your head about the people working out around you. Strike up a conversation with one of the treadmill occupants near by. At home? Get family to come down and chat with you while you run. Ask friends to send you text messages to amuse you.
• Take breaks – Break the mileage into segments and reward yourself at the end of the segment. Slow the speed and walk for 30 seconds or so and get a good long drink. Stop the treadmill and hit the restroom. Hop off and stretch if you need to. Short little breaks will not hurt your training in the long run and will help you keep mentally strong to finish your mileage on the treadmill.

If all else fails, just zone out and get it done and be happy you have the treadmill as an option.

Bio: Erika has run 2 full marathons, 34 half marathons, and numerous other races and is currently on a quest to run a race in all 50 states. Join her on her blog where she talks about training and racing while trying to balance work, kids, pets, and her love of craft beer.

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