Tips on making treadmill running less boring?

[BowserJunior]

Hi all, I'm trying to get back into running after having a long break from it and really just being very lazy. Have young children at home and very often nobody to leave them with so treadmill it is. The thing is I find it so incredibly boring that even the thought of doing it puts me off and I end up not running at all. Tried listening to podcasts but even those I find boring 😄 maybe I just haven't found the right one that would keep me interested and to keep going. Any suggestions please? Anything that worked for others?

I watch an episode of a series on the iPad

Lots of shows that are 30/45/60 mins to suit

Tbf I only walk - but should work for running too!

I also watch a series on the iPad and I need to see the next bit!! I won’t watch it any other time so I have to get on to watch!

Mr Beast games - The traitors!! I have watched the American and Australian series just to keep going.

Get an iPad and watch something as you run. Either something on Netflix for example, or on you tube there's running routes you can run through different countries etc.

I’ve heard of the apps that take you all over the world! I’ve not tried them yet

Gavin and Stacey is my latest treadmill watch. I’ve gone back to S1.

I either listen to music that i love and makes me feel motivated (usually rock for me) or like others, watch a show on Neflix etc. Usually the Office US

I also like to vary my speed and incline so it's less of a straight plod

Have a look at the Peloton app, you don't need a Peloton treadmill. Just a tablet to watch it on or cast from your phone to your tv - there are lots of different treadmill runs - intervals, progression, hiit, endurance, fun run etc. You can usually sign up for a free trial. It's very easy to cancel if it's not for you or you don't want to pay the monthly fee. They even send you an email a few days before your free trial is up to remind you if you want to cancel.

This is what I do too. I actually get excited about runs and always have loads bookmarked to do! Plus there are programs like 10 k and half marathon training. I like pace targets and do via PZP website so you just do the classes it picks each week

I also don't have a peloton treadmill just use the app

I just run slower than I would normally (by quite a bit). I hate the dreadmill, but needs must sometimes.

Audio books. It's the only thing that distracts me enough.

I only use a running machine when travelling for work or at the gym when the weather has been hideous for days. I do an interval run so it is less boring, just from the health app on my phone with my own music from Spotify. It’s a warm up walk then sets of short walks, jogging then short sprints. It works well for me as when I try and do it in the wild I am so lazy I don’t keep sprinting (without even realising) and the running machine doesn’t allow me to slow down.

I watch a trashy series on my phone. Something mindless. Or sometimes something only I want to watch. It makes so so so much difference. I ran 9 miles on my treadmill today.

Use a device to watch YouTube, all sorts of videos where you can run through a city or in an area of natural beauty. I 'ran' through New York recently.

Great suggestions everyone, thanks. Watching tablet sounds like something might work so I'll give it a go. Now the question is how do I attach the tablet to a treadmill, do you all have some special holders?

Look for lamicall goose neck holder on Amazon. It might work?

It's not boring, it's hard. You are better off focusing on the primary task until it gets easy enough that you can do two things at once

Third the peloton app. I don't run but I have the bike and the classes keep me coming back

Does your treadmill not have a shelf?

I just balance it so it is partially covering the treadmill screen.

I got a iPad cover with a keyboard attached so I can place it on the bar and lean it against the treadmill screen and is it very stable. This was after buying umpteen different iPad holders and none of them working (my treadmill doesn’t have a shelf). It was a game changer!

I get through the tedious slog of treadmill by watching episode of grays anatomy…40 mins and a gazillion seasons of 29 episode…I started a couple of years ago and still only on season 10…its kept me running though!

I used to use YouTube for this! There would be channels with entire runs around various cities around the world! You can get them for all sorts distances or watch several shorter routes over a longer run.

Years ago the gym I went to had tv's on the machines so I'd watch a whole episode of corrie on the treadmill, emmerdale on the cross trainer and eastenders on the bike! 😂