How to make running more tolerable

[Whatwouldscullydo]

I try to run 5k twice a week usually on a treadmill. I dont suppose there's any secret to making it less of a chore. I have a play list and 2 podcasts I alternate between and still it's the hardest 35 mins × 2 of the week.

I'm always glad I've done it afterwards but by god it's so mind numbingly boring I really need to know if there's a way to make running easier to get through

I'm definitely going to try the YouTube/Netflix thing. The treadmills at my gym have the option I think. Assuming u just pair your headphones with the screen and you are good to go?

I used to play a game where I couldn't look at the distance until I'd listened to 4 tracks in a row. But then they changed the treadmills and it gave u a terrain view option and it's impossible to look at the terrain view and not look.at the time/distance/numbers etc that are above the window so that kinda messed that up 😳

I must get back outside though. It's just easier most the time to do it when I.am.down the gym as I work.evenings akd do evening classes so don't want to he gone out the house every evening . Someone's gotta make sure my teen gets her arse in the bath 🤣

I'll look for a new route too. One that fliws a bit better

Slow is good! Don’t think about your time - it doesn’t matter. The important thing is getting out there and feeling amazing.

Bin the indoor version or mix it up with this: doing it with other people and having a coffee and maybe a cake afterwards. Add something to it that you feel some tangible reward for your effort. I probably wouldn't stick with running without other people. Most things exercise for me are either social or supporting the development of the social activities

Things that help me:

I do peloton treadmill classes on my phone. So it tells me how fast to run/the incline etc. plus the instructor is talking and there is music

i I do virtual distance medals to motivate me. Current one is 500 miles.

30 mins is my shortest run of the week and when you run longer it really does fly by.

i find running indoors vs outdoors both fun and awful in different ways. It does help to mix it up

having been a slow, reluctant outdoor runner for years, I've just got a treadmill and flipping love it. Am too tight to pay for any of the proper running apps but set myself up in front of a telly with youtube - there are quite a lot of walks you can follow so you it kind of feels like 'going somewhere' but is more interesting than waddling around the village. Am not into team running/racing and prefer night time running if i do go outside and that's not always practical.... this seems to be working for me at the mo.

The treadmill is the issue. So very dull and boring running on them. I do it once a week to attempt some zone 2 training and it’s the most boring 30 mins of my week. 30 mins on the treadmill seems longer than and hour and a half of running outside in the sun down country lanes.

Why do you do zone 2 training on the treadmill?! They’re much better suited to intervals imho (and z2 to long runs outside)

I’m an outdoor runner so the treadmill feels like a punishment.

for me podcasts work better as I have to concentrate to listen to it which distracts me from how much I hate running on a treadmill.

Definitely give park run a go. It’s really friendly and inclusive. If you can run 5K without stopping you won’t be anywhere near the last finisher. You can look up the results for the previous week so you can see the time the last person finished. It will definitely give you some perspective on how ‘slow’ you are.

Outside in fresh air. I prefer running on tarmac (along lanes) as I’m less likely to slip, as I have on grass, or trip, as I have on tracks through woods. Good socks and underwear are as crucial as the right shoes.

A parkrun makes it just about tolerable. Tbh I've been running for 20yrs and it is mostly dull, I don't like it and I have zero endorphins once I'm done. Good music helps, as do a few ducks and nice dogs.

It's mostly a means to an end of reducing my chances of a heart attack and cancer.

I find it really boring too, to be honest. I’ve joined a running club recently which helps take the edge off a bit. I’m not a “proper” runner or anything just do parkrun and the odd interval session during the week but doing it with other people really helps! Take my hat off to you for lasting on the treadmill i can only do 10 minutes

I found the podcast Zombies run really fun for a treadmill. There is a website too. Its like Couch to 5K but with a script and you are running from zombies when you have to run. You sign up, first few episodes are free so you can see what you think.

But in reality, Parkrun is much more motivating for me.