Treadmills are quick to receive the scorn and contempt of the running community. Cleverly nicknamed the dreadmill, runners of all ability levels tend to groan dramatically at the thought of using one, angrily stomp out their boredom for a few miles, and jump off thanking the good lord that the awful experience is over.
What did the treadmill ever do to deserve such harsh treatment from us? What we as a community of runners need to realize is the treadmill is our friend and often, our saving grace. Maybe it’s not the treadmill that is making our indoor runs so unbearable, maybe it’s us.
If you couldn’t tell by now, I’m one of the few who loves their treadmill dearly. Last year I was attempting a run streak in the dead of winter with no access to a treadmill. Rain, freezing rain, snow, monsoon winds, and maybe the occasional sunshine – sure, I felt tough running through that. However, my face froze daily and my runs weren’t great due to all the sinners who refuse to shovel their sidewalks.
Come on now, the vast majority of us cannot actually enjoy running in sub-zero temperatures. It’s all about that “runner’s pride” we can’t seem to shake. We want others to see us braving the elements because even though they may shake their heads and mutter things about our sanity under their breath, we know deep in their hearts they are actually super impressed.
I get it. I used to be the same way. I felt like I was somehow cheating by running indoors. Convinced I would become soft if I kept up my treadmill relationship, I broke it off and braved the insane Michigan winters.
Then I started training for the 2015 Boston Marathon and I found myself hitting the treadmill more and more. And in the end, those runs paid off. I was able to focus on pacing instead of avoiding ice and five-foot piles of snow. Since my body wasn’t fighting to stay warm, I had the chance to focus on how it really felt and plan my runs accordingly.
I now have my parent’s old treadmill. We’ve been through a lot. I broke it once while logging my first ever 20-mile run, an emotional day for both of us. We’ve watched entire TV series together and countless movies. No matter what was on the weather channel or on my training plan (except maybe a 20-miler), I knew the treadmill would be there for me.
Running, at its core, should be enjoyable. Sometimes it’s hard enough to convince yourself to get out the door without a snowpocalypse outside. Wanting to run inside is not weakness, it’s a desire not to be miserable. And maybe your workout’s saving grace. Wanting to enjoy your run indoors instead of facing the elements doesn’t make you soft, it merely shifts what is most important to you about your run. And that is such a strange combination of an individual’s facts and feelings that it should never be judged by anyone else.
So now that we’ve established that treadmill running is for self-confident winners, there are a few things you can do to cultivate a healthy relationship with your treadmill:
- Find your treadmill: Whether it’s at a gym or in your home, not all treadmills are created equally. Some work really well for some while being the devil’s spawn for others. There used to be this older big, sturdy treadmill at my gym that no one ever used, but I absolutely loved. And I found it after trying every other treadmill in the gym. Take your time to test out different treadmills and don’t cheap out when buying one for yourself. The right treadmill is worth the investment.
- Watch something!! Sometimes the only thing that will motivate me to run is that TV show I only watch on the treadmill. Streaming services make treadmill running a breeze. Just pick a show and get lost in it for however long a time. It certainly beats staring at a wall.
- Invest in a good pair of headphones: They make all the difference in the world on a lengthy treadmill run.
- Cover up the distance: Use a towel or a towel-like object to cover up how far you’ve gone. If you don’t you’ll just end up staring at it and going mad. Let it be a surprise. It also helps to tell yourself “Okay, after this episode, I’ll check my distance” or “after this lap, I’ll check my distance.”
- Turn your run into a workout: Fartlecks on the treadmill go by in the blink of an eye. It helps break up the monotony. Also, it takes advantage of the speed settings. You want to hit your mark on a fartleck, tempo run, or repeats? Hitting the right speed on the treadmill ensures you’ll get there.
We are a pretty lucky species to be given the gift of the treadmill. Run in place proudly, friends.
