Welcome to my final post before leaving for Cuba! Today’s expertise comes to you from several of my experienced running friends who are all suffering through winter, just like you. I know for a fact some of them love running in the snow but, even the most insane/adventurous among us have to resign our running feet to the treadmill for one reason or another. The secret, of course, is remaining sane while you run, hamster-like to nowhere…fast.
I know there is a lot of hate out there for the treadmill but, I for one am extremely grateful for mine! Here are my secrets to a long and happy relationship with a treadmill…
SPEED
It goes without saying you need some sort of interval plan before you step onto the treadmill. Keeping your mind occupied and your feet moving are the keys to having a great treadmill workout. If you foolishly attempt to run on the treadmill with no clear plan, you only have yourself to blame.
Below is one of my favorite workout as of late and by “favorite” I mean it almost killed me but I felt fantastic afterward.
Obviously tweak the paces to make them manageable for you. Listening to “Work Bitch” by Brittany while you do it, doesn’t hurt either.
STEP OFF OFTEN
Another way to make the treadmill less horrible is to use it as an interval device. Sometimes getting on for “just” one mile (or even a half mile) is so much less mentally taxing, even if your total run equals several miles.
Try this…
KEEP YOUR BRAIN BUSY
For whatever reason I can’t watch movies or listen to podcasts when I’m on the treadmill. I have no clue why because I can do it quite nicely on the indoor bike trainer. Since my options are listen to music or the voices in my head, I tend to go with option one, whenever possible.
These are a few of my favorite tunes. It’s admittedly an eclectic mix.
A Little More (feat. Victoria Monet) | Machine Gun Kelly
Believe | Mumford and Sons
Hymn for the Weekend | Coldplay
Scars to Your Beautiful | Alessia Cara
24K Magic | Bruno Mars (I also dance to this while on the treadmill #sorrynotsorry)
Remember the Name | Fort Minor (LOTS of swearing, warning!)
Blank Space | Taylor Swift (don’t judge, I love this song)
Celebrity Skin | Hole
Prayer in C | Robin Schulz & Lilly Wood
Starboy | The Weekend (the words to this song are awful and he’s a jerk but I still love it)
Sit Still, Look Pretty | Daya (the words to this song are hilarious! have you listened closely?)
4 MORE IDEAS
…because this is how much we care about your sanity!
SARAH | RUN FAR GIRL
LAURA | THIS RUNNER’S RECIPES
NELLIE | BROOKLYN ACTIVE MAMA
ANGELA | HAPPY FIT MAMA
Hope these workouts keep you all sane until I get back! I will be fighting heat and humidity all the way to the finish line in Havana. See you on the other side…
Adios!
[Tweet “Gone #crazy on the #treadmill? Bring sanity back with these #tips and #workouts! #RunIt”]
How do you stay sane on the treadmill?
What’s a song you love to hate lately?
SOOOO GLAD I ENDED UP NOT NEEDING THIS ON MONDAY
17 miles.
I think Id have lost my damn mind.
BUT Id have done it if Id had to.
Sending love and light and travel juju your way.
xo
Glad you’ve found some peace with running on the treadmill and I know it will do nothing but help you for the race.
I’m with you… it’s mostly the speed workouts that carry me through treadmill miles. I’m thankful for mine too! But also thankful for this mild weather we’ve been having lately which has me running everything outside.
Safe travels!!
Oooh checking out your playlist! I’m always looking for new music. 🙂 Have an AMAZING time in Cuba and good luck! I will be cheering you on from afar!
It’s never easy to stay sane on the ‘mill! I find that doing intervals helps me the most–keeps my mind occupied.
Good luck in Cuba!! I’m so excited for you!
YAAAAAS…Allie’s running playlist!!!! This will be GOOD. Ha ha! Love it.
We were in snowy Lake Tahoe over the weekend and needed to get my long run in (training for Big Sur marathon at the end of April) so my only choice was the treadmill. I managed 15 miles by reframing how I thought about the workout., For one, I was grateful to not have to lug my fuel and nuun with me and instead could take advantage of all of the compartments on the treadmill to hold those items. Second, bathrooms were in easy reach. Third, I downloaded a season of Veep to occupy my mind. Lastly, I tend to pace my long runs too fast so it was a good exercise in keeping a slow and steady pace and to keep good form. All-in it was a successful endeavor and while the last two miles were probably the most boring I managed to get through it.
I am most definitely not a big treadmill fan but there are some days when it just must be done. (Admittedly, it’s been a hot minute since I’ve run on a treadmill…..not allowed to run and all that jazz….. That said, I can’t wait until it’s part of my physical therapy!!!) I really really like the interval option. It makes it more like a CrossFit workout and I love CrossFit!! Also, tunes. Lots and lots of tunes. 🙂
I’m so late to this game but had to comment anyway. I know you’re in Cuba!!! and I can’t wait to read about your adventure.
Your treadmill posts always get me pumped and ready to try out any of these workouts. I always have to mix up a TM workout otherwise I feel skitzed out. skitz, that’s a word yes ma’am.
OMG i love your jams, although any song by the weekend (weeknd) irritates me because he strikes me as a mini kanye all full of attitude and spunk. LOL
maroon 5 is one of those bands i love to hate. the lead singer Adam of course he’s everywhere but he’s always come off so jerky to me, yet i can’t help but dance to his stuff. it’s my personal inner confllict. what does it really matter? i don’t know. i just don’t know… but clearly i care. sometimes.
my favorite part is your valentines – your kids and your hubby. so cute.
lastly, i love that you included Hole on your play list. yes going back to that because i love Hole!!! i’m totally going to jam to this later 🙂 on the TM, on your workout!!!! haha
I love that you love my music so much and I feel exactly the same way about the weekend but I just love his music. It’s so conflicting!! Just makes me run/bike harder, right? I hope you rocked out to Hole because, obviously. 🙂