So I googled this “Things to do on the treadmill”
There are some truly awful suggestions out there… like AWFUL. And I found a picture of someone eating a bagel while running on a treadmill… like WHAT?!!?!?!
I’m a bit of a running purist when it comes to distraction… keep in mind I also began running before the advent of the portable music MP3 thing. Think: cassette tape player. So, when I did start running with music I found it horribly distracting. The cord flying everywhere, my hand getting sweaty and accidentally chucking my iPod into puddles, looking down at the music list and accidentally falling into things… it was a disaster to say the least. Then my then boyfriend bought be a cordless headset… and I started taking my music with me. Even then, I don’t listen all the time. It’s just part of my routine. I put it on my head and run… with or without the music.
I’m also a better outdoor runner. If I am outside, I can run much longer and much stronger than if I’m on my treadmill. On the treadmill I stare at the numbers, I do math, I get distracted, I miss a step, and then I fly off the treadmill and into the bookcase, that I swear I’m going to get rid of at some point. I also had a really bad 1st time on the treadmill experience… think gym full of sexy men and falling off the treadmill and bleeding everywhere and everyone staring.
This is really just a long-winded way of me saying… I get bored on the treadmill. So what do I do? I do little things to keep distracted. I watch TV, which I think is okay. I do agilities. I do lunges. Sometimes I walk backwards. Sometimes I take little weights and do little arm exercises.
The point is, I think it is okay to realize you are distracted and I think it is okay to go about continuing your workout with small exercises to help you blast through the ennui. Music and TV are pretty benign once you get the hang out it. Slowing the treadmill down and doing agilities is good too.
What I don’t think is okay? Eating a bagel on the treadmill. Think about this for a second. What if you choke? A treadmill is heavy machinery people.
Anyway – these are two good posts about doing “other” things on the treadmill to get through a treadmill workout for people that find it tedious. Just remember to workout “smart.” Don’t do something that won’t work for you, and don’t do something where you “might” fall off. We are running to be healthy and happy, not bruised and banged up.
http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/5-unique-ways-make-most-your-treadmill
http://carrotsncake.com/2011/10/how-to-run-on-a-treadmill-without-dying-of-boredom.html
Kaprise! 
I am an ultramarathon runner. When you do big endurance runs you have to eat while running. I eat bagels, fruit cups, pb&j sandwiches, granola bars and many other things when I do my long runs. I also drink a beer every 10 miles or so. During my first 50 miler, I had an entire 16 oz. Steak (cut into strips) and a baggie of salty potatoes during my race. Eating while running makes all the difference when you mileage is high. Just thought I’d share that. 🙂
Hey Tim! Thanks for visiting! I realize I made it sound like one shouldn’t eat while running… but not the case at all! I definitely think eating while running high mileage is important, but on a treadmill I feel like there is less control and there is more room for error and choking! Maybe it’s just the way I run on a treadmill that makes it dangerous to eat!!!
🙂 Also – love that you ate steak during your race!
-H
I suppose it is a lot more dangerous on a treadmill. Personally, I think treadmills are dangerous even if you don’t eat. Don’t tell anyone I said that though. I sell them for a living. 😉
hahahaha!!!!!!
I need to check these out. Not much space to run in Seoul (and it’s freezing out) but the treadmill kills me!
Definitely read the two articles, and then think about doing agilities on the treadmill too… walking backwards (with extreme caution and at a slow pace) tends to help work out muscles you don’t normally think about too!!!
Speaking of running backwards, check out my post http://timsrunningreviews.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/not-looking-forward-to-it-2012-detroit-fifth-third-turkey-trot-5k/