Treadmill running tips and treadmill walking tricks
Do you like walking and running on a treadmill? Or do you prefer to be outside?
I enjoy both but for consistency, I really love my treadmill and have not only five tips for you today, but I’m going to tell you about the holy grail of treadmill time and the zones where the magic happens š
I can exercise whether itās cold, dark or rainy ā it makes no difference! And I can set the pace to make sure Iām on track. I find I sometimes slow down to a dawdle when Iām outside (ooh, look a butterfly š) and donāt always keep up a powerwalking speed!
When treadmill time gets boring
Some people find treadmill running (and working workouts) monotonous and boring which I totally get, and do experience this feeling myself sometimes. Sometimes the numbers just aren’t ticking over fast enough.
There is a secret holy grail to avoid treadmill boredom, but like most holy grails it takes a bit of work to get there and canāt always be found.
But donāt worry, for days when it proves elusive, Iāve got five treadmill tips to get you powering through the numbers without falling down a boredom rabbit hole.
The holy grail of treadmill running and walking workouts
So what is this holy grail that makes running or walking on the treadmill pass by like a dream? Well, the secret (if you can do it) is to get into the secret, magical, āzoneā.
I find there are actually two types of zones that both work for beating treadmill boredom.
Zone 1 – The wise wizard
The first, is a very focused, almost meditative state. Your mind is clear, youāre in tune with your body and youāre so present in the moment that there is no room for impatience or the desire to be somewhere else. Time becomes non-existent and youāre truly in the āzoneā.
So how do you get there? First, take deep breaths and try to empty your mind of all thoughts.
If Iām struggling to do this, I sometimes focus on my breath, and imagine my breath coming in and filling my whole head ā all my thought power is focused on breathing in and out, and I feel the breaths filling every space, so there is no room for any thoughts. Sometimes making a throaty sound on your in and out breaths helps.
Over time you get better at it and can stay in this zone for longer. You can also practice it while stretching after a workout as well.
Some days though, itās not really happeningā¦ I just kinda donāt feel like putting in that effort. Lazy, I know. So the second āzoneā that you can try for is about harnessing your imagination and creativity. If the first zone was a wise wizard of meditation and clarity, this second zone would perhaps be a rainbow unicorn.
Zone 2 – The rainbow unicorn
This one is about letting your thoughts run wild, but not in a list-building, stressed out, āI got so much to doā kind of way. Itās about harnessing feelings of joy, humour and curiosity. Imagine cultivating these feelings to create a rich soil for your best thoughts to grow, and see where it takes you.
You might be surprised at what insights or new ideas you have, and the treadmill time will fly by as you indulge in your most creative, abundant, productive thoughts. If you are struggling with this, try starting with gratitude ā what are you grateful for in your life? Turn these thoughts into feelings and see where it takes you.
Some days though, your mind just doesnāt want to play and that holy grail of light and ease is just not happening. The numbers seem to be clicking over in slow motion and you’re struggling with motivation to keep exercising.
Five treadmill tips for when wizards and unicorns aren’t coming to the party
Iāve got five treadmill tips to help you get your workout done! I also find these useful tricks for if Iām running hard and getting tired.
1 ā Bite size chunks
Break up your treadmill run/walk into five minute goals. 60 minutes can seem like a long way away but if you focus on five minutes at a time it can seem much more manageable. Sometimes I like to change the speed or incline slightly every five minutes.
I also do things like watch the time for a minute, look straight ahead for a minute, watch the distance for a minute etc (depending on what your treadmill displays).
2 ā Get your groove on
Listen to music or podcasts while youāre running or walking on the treadmill! Itās great for distraction and taking your mind off the time. Donāt look at the time display until a song is finished or until thereās a break in the podcast š
3 ā That’s crazy walking
Try some mini knees up or butt kicks for a minute to break up your walk. Do your normal powerwalking for a few minutes and then do a minute of high knees, then back to powerwalking.
Try the same thing again, this time lifting your heels right up behind you so youāre kind of kicking your butt.
Changing the movements uses different muscles and breaks up your treadmill walk or run, making the time feel like itās going a bit faster.
4 ā Counting and comparing
Count your steps for a minute. Do this every five minutes and see if itās consistent. Try counting while walking/running at slightly different speeds and see if the count changes much.
5 ā Donāt let the numbers get too high!
I find the time seems to go slower as the numbers get higher ā whether itās a long distance and a long time.
When I was doing Rachael Attardās Lean Legs Program, some days there was a run and a walk. I would usually stop the treadmill after the run (and have a quick stretch) before re-starting it at zero for the walk.
Maybe try re-starting your treadmill counter after 20 or 30 minutes and see if this trick helps make your treadmill time go faster ā just make sure you get back on again!
Have you tried some of these tips and tricks? What do you think about when you are walking and running?
The Zen Zones guide and treadmill tips are available as cute mini posters in my itty-bitty shop! Available as digital download, or printed on card and mailed from me to you with love š
Frequently Asked Questions
The first step is identifying your challenges, triggers and trouble areas! It is also important to be super clear on what fitness and nutrition means to you, and how you want to live it.
Firstly, it really depends what your goals are. Training and eating according to your body type may help you achieve the results you want. Read more about the best diet and exercise for mesomorph body type.
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These are such great tips! These tips and tricks will definitely make treadmill running more fun! Thanks for sharing!
Changing things up once in a while is great advice! Thanks for the tips, will definitely give these a try!
I’m trying a lean legs program too which has a lot of walking and running. I do not enjoy running or walking. I have to say, the only time I try the treadmill is warming up before a workout. I think I’ll try listening to music or a podcast because that will remove the focus off the treadmill. Thank you!