An option for overcoming treadmill boredom?

x2

I'm upstate NY and unless it's icy I prefer to run outside, bundled up however necessary.  I even run in 2ft snow - and it's a darn good workout.

However I do sometimes do treadmill work if I am working on something where accurate pacing is handy and it's miserable outside.   Having to do x intervals at y pace keeps your focus going nicely.  I HATE running for more than 30mins on a treadmill though.

Now as long as you are not doing your long run of the week then it is perfectly fine to split an hours run into 2x 30min sessions to get your mileage in.  But make sure you are serving the purpose of that workout(s) 

X's 3 from Michigan. But I have been known to split up run to get the mileage in. Man I strongly dislike treadmills.

x3. It's barely October yet...you have much colder and darker days ahead of you. Unless it's really dangerous for you to run in the dark where you are, get outside! Don't split up your runs. Ice and snow are deterrents for running outside, but temps are not. 

buy a pair of yak traks for the future ice and snow.

HTFU and put some layers on and run outside.

ughh-

x2 post :/

Good one.  That was a race, actually.  And - it was about -20 that day, so it would have qualified.

djluscher - 2008-09-27 10:22 PM

BikerGrrrl - 2008-09-27 9:02 PM The only time I run indoors due to weather/darkness is if the meteorologists warn me that might skin will freeze

must've been a cold day in Hopkins when your avatar photo was taken if you are stuck on the treadmill - i like to add a mental component. it is boring, so get in a mental zone and block out the boredom. focus on the mechanics of your running, focus on your breathing, focus on a spot on the wall and tell yourself how tough you are and that you won't look at your watch for ten more minutes. do treadmill fartleks to break the monotony. just some thoughts.

The weather was so bad in Wisconsin last year that I did nearly all of my long runs on the TM leading up to Boston.  Before that I hated the TM and avoided it unless it was icy.

The way I got through it was using  my IPOD, a mirror and lots of visualization of running a race- the tough spots, the easy efforts and crossing the finishing line.  Like one of the other posters said  it became a mental exercise for me.  I used the mirror to watch my form and changed it when it looked off --arrm swing, pelvic tilt, etc.

I am sure I will be doing some of my training on a TM this winter and while I am not looking forward to it it is better than the alternative of not running.