Help me with this problem

Why do it if you don't like it?

Otherwise, no tips. I just run (no music, nothing) and am fine. I dunno - focus on form, visualize your next race, pay attention to what's around you, smile.

It's not that I don't like to race - I do - I love that part.

I just don't like the monotony of the mile after mile running with no apparent goal and no real challenge (z2 running is so slow that I don't feel challenged).  There are times that I can go out and visualize my next race and that helps a ton, and I love the run, but I can't do that every time.  There are also times when I am frustrated, aggravated, plain ole pi$$ed, stressed or whatever and I find release from that, and I feel great on those runs.  Unfortunately (or fortunately) that is not every day, so I guess what I am looking for is a way to "spice it up" while staying within the training plan of "staying in z2" and the like. 

I despise swim training, so I only do duathlons

What do you do to overcome this with bike training? How do you stay focused? Is it even an issue on the bike, and if not, then why do you think it is not?

I find I sometimes feel the same about running as you, and go through periods where I need to wear my ipod and listen to some podcasts or motivational tunes just to survive.  

Nothing wrong with periodic forays into Z3. You're not going to keel over or wreck your training if you mix things up a little with a few "bursts" in every run.

Would listening to music or podcasts help you? I don't have the dislike of or boredom with running that you describe but rather find it a good use of time to multi-task, catch up on informational podcasts and the latest in music.

I don't know about your plan, but mine intentionally takes me out of z2 some days, including z4 for some speed days.  True, most of my running is in z2, but perhaps it helps that I run those days on a treadmill and my gym has some incredible, um, views.  I am allowed to look at the menu, as long as I come home for dinner.   I digress, but the point is no plan should keep you in z2 for days on end.  There has to be variation somewhere.

Oh, and if you really get bored, come to NJ and take a 9 p.m. jog in Camden with $20 bills hanging out of your pockets.  $100 bills guarantee Z4 training. 

Trail running is for me an instant cure for boredom.

Other suggestions:

Try a totally different running route.

Find a running partner.

Vary your pace  - some days run hard, some days run easy, some days mix it up hard and easy within the same run, some days run with a HR monitor, some days run with without the electronics.

Run with music.

If none of these work and you still hate running, why are you running? 

Why don't you like to run? Are there any related issues you may not have mentioned? Weight, age, fitness level, etc.?

One of the things that helps relieve boredom is having a goal. The goal is not the race you may be training for, but rather training goals. The goal could be that you're going to run for X miles per week, X hours per week, X average pace per week, etc. Make the goals realistic. Don't say you're going to run 50 miles per week if you've never run more than 10, etc. Break the goals down. A monthly goal would be broke down to what is needed each week, then each day. Go out and achive the goal for the day. If you miss a day, there are 6 more days in a week to split up the missed workout - it doesn't need to be done all at once.

Getting better at running is largely as result of the accumulation of mileage in a consistent manner. As you meet your goals, revise them upward. As you run more and more, you will find those painfully slow Z2 runs get faster. The faster you get as a result of consistent running, the less boring it may be.

When I start to get bored I become a slave to the numbers I set for my goals. In most cases the only person who knows whether I meet my goals is me. The thing is, I don't like to let myself down.

There is a big difference between just wanting to do something well, and actually taking all the steps necessary to do it well. Are you a dreamer or a doer?

Maybe try running with a friend or running with an ipod.  

Maybe try a running plan -- Runners World has tons of them like "6 Weeks to a Faster 5K".  Then each run has a purpose and you know what you need to do. 

I really enjoy running but I do understand your complaint.  I get bored sometimes, usually if my run is over an hour.  That's when I try different running routes or try to find someone to run with me.   Oh, and what I used to do, to try to eliminate walking, is when I stop to walk, I walk in the opposite direction of what I am running.  So however far I walk, I just have to re-do with running.

But mostly I enjoy running and like the time alone to think or just look around and enjoy being outside and moving (which is always great when you work in a cubicle like me). 

I think you just have a mental block that you aren't going to like it and its going to be boring, and then that's what happens.   Not sure how to get you over that.

Oh man - that part that I bolded above is what I really love about running.  In fact, I get too little of the "run for running's sake" now.  Most of my training today is very regimented and technical: what's my heart rate? how's my distance? my pace? my cadence? is this run a tempo?, LSD?, other interval?, track?, etc. 

So I guess I have the opposite problem as you and I actually have to put an effort into sometimes running (or biking) with no goal in mind.  I think it helps to keep me fresh.

Here are some tips that I've heard other runners use:  Try trail running and build up from easy to technical.  Implement fartleks, especially fun if you can run in a group.  Mix up your routes - the same ol' circle routes and out-and-backs can get boring.  Do reverse brick workouts (run/swim or run/bike).

I don't have an issue on the bike because I am going fast enough that the scenery changes - if that makes sense. 

It totaally helps me - but I fear that I will become reliant on it, and thus "need" it to run well.  Is that just sillineess?  I mean - in a race, I am supremely motivated by other things.

Without getting into the details of my situation - I run for a reason (I tri for a reason) and I would not only be letting myself down, but I would be letting others down and I won't do that.  I know that it just sounded like I was saying that I don't run for myself and the people I do run for would not like me i I didn't, but that is not true.  The people that I run for don;t even know me, really, so they probably wouldn't know if I stopped (if you want more explanation of this - see my website in my sig line). 

I don't have issues that we haven't discussed.  I am early 40, 165 lbs worth of skinny, and just getting fitness back after being a life long athlete.  I accomplish my goals - relentlessly, almost too impatiently.  Sometime I think it is because of the training plan that I have that I get bored, because I am not just going out and doing what I "want" to do when I run (has anyone seen the Friends episode where Phoebe is running in the park with Rachel and her arms are flying all around like a little kid). 

I have not read through the whole thread but I really understand your issue with running.  I have always found it to be very boring as well. 

Here are a couple things that have helped me:

1.  Take a mp3 player.  I don't listen to music much at all but other talk programs or sermons.  This help the time go by and by far has helped alot with the running bordom.

2.  Have a goal/plan for your runs. 

3.  Run with others, different locations, ..... change it up.

4.  Find someone that is similar in your fitness that on any given day they might beat you or vise versa.  Use a little competition of the future to motivate you.