longest dreadmill training run

I am just starting out with this type of training, but I do have experience.  I am currently going based on calorie burn as to not over do it. I am currently working on burning 500 calories, as my fitness improves I will have to increase the time of the run, this will increase the distance(my goal is endurance) so not really to focused on speed right now.

What i do, I do intervals in my training aerobic zone. 5mins at the top of my aerobic zone, with 2:30mins at the lower end.  I see my time in 15min chunks.  If you do 2 intervals the way I said, that's 15mins. 

Also Stu mittleman talks about  "enjoying the run" the prize isn't at the finish line, the prize is movement.  Take note of how you feel, enjoy what you're doing. Also time will pass no matter what. So forget about the time/distance, just focus on enjoying what you're doing, and change things up maybe with intervals.

i have done a couple of 20+ milers but those were both done at the end of the "indoor" season and had become quite used to the dready by that time.  I know that in the beginning of the "indoor" season i try to go as long as i can on it until i get totally bored or burnt out from it.  after that timeframe is set (usually like 15-20 mins) i use that amount of time as a warm up and then switch something (speed, elevation...) every two minutes until i am done with my workout.  that keeps my mind active and involved and also takes it from a "distance" point of view to 2 min segments, which are easier to manage. 

I think one of the issues with the dready is that we are all so used to going outside and running "to a point" that we can see approaching as we come up on it.  with the treadmill its just like standing in one spot all dam day long!!!! 

agree I need stimulation!!  I worry about my long 20+ mile Saturday runs coming up for the next couple months....cant imagine that on the dreadmill

well, i suggest then breaking it down in segments, like maybe 5-10 mins and switching something at the start of each segment.  lots of variations you can do.  raise the incline, run easy pace on no incline, throw in some surges.  its not so much a distraction but more of a keep the mind into it and focus kind of thing.....

another thing i have heard people do is to run a mile for someone in their family.  for instance, the first mile is for Mom, the second mile is for Dad, on and on and on and on.  feel free to run the 13th mile for me!

That's insane! I did two hours once and it was awful. Cold and rainy or really wet or icy ground are the only conditions that push me indoors.

Where you doing this as a challenge or because you wanted to?  WOW

Thanks Steve....things are going pretty good and I am so GRATEFUL this winter has been so mile so far....hope I dont jinx that cause I cant imagine anything longer then about 10 miles on the dreadmill.  I can handle snow I can handle rain but I cant handle COLD RAIN.    Looking forward to this weekend...decided to combine my Sat and Sun training days and do a night time trail marathon in Indianapolis....got a head lamp from Santa and havent tried it out yet

I have run quite a few in the 12-20 mile range on the 'mill. I have some running videos of the Western States 100 (Race for the Soul and Unbreakable -- new edition this winter)  that I watch. They used to really keep me motivated and running, but I have seen them so many times now that my new strategy is to plug in the DVDs, mute them, and then put on my headphones. That works really well for me right now.

A question, though, for some of you who do the long ones. Every time I push up over 16 on the treadmill I have problems with my IT band.  Whenever my IT has bothered me before it has been because of running hills, so I thought I would be good with the treadmill. The weird thing was that the only way I could get the run done was by speeding up quite a bit (to about half marathon race pace). That worked to complete the run, but speeding up was not really what I wanted to do at the end of the long one. Also, unlike past IT problems, this one goes away by the next day. 

3 hours ~ 20 miles