Training - bring back the joy!

[Compassionate]

My Current schedule..

Mon Wed Fri - Treadmill Run (@5-6mph) x 65 mins

Tue Thurs - XTrain x 65 mins

Any ideas / thoughts about how to increase excitement / fitness / stamina

/ weight loss? Many, many thanks!

[nowster Graduate10]

Excitement? Try a few runs outside, perhaps?

Stamina is simply a matter of gradually doing longer and longer sessions. Push yourself a little, but not too much.

Bringing back the joy? Putting some variety in what you're doing will help. Doing exactly the same each day can quickly become boring.

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

Oh yes, the excitement of running outside nowster. During my C25k programme I had a confrontation with a horse and a donkey on my trail path and last week I was overtaken my a monster rat under the canal towpath bridge 🤣🤣🤣

In all seriousness though. Not one run is the same and I just love it now. Hated battling through C25k but now, when I run at a happy pace I simply love it 👍

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Respect to you Compassionate , because what you're describing sounds like my idea of running hell. I would be bored to tears, quite literally, if I had to do that, and would give up running, as it would only be making me miserable.

If you can get outside, then do. At the very least it'll give you a different experience. Vary distance, routes and terrain if that's an option. Run faster or slower. Listen to something different, whether that's music, podcasts, or nothing. Mix up the cross-training.

As for weight loss, it was doing longer distances at a slower pace that got me to lose weight and keep it off, dropping from BMI overweight range back into normal.

I hope you find some ways to run that make you happy!

[Compassionate in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you!

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

I can only Echo what others have said, try an outdoor run !

You might enjoy it ? 😁

Also some shorter runs .

No way could I do the same distances and paces each time .

Try short and quick, long and slow , then a steady one 😁👍

[John_W Graduate10]

There is NOTHING wrong with running on a Treadmill (spelt with a T (teeeeee) not a d) if that is what works for you.

So please... CONTINUE to use your treadmill .

What you are looking for is variation.

My suggestion: if you are sticking to 3x treadmill runs per week, then maybe think about:

- elongate 1 run to about 75-90 mins and make it slower than your 5-6 mph (stamina & weightloss)

- shorten 1 run to 30-45 mins (again, slower than currently)

- make 1 run an interval session (to help increase your speed) which can be as varied as you like:

.... 1 minute on/off (those 'on's should be nice and quick - you should be breathless at end the end - the 'off's should be slow jog or walking) - maybe do 8 or 10 repeats

.... 3-4 minutes on then 2-3 mins off (the ons should be hard but a bit slower than the 1 minute ones) and maybe do 4 or 5 repeats. That will be a HARD session

That type of thing. That gives you a long slow run, a medium length steady run and then an energetic and exciting interval sesh.

What's not to like?

[Yesletsgo Graduate10]

Well done to you for having the patience for a treadmill. My attention span is way too short for that. Outdoors you have the sky, the scenery, the uneven paths, the dog poo, unexpected meetings with people you may or may not know, all sorts of stuff to keep you occupied. Add a bit of music and every run is different and as exciting as you choose it to be.Seriously though, do you listen to anything while you work out? Nike Run Club seem to have treadmill workouts and if they are as thought provoking and inspiring as the outdoor runs they may be the boost you need.

Don't ask me about weight loss though, been running since March and lost the grand total of 1kg (but I'm so happy with everything else, particularly the long overdue reappearance of a waist, that I don't care!)

[John_W Graduate10]

Hi nowster , Cmoi Treadmills are incredibly useful and for some people, the only way in which they can start *and* continue their running journey. We should do everything on this forum to encourage whatever method works for people that helps them - whether that's outdoors OR indoors. Podcasts, TV, films etc are all great tips to stay engaged with treadmill running, but the suggestion to simply "go outside" isn't always possible or practical.

Cheers,

John

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Of course! That was only one of my suggestions, under the "Excitement" heading. Even outside runs can become boring if you don't mix things up to prevent things becoming routine.

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

John_W , for clarity, I don't think that there's anything wrong with using a treadmill, nor did I say that. Nor did I suggest the OP stop using one, or simply tell them to "go outside." I suggested outdoor runs as a possibility among a host of other options.

[Ian5K Graduate10]

That’s a really decent average pace you run at, Compassionate. Why do you prefer the treadmill to actual running outside?

Gym work is so boring and I reckon that’s why most give up on it before their year’s contract is expired. I know I could never bear much more than a year, doing it three times a week.

The best thing with gyms is to join in a class, share with other people. Do that once a week, do a solo gym workout once a week, and try to get outside once a week. Probably your five sessions a week is a bit on the excessive side but for fitness, stamina and weight loss, you’re doing okay, it just takes time.

[John_W Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

Treadmills are incredibly helpful and work for a lot of people, including me. I continue to use them for about 30% of the running and almost always when I'm coming back from injury so that I have the control required. Treadmill running does not have to be boring. The issue above is more to do with variation of runs I think, not the environment.

[Compassionate]

These are all really useful ideas! To add a bit of background, I'm 47, a mum of 2 (aged 3 and 5) living rurally, and I work out at 5.30am, so these are the main reasons my treadmill in the garage works well for me. I began running for the first time in lockdown 1 with couch to 5k and I'm looking to take my fitness forward to the next level and re-generate my enthusiasm. Everyone has given me things to think about - thank you for taking the time to help.

[BS44 in reply to Compassionate]

Hi

I do all my running on my treadmill and I did start to find it a bit boring. I played around with different apps like Runkeeper and Nike Run Club and there’s loads of different types of runs on them for increasing speed/stamina - I did one the other day where there was a coach and as well as coaching she interviewed Mo Farrah.

There’s also an app called Zombies run where you go on missions and sometimes get chased by (you guessed it) Zombies 🤣 - I don’t know whether you are interested in this sort of thing but it’s hilarious 😊

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Compassionate]

My kids were born when I was 33, 38 and 43. To have two so close together when you were over 40 and also to manage to do all this running and training fills me with awe! I could no more have got out of bed to run at 5.30 than, oh, no, can't think of anything more unlikely and I only ever had one under 6 years old at a time.You are doing fantastically!

I can say from experience that weight is harder to lose as you get older (sorry to be negative). I managed to drop half a stone by going to the gym three times a week for 3 months to do cardio and weights when youngest was 2 but life intervened and I had to stop and it all came back. If what you're doing works keep at it. My downfall was finishing off packets of biscuits....

PS can I still call it baby weight when my baby is 20 years old?

😂

[CBDB Graduate10]

I have to admit ever since discovering Zwift I have become quite jealous of anyone with a treadmill or a stationary bike. Zwift is a virtual running experience (via smartphones or iPads) aimed at treadmills and stationary bikes.

I’ve had a go at it by hooking my only stationary device up to it, my rower, but it’s not quite the same.

So if your treadmill can be hooked up to Zwift, that might be a really new experience.

Julia-P on here runs with Zwift and did her whole 10k Training on a treadmill and it looks sooooo goood!

healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

[Lifluf Graduate10]

Lots of good advice here. I think mixing it up a bit - either all inside or maybe get someone to look after the children and head out every so often. Have you tried an audio book. Being engrossed in someone reading you a good book is a great way to pass the time. Use it only when your running and, before you know it, you'll be looking forward to the next installment.

[Never_too_old 60minGraduate]

Hi, I also run on a treadmill, probably 80% of the time, I still prefer outdoors but that's not always possible now everyone is back at school and work. I love music, everything from classical through to chart music so I downloaded about 50/60 of my faves and I've put it on 'mix' If I'm running outside I still like to listen to Laura 🤭 I use it as 'my time' so now I actually look forward to it!