Do you ever run on a treadmill, does it motivate you? Serious Posts Only, please!

I like the dreadmill, it can be a useful tool.

Yes. Up to 22 miles.

Does it motivate me? No motivation is elsewhere. The treadmill is a tool for when it’s preferable to other options or when other running options just aren’t feasible.

I don’t mind the treadmill for runs up to an hour. I don’t exactly love it.

All things being equal, I’d bet the overwhelming majority of runners would prefer outdoors to running on the treadmill, but as said it can be a useful tool, so why hate on it? Be glad you have a back up option.

I don't mind it, I've got a 55in TV on a stand right in front of mine so I just put on a good movie and knock out the miles.

Also can't stand it. If for some reason I'm confined to a gym and can't run outside I usually go for a stationary bike instead. It also sucks, but sucks less than the treadmill.

I have great outdoor trails right from my backyard and I cross country ski most of winter but I also run on a treadmill in my garage. It's been -15F outside the last few days, and I'm still going outside for long walks all bundled up with my dog. A treadmill isn't "motivating". It's just easier when the conditions outside are more challenging (but doable if I was motivated).

And yeah, a treadmill is easy the way I've been using it lately. I'm in my mid-50s and haven't raced in a decade, so I most do only easy runs while watching YouTube with my laptop strapped to the treadmill. Last week's two session were typical: 7 miles at 9% grade at 11:45 pace and 10 miles at 8:00 pace. I think of it more as a YouTube watching session than a workout, kind of like how some people have treadmill walking desks that they use in an office.

No. And no.

I did about half of my runs on treadmills when I was marathon training because I have a family and full time job and it was quick and convenient. I came to like the climate control and watching shows. If you run a lot then treadmill is a welcome change in my opinion. Most pros use them at some point to dial in speed or avoid harsh conditions. Also good for dialing in speed for a tempo.

Thank you for that. It is either slow down like that or constantly run injured!

I like treadmills. I also never just run at one speed. i generally break up every mile into a .3/.4/.3 block. If my goal speed is 8.3mph /~7:22 pace, I'll hit 7.8/8.3/8.8 or 8.1/8.3/8.5...or something like that for each mile. I may also do the same w incline 0/1.5/3.0. You can do speed work but as you know, it hits different w the machine getting to pace, etc.

I loathe the treadmill. I use it as little as possible, preferring to run at night or even in the cold. But this is largely due to only having access to treadmills in hot commercial gyms with poor airflow.

Despite this loathing, if its snowing hard or icy ouside - or just cold enough, ie -whatever, I use the treadmill.

I can't really focus on a show or game while I run, maybe if I went at a mindlessly slow jog. I watch races, music videos (think fan made gmvs), and sometimes clips and trailers to survive the horrendously boring treadmill runs.

I've done 3 hour runs on the treadmill during winter training for a spring marathon. Running when there's black ice isn't being tuff, it's being stupid.

I have in my log that I put in 16-20 mile long runs on a treadmill in my college and early post college days, but I don't know how. I don't remember the climate in the gym I had access to at that time being significantly better. Now I feel like its a death march to do 13 miles easy in 90 mins.

I wish I had that kind of drive still. Most my treadmill runs these days are filled with a sense of wanting to be done or just not be there. I'd do a may/june marathon over long weeks on a treadmill lol.

Need a good fan or two & it becomes a lot more bearable. A lot of people overheat/are working way too hard @ what should be easier efforts & don't even realize it. Treadmills can be great for doing short/fast intervals (including hill reps) with standing rest. I think longer reps can be tough, especially if you have a less than ideal setup. Can be fun to hop on/off the treadmill for shorter stuff.

Most people at my gym walk slowly on the treadmills, set at an incline.

I act like Noah Lyles as I do my intervals. I strut back and forth nodding aggressively at my competitors, then I jump high in the air a couple times before starting. As I finish each interval, I "break the tape" with a lean, then look sideways at them with contempt. It's my favorite session of the week.

I have one that I used more as I age. I move so slowly now that when the weather is bad, I never really get into a groove like a used to, I barely warm up. So, I retreat to the mill. I have to say it's easier for me to run on the mill than the roads. My knees dont hurt as bad.

The key for me is to make the few days I used it into a big event, I play loud music, maybe put on a football game, I do some type of workout, so I'm thinking about the reps and pace more than trying to click off yet another mile.

It's a nice tool to have to get very specific pace, also it's in my basement so I dont even have to drive anywhere.

I'm getting a treadmill delivered to my house this week. My hope is that I don't use it much because I will always prefer to run outside. The reason I bought it was so that I can continue to do workouts if conditions are snowy/icy outside. I'm too old to take chances with faster running in ice.

As others have said, I never particularly enjoyed running on treadmills but getting a high powered fan is the key to making it more tolerable. I know Jakob likes to do treadmill workouts in miserably hot conditions with extra layers, but thankfully I have zero obligations to race in hot weather.

I'll use it only if I have to for easy running. Would always prefer to be outside for easy stuff. I have always liked it for tempos or progression runs in the colder months. I don't listen to music outside so having that going while working out feels like an advantage. Feel like I can get into a good rhythm and control the effort well. Sometimes on cold LR days I would run half outside then hop on the treadmill to finish the rest at a faster pace.