How to not hate running on a treadmill

This winter, I've found it necessary to run on the treadmill quite a bit. Usually I take a break from running during winter because I hate running in the cold. This year I had a races in January and February, so I had to do some running. When it gets dark at 4:30 pm and there's ice and snow covering the roads, you have to find a way. I've always hated running on the treadmill and avoided it whenever possible. This was the first year that I've actually found ways to enjoy it.

1. Find a better treadmill. My gym has a few FreeMotion treadmills that I love. They seem to run more smoothly and are much quieter than a "normal" treadmill. The stated weight limit for the particular model I like is 175 pounds, but I'm not sure if that's a LifeFitness limit or a number made up by the gym to increase the life of their best treadmills.

2. Run faster each mile. Running at the exact same pace for a long time can get boring real fast. But I've also tried interval workouts where you're supposed to change the speed every minute. I don't want to be messing with buttons on the treadmill every damn minute. One of the things I like about running is being able to zone out and think about other things. I can't do that if I have to constantly remember to change speeds. I like to start out at 6.1 mph (a pretty easy pace) and ramp it up 0.1 each mile until I'm running 6.6 mph for mile 6. Then I like to sprint the last 0.2 miles to make it a 10k. I really like this workout for distance training because it emphasizes starting slowly, gradually building up speed, and finishing strong. (Side note: I keep the incline consistent at 2.0 to simulate road running. A zero incline feels like running downhill the whole way. No road is as perfectly flat as a treadmill).

3. Run near a fan. I found a treadmill in the perfect spot right near a fan. Indoors there's no wind or air flow to help cool you off, so a fan can make a world of difference between a hard workout and a brutal one. For someone like me who sweats a lot, having some cool air to help wick moisture away is a lifesaver. I remember the gym at my grad school was always so warm and uncomfortable - there were no fans around the treadmills and there were always a bunch of people sweating profusely. The sweatiness and stinkiness of the whole situation made me hate going there. These little things really do make a difference.

4. Podcasts. This has been the number one game-changer for me when it comes to running on the treadmill. I've tried watching TV before, but that never worked for me. The shows that were on never held my attention- I'd lose focus so often I was barely watching the show. Or it would be like 50% commercials, which only made running on the treadmill more boring than ever. I like podcasts because I can listen to a story that not only takes my mind off running, but leads to other contemplations. When I'm going through a podcast series that I love, it's a treat reserved only for the treadmill. That way, I have something to look forward to when I run, and I feel like I'm getting two things done at once. It's been a lot of fun!

Here are the podcasts I've listened to so far:

Serial: I already mentioned this one; it's the first series I've completed. It's about a high school student named Adnan Syed who was accused and convicted of killing his girlfriend Hae Lee in 1999. There was no physical or DNA evidence. The entire case rested on another teenager's testimony and cell phone records -  despite the fact that the cell phone records did not line up with the testimony at key moments throughout the day of the murder. It's an interesting true story about a crime that took place 15 years ago. I liked how the episodes were pieced together with interviews, dialogue, and actual audio from the courtroom and police tapes. Each episode is about 30-40 minutes- perfect for a 3-4 mile midweek run!
All of the episodes are online for free: Serial podcast

The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey: This is actually the podcast where I first heard about Serial! This is currently my favorite podcast to listen to while running. Jamie describes it as an hour getting together with your favorite girlfriends, and that's kind of what it feels like! Jamie interviews women in all different areas of life: bloggers, writers, businesswomen, moms, etc, and they talk about everything from books to road trips, to raising kids, to their favorite Netflix shows. I've gotten so many ideas for books to read and shows to watch! Sometimes Jamie will go through a list that she found online, like "Most popular movies of 2014", or "Most talked about places to visit", and she and her guest will see if they've done each thing. I love these lists - not only do I get to mentally check off things I've seen/done, but it gives me ideas for the future.

Jamie does interview a lot of moms and they talk about their kids and spouses, but that has never bothered me even though I'm single. I actually think a lot of the "mom stuff" is applicable to anyone - time management strategies, dealing with stress, and taking time for yourself are some of the topics I've enjoyed, to name a few. A lot of these women have a lot of wisdom to share and I always enjoy learning new things.
This is the very first Jamie Ivey podcast I listened to: Happy Hour #20.
Here's the list on her blog: Podcasts. All are free!