Treadmill Workouts Made Fun

My mother has gone for a long walk almost every day for the past 23 years (she lost over 50 pounds back in 1985 and has kept it off ever since). She says that she feels cheated and like her day is off-kilter when she doesn't go for her walk. Quite a few Christmases ago, my siblings and I chipped in to buy her a treadmill, thinking she'd be grateful for it on icy, snowy or rainy days. My mom reluctantly uses the treadmill on days of inclement weather, but in all honesty, she detests the thing. She finds it boring.

My guess is a lot of people find treadmills boring. They're one of those machines that have stuck around simply because they get the job done. But your workout shouldn't be boring. While you should certainly escape to the outdoors whenever weather allows, when you're stuck inside you can follow these tips to make your treadmill walk or run more enjoyable:

• Break it up. Plan on working out in segments -- warm up, run and cool down. Viewing your workout in segments of time rather than one, long chunk makes it more bearable.
• Focus on form. Don't slouch or rest on the handlebars. When you know you're getting the most out of your workout, it's more satisfying.
• Try hills and intervals. Change the speed or incline every few minutes to vary the routine.
• Workout with a friend. If you're at the gym, chat with a friend while walking on the treadmills. Remember to be respectful, though -- others at the gym don't want to hear your conversation.
• Listen to tunes. Load up your iPod with great workout tunes.