How To Run 8 Miles On A Treadmill

Last weekend was my first weekend at home in a few weeks, and I was looking forward to an 8 mile run on a familiar running route. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. While we were willing to run in light rain, neither of us wanted to run in a heavy downpour. We each checked various weather apps and traded text messages for about 1/2 hour until we admitted defeat. We canceled our plans and I decided to get my 8 miles in on a treadmill.

treadmill

It wasn’t an easy decision, but every time I thought the rain was letting up another downpour came through. And then there was thunder. So, how did I manage to run 8 miles on a treadmill?

1.  Fill up a large water bottle. Even with a fan pointed at me, I seem to sweat more on the treadmill. And with easy access to my water bottle in the cup holder, I definitely drink more. So, I filled up a large water bottle to get me through my run.

How To Run 8 Miles On A Treadmill

2.  Pick a workout program with some variety. The biggest challenge with doing a long run on the treadmill is fighting boredom. One way to combat this is to select a workout program with built-in variety. I chose the “Sport Training” program on my treadmill, which varies the incline in different patterns throughout the workout. Choosing a program like this helps me restrain myself from doing too many speed intervals, although I did play with the speed a bit for even more variety.

How To Run 8 Miles On A Treadmill

3.  Have a solid line-up of entertaining shows on your DVR. I haven’t been on my treadmill in ages, so I was way behind on Devious Maids! Two episodes took me through my warm-up, run, cool-down and stretching.

How To Run 8 Miles On The Treadmill

When you finish, celebrate your accomplishment with a hot shower and big pot of coffee!

How To Run 8 Miles On A Treadmill

Do you resort to the treadmill in bad weather? 

What’s the longest distance you’ve run on a treadmill?

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24 Responses to How To Run 8 Miles On A Treadmill

  1. MIZ says:

    Ive done one race.
    I didnt train well 🙂
    I ran 10 miles on a tread for my one long run—and I KINDA LIKED IT!
    I watched a movie and just ZONED OUT.

  2. I ran a 20-miler on a TM to test my mental stamina once – it was a few weeks before the Walt Disney World Marathon too, so I wanted to train in a hot room since I knew it could be hot at the race and I was still living in VA at the time (snow on the ground).

  3. Kim says:

    Well, I’m pretty sure everyone knows by now – I love my treadmill. My longest treadmill run – 44 miles! I’m super easily entertained!!!

  4. Great tips. Why does it seem that we sweat more when working out indoors? Maybe the outside air blows the sweat away?

  5. Stuart Jackson says:

    16 miles
    Battlestar Galactica on DVR on silent with CC.
    iTunes shuffle on speakers.

  6. Janice says:

    Great job! I don’t own a dreadmill so on rainy days I head to the indoor track nearby. It’s a very short oval near the roof around a hockey ice pad. It’s nice and cool and I get to watch kids play hockey too.

  7. The treadmill hurts my shins…this is new. I’m not sure why. I can run on the road just fine. Put me on a treadmill and it’s a whoooooole different story.

  8. Way to go! I tried to do a treadmill run the other day and got maybe POINT 8 miles. Haha! When I used to do longer runs on the treadmill I would need some sort of TV distraction. Helps so much.

  9. Melissa says:

    I’m “a bit different” in that I LOVE my treadmill and do almost all my training on it. (yes, I need to get outside for some road impact time on my legs and improving my pacing feel) Longest run – 25.2 miles at an easy pace, about 4hours. Secret: podcasts! That and cranked a/c (windows open in the winter), 4 fans blowing on me, bottle that starts w/ ice more than water.

    Glad to see Kim, another treadmill lover! If you really want some tips, check with @RunEMZ – she just did 24h/100+ miles on a treadmill to raise money for charity and runs most on the treadmill. I think @MilePosts did a 50k on her treadmill.

    Re incline – I use 1% as my default “flat” to make up for lack of wind resistance.

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  11. Robyn Telfer says:

    The longest was today 10 miles. Couldn’t face the rain and gales. Did in my vibrams. Furthest I’ve run in those too but I do prefer them for the treadmill

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  14. I think I did 13 or 14 once on the treadmill. But I would hop off after every mile and go upstairs to get a drink of water.

  15. To help me not become extremely hot while on treadmill I turn the heat off in that room. That seems to help a lot.

  16. April @ RunTheGreatWideSomewhere says:

    I think my longest treadmill run is three miles and I had to force myself to stay on the whole time! I think I need to find a better way to distract myself…maybe Netflix on my iPad! Thanks for linking up with us!

  17. Jen says:

    Ugh…the treadmill! Gotta love it, gotta hate it! My longest treadmill run was just 2 weeks ago and it was 6 miles! This winter is brutal and it was the first long run of my my marathon training. Had to choose between single digit temps with below-zero windchills and icy roads or the treadmill in the Cardio Cinema at my gym (small dark room with cardio equipment and a large movie screen!). Reluctantly chose the treadmill… but it wasn’t so bad watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 🙂 Just hope I never have to do more than 6 on a treadmill!

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