Running is a healthy activity that many people around the world enjoy doing. But is it fun? Depends on where you run. Running outside, in the park, among the trees, surrounded by people and nature is definitely not the least entertaining thing you can do with your life. But running on a treadmill, inside a gym that’s illuminated with fluorescent lights, is far from being the time of your life. Some gyms mount a TV screen right in front of the treadmills to keep runners entertained but many don’t. If you happen to be a member of the latter type, you can still eliminate boredom and monotony from your treadmill sessions thanks to modern technology.
Distraction is important
Science has proven several times that feeling exhausted and actually being exhausted are two different states. Researchers from the Ghent University’s Department of Movement and Sports Sciences have proven that when distracted, their test subjects could run for a longer time on a treadmill. And they have chosen perhaps the most easily distracted people possible: kids aged 9 to 17. Being distracted during the treadmill sessions resulted in them being longer, with the kids’ bodies giving the signal of exhaustion later than without any distraction. Thus, distracting yourself while running is important not only against boredom but for your overall health and performance, too.
How to distract yourself on the treadmill
Thanks to smartphones, you can now take an amazing variety of entertainment options with you on a treadmill. One of the most interesting options would be playing slot machines at the Royal Vegas while you run. You can simply download the Royal Vegas software to play royal games for free on the run, with no interaction needed on your side. All slot machines at the Royal Vegas come with a handy “Autoplay” option, so all you have to do is focus on the screen, get into the zone, and run for longer. Listening to music is one of the most widespread distractions for runners, no matter if they run on a treadmill or in a park. But watching a video – an episode of a TV series, for example – is a distraction available only to indoor runners. Some will even go as far as to time their treadmill sections to an episode – the funnier and more captivating it is, the better. For beginners, a short YouTube video (I for one prefer “Kurzgesagt”) is a perfect choice, for intermediaries a sitcom like “Modern Family” or “How I Met Your Mother” will do just fine, while “experts” can go with any full-length episode they prefer on HBO Go, Netflix, or whichever streaming service they might prefer. Distracting yourself while on a treadmill will not only keep boredom away from you but also help you perform better.
