Learning to love the treadmill again

Do you ever feel like you're going to die of boredom from running on the treadmill? Treadmills (aka deadmills) get a lot of criticism from many runners for being monotonous and dull. Don't worry I used to be like too until I joined the gym last winter to avoid the outside when it's cold and dark. I soon realized the many benefits to the treadmill and would like to share. 

1. You know your pace-  No more having to sneak glances at your watch or just guess it. The treadmill has it all right there in front of you. You know exactly how fast you're going and this helps when you make the transition to outdoor running by created muscle memory.
2. The forgiving surface- The surface is more forgiving than the pavement or the uneven sand on the beach. An irregular surface can intensify muscle and joint pain. 
   
3.  Safety- You don't have to worry about watching out for cars or falling on cracked sidewalks when you're running inside. 
4. You can watch TV- Most gym machines have a TV on them, and if not you can always mount your phone up and watch your favorite show. This fact is one of the biggest benefits in my opinion. I always look forward to watching old crime shows during my morning workouts. 
   
5. Avoiding the weather elements- Running seems to become less tolerable when it's too hot or cold outside making the window of times the weather cooperates pretty slim in most places. 
6. The variety of workouts- You can customize your workout by adding some hill intervals or sprints to mix things up. 
7. The convenience factor- It's usually easier to show up at the gym then plan
8. You can work on your running form- If you are near a mirror, you can look at your form and see where you can make improvements 

Of course, it's best to combine a mix of outdoor and indoor workouts. The treadmill can be a great tool to add to your practice.