Take It Inside

TURN A TIRED TREADMILL ROUTINE INTO AN EXCITING PART OF YOUR SUMMER-RUNNING ARSENAL.

- M. Nicole Nazzaro

WHEN WE SAY TREADMILL, do you think dreadmill? We get it. The scenery is monotonous, there’s no fresh air or sunshine, and if you slog through the same workout every time, the tedium is real. But here’s the thing: with the right plan, treadmills can offer much needed variety and even a burst of motivation. And with the days getting hotter and the sun getting stronger, there’s no better time to experiment.

Just ask Lisa Rainsberger, the 1985 Boston Marathon champ (and mom of current top varsity miler Katie Rainsberger). Rainsberger swore by treadmill training to survive long Michigan winters growing up. “My old treadmill lasted 14 years, two marriages, and moves to four states!” she says with a laugh. She specifically credits it as an awesome tool for interval training, which science shows can boost metabolism, increase strength, and – if spring racing is your goal – improve speed.