Improving run speed is one such benefit. I track the majority of my runs on my Apple Watch so I can keep tabs on my speed and overall performance. There have been several times where I have plateaued with my outdoor run speed, unable to go quicker.

This is where the trusty treadmill comes in. By setting a speed, your legs have to keep up, as opposed to your legs dictating the speed when running outside. If, say, your current half marathon time is two hours, but you really want to start sliding into the 1 hour 55 mark, then you would set your treadmill speed accordingly. Naturally, don’t be optimistic and try to cut half an hour off your time in one hit… you might struggle to keep up with the speed.

I also love long-distance treadmill runs for the fact that they allow me to play around with the incline, so I can challenge myself a little bit more and almost make my body overly-prepared for a long-distance outdoor run.

Again, hear me out. The thought of running a half or full marathon outside can fill many of us with dread especially if there are hills involved. By mimicking these inclines on the treadmill at a set pace, your body starts to become accustomed. By exaggerating the inclines, you can be sure that when it comes to race day, you might actually find your run slightly easier than you envisaged.

All in all, whilst even the thought of a long-distance treadmill run might fill you with fear, it’s definitely something I would encourage, even if it’s just an occasional thing. You might just find you enjoy it.

“Why the boredom of long distance treadmill running is so good for my mental health”