Training on the treadmill is a fantastic way to stay consistent with your training all year round.
But pounding the belt day in and day out can get boring—pretty fast.
Don’t lose hope.
With the right tools and mindset, you can make treadmill training something to look forward to.
One way to get the most out of your treadmill runs is to use one of the many running apps available.
A lot of companies have started in recent years to develop apps that make treadmill training much more fun and challenging.
You can find apps that encourage you to reach your running goals.
You can even participate in group run classes from the comfort of your home, and so much more.
Want to try some of these running apps on your own?
Then you’re in the right place.
In today’s post, I’ve separated the wheat from the chaff and am sharing five apps that will take your indoor runs up a gear.
They’ll motivate you to hit the belt again and again
1. Zwift
Want to be taken into a virtual reality world?
Then Zwift is all you need.
Zwift lets you run in Watopia, complete with the road, trails, sand, jungle, volcanoes, and the countryside, plus routes in New York, London, among others.
You can choose from 5 virtual worlds and with over 80 routes.
However, there’s a downside.
This running app requires a bit more accessories to help provide you with accurate feedback on cadence and speed.
First, you’ll need to bring up the app on your phone, tablet, laptop, or tv.
You’ll also need a footpad to monitor your cadence and heart rate monitor.
Additional Source – Check this treadmill pace chart
2. Nike+ Run Club
This app has been around for a long time, and it keeps on getting better.
You can find within the Nike + Run Club app more than 50 guided runs—some of which are led by Nike superstars, such as Shalane Flanagan and Eliud Kipchoge.
You can also choose from six running routines, specifically tailored for the treadmill.
The sessions are roughly 15 to 20 minutes long and come with audio instructions—for everything from speed and incline settings to encouraging tips.
What’s more?
By setting your running surface, the app monitors your pace, time, distance, and calorie burn.
The instructions provide good suggestions on how fast or had you should go, so it’s a good idea to know your training and recovery paces beforehand.
What’s more?
You can also link the app with other Nike products, like the Fuel band, load up on Nike Fuel.
Additional resource – Strava for runners
3. Peloton Digital
Looking to live-stream your treadmill workouts?
This app is for you, especially if you love the energy of group classes.
You can find more than 170 Tread Studio live on-demand running classes that range from 15 to 60 minutes long.
These routines cover everything from recovery runs to interval workouts and hill reps.
You can also filter by class type, duration, difficulty, instructor, or music genre.
The app also has also other types of guided training, such as stretching yoga, walking, and boot camp, and other exercises that require no equipment at all.
Additional Resource – When to replace a treadmill belt
4. Zombies! Run
Looking to turn your treadmill runs into a horror movie adventure with zombies?
Try Zombies.
Run! App.
The app comes with basic features you’d expect in a running app, but it’s also a multi-player game, taking place in a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombies.
Zombies! Run is straightforward.
You set it up, put on your earbuds, and start playing one of the 60 missions.
You begin by walking, or running, then as soon as you hear zombies approaching, you run for your life.
5. Ghost Race
Ghost Race may seem to have a lot in common with Zombies, Run! But the ghost here isn’t much of a supernatural entity but a virtual body you create before each workout to compete against.
This created entity is crafted based on your pace, distance, and time, though you can re-adjust to push yourself even harder.
The app also allows you to monitor your times on different surfaces and compare your performance from day-to-day.
It also keeps you updated on your growth against your ghost in real-time.
What’s more?
You can also save previously running times and then race against those during future training sessions.
When you fail to keep up your previous time, a “ghost” will manifest in front of you, moving at a faster pace.
Conclusion
There you have it.
Using running apps, like the ones mentioned above, is one of the best ways to make treadmill training more fun and less boring.
Now it’s up to you to download the apps and start training.
The rest is just details.
Please feel free to leave your comments and questions in the section below.
In the meantime, thank you for dropping by.
Keep training strong.