When running on the treadmill there are three things that can influence your mind and disrupt your run; time, speed, and distance. How long you run, how fast you run, and how far you run. Covering the console allows you to block out the technical aspect of your run and lets you fully absorb in the experience and disappear in your thoughts. Tips to consider while you cover the console include:

1. Time – If you run on time, for example, 30, 40, 60 minutes, cover the console and run as long as you feel good and then go just a little further before you look down. When you finally look at the console decide whether or not you want to keep on running or push the stop button and towel off. More often than not, you will surprise yourself and run longer than expected.

2. Speed – Start out your run by pressing the speed up button without looking at how fast it’s getting. Stop pressing the button when you are running at a comfortable pace. Either keep that pace throughout the run or slowly speed up (without looking) as you feel. When you are finished with your run you can see what the average speed of your run is if you want or not look and just feel good about getting in your run.

3. Distance – Just like with time, run as long as you feel good and then go just a little bit more. When you feel that you are finished you can push the stop button and see how far your went. If you are a typically precise runner and look down and see 5.8, for example, go the extra .2 to get your 6 and then stop.

Although your treadmills console is a great tool for calculating everything about your run, checking it every so often can become distracting and discouraging. Covering the console and disappearing in your thoughts or just turning off your mind can be a great experience and lead to a promising run. Your body knows how to run and stay on the treadmill because you have done it so much and made it an automatic behavior. So cover the console and let nothing else exist except the place you take your mind running.