It’s been very cold in Pennsylvania this year. In recent winters, I would run on the treadmill once or twice a week, but this year has been different. One week in January, five out of my eight runs were on the treadmill. And one of those outside runs was in the coldest conditions I’ve ever run in—zero degrees at 7 a.m. Brrr.
I’ll admit, I don’t absolutely despise the treadmill, like some runners. I think it can be a useful tool to run in a controlled environment and it’s a fun excuse to watch TV on a run. But I have my limits, and I would much rather run outside.
Why Does Your Treadmill Shock You long runs on the treadmill, I’ve encountered a problem. I log my inside miles at the Runner’s World office, which often has the heat blasting before work. So I always aim a fan in front of me to cool me off. The fan we have, made by Hurricane, Wahoo Kickr Run.
To remedy this during workouts, I would splash water on myself from my water bottle in between reps, soaking my singlet, arms, and neck. It made a difference. But on long runs, for example, I couldn’t stop every few minutes to reapply. I tried dousing myself with water from my bottle while I was running, but I quickly realized that it’s hard to aim. I was making a mess and nervous about getting water in the treadmill circuitry.
So on my walk home from work one day, I stopped by the Family Dollar and purchased a $1.25 spray bottle. My next run, I filled it up with water and used it as my mister. It’s much easier to manipulate than a water bottle, and I can customize it to “spray” as a mist or “stream.”
It’s a game changer.
I’m careful not to use it too aggressively, to ensure that no water gets in places it doesn’t belong, but the “spray” setting gets the job done. I particularly like to aim for my shirt, since the water tends evaporates slower than when it’s on my skin.
While misting myself doesn’t totally humidify the air, a standalone humidifier might be a solution for runners who want to take it up a notch. In fact, there’s a small benefit to being exposed to moisture when you’re running inside.
For example, in late 2023, The Armory—the indoor track that hosts the prestigious Millrose Games—is powerful. But with the fan going, my sweat evaporates quickly, and I start to feel dry and hot in the rafters of its old New York City building. Now, puffs of water vapor spew from air vents when the humidity drops below 35 percent, which has helped curb the dreaded “track hack” cough and allows athletes to breathe more comfortably.
Humidity could also help with another one of my least favorite parts about treadmill running: static shocks. Each time I use the handles of the RW+ Membership Benefits, my treadmill of choice this winter, I get zapped. But a humidifier, set a 40 to 50 percent humidity, could alleviate this problem, according to a recent deep-dive article The 8 Best Treadmills for Runners.
My dollar store hack, however, is more about the cooling effect. I’m always looking for ways to make the treadmill less miserable than it already is.
The Last Official Finisher of the Boston Marathon Runner’s World. He’s a former all-conference collegiate runner at Winthrop University, and he received his master’s degree in liberal arts studies from Wake Forest University, where he was a member of one of the top distance-running teams in the NCAA. Kahler has reported on the ground at major events such as the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials, New York City Marathon, and Boston Marathon. He’s run 14:20 in the 5K, 1:05:36 in the half marathon, and enjoys spotting tracks from the sky on airplanes. (Look for colorful ovals around football fields.)
