The Walking Desk

BookOfJoe started it for me--working at my computer while walking slowly on a treadmill.
Update: WordsRocked question made me realize that you couldn't see the speed setting on the treadmill.  I've been experimenting--0.5 MPH is too slow, 0.8 is a bit fast for me.  0.7 MPH is just about right.  You are pretty much walking in place.

Here's the view from behind.  I used a Rubbermaid shelf as the base of the desk.  I might trim the excess, then again I might not.  Turns out it's handy for papers I might need to refer to.

When I ordered the treadmill, I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do to attach the desk.  This turns out to work pretty well, using little velcro ties.  The bottom rests on the raised speed controls.  It's pretty stable.  I can adjust the speed with the controls on right (the left hand control is for elevation).

So here you go--Joe's Treadmill Posts

Working and Walking January 31 2005
Walk Don't Run October 12, 2005
Treadmill Hyperspace October 22 2005
Reading and Walking October 23 2005
Treadmill Desk Version 1.0 December 22, 2005
A Treadmill in the OR? January 11, 2006
Laptop Stand for version 2.0 January 22, 2006
Treadmill Dancing February 3, 2006
Working and Walking February 7 2006
Treadmill Desk Version 2.0 February 17, 2006
How to Calibrate A Treadmill February 21, 2006
Treadmill Dancing #2 February 28, 2006
Treadmill Dancing #3 April 10 2006

Walking While Working--Squidoo

Here's a before image taken May 6, 2006.  Let's see what a couple of weeks' walking will do for the heinie.
Technorati tags exercise treadmill bookofjoe Desk treadmill desk

Comments

[Suzanne]

I find this fascinating. Typing and walking? Computing while exercising? Any problem keeping your keys on the keyboard?

And fwiw, I think your "heinie" looks fine already. :)

[Suzanne]

Of course, by "keys" what I really meant was "fingers" ... doh!

[liz]

No problem keeping the fingers on the keyboard, as I'm walking so slowly--but I am making more typos. Also I feel a bit dizzy when I first get off the treadmill, like you do when you get off a boat.

And thanks! Flirting is fun.

[Ennis]

0.7 miles is the same speed that the doctor at the Mayo clinic (the one who came up with the idea) also uses. I can imagine reading at that speed, but reading things online is harder. I can imagine writing (with difficulty), but imagining typing is harder. Still, all the others do type at this speed, so I imagine you will as well.

[Kristina Chew]

I've dropped my iPod while running, how do you secure a laptop?!!!?

Happy Mother's Day, to a great mom and an inspiring blogger!

[V.]

Hello, fellow treadmill desker! Just curious how it's working out for you. Please feel free to check out my blog about my walking desk experiences and leave me a comment about how your desk is working. Thanks -- V.

[David Montgomery]

Hi, I've recently put together my first walking desk, and I'm loving it. At 1.1 mph, I can still type and read my PC monitor quite effectively! The only bad part for me is that my NordicTrack C2050 seems to have a built-in 'immediate halt' feature that kicks in as soon as the treadmill reaches 100 continuous minutes of use (the time display only has two-digits for minutes). Since I'm walking 8+ hours a day at work, this is happening to me more frequently than I would like... Has anyone else using a NordicTrack as their walking desk platform had a similar problem?

[JohnC]

I recently got a product called The Net Runner for $99 from www.TheNetRunner.com which accomplishes the same thing for those of us who are not so crafty or too lazy to make one ourselves...

[Josh Simms]

The WalkStation I have been reading about works but at $6500, it better. The concept is simple really. We are built to walk, not sit. Combine that with all the medical studies showing that walking reduces your chances of contracting just about every major health ailment it is a no brainer we should be doing more. But when? Who has the time? That is the beauty of a treadmill desk. I found one at www.trekdesk called the TrekDesk that will much more affordable and even incorporates an exercise ball chair so you don't need an additional desk and chair in your office. Cool!

[susan]

This sounds so interesting.

How many hours a day are sitting, on average? Please respond.

[Josh]

just hit the 75 mile mark on my desk. I love it!!

http://walkandwork.blogspot.com/

[Jeff E]

I found a treadmill shelf called surfshelf at www.surfshelf.com. Looks like the cheapest and easiest to use shelf i've found. And on their website they have links to a website called In-gym.com where you can watch tv while you're walking or running. I think I'll try it... i'll post again once I receive it.

[Maggie]

I found that bracing your laptop against the treadmill made it vibrate more than I thought was healthy. So I put boards between two facing bookcases, velcro'd a wireless keyboard on the lower one, put the laptop on a rectangular board screwed into the upper board, with small braces to keep it from slipping off. Then I velcro'd a small harddrive and a tiny lamp on the board beside the laptop. A printer on a table to the left, a small TV and radio on a shelf to the right, and I was set. Other shelves are perfect for paper, disks, desk supplies, etc.