There are several things I rely on for distraction at the gym:
1. All the way from Memphis, Tennessee...Justin (oooo) Timberlake: Justified is my go-to gym playlist, what with it's being awesome and all. I have a hard time containing my desire to sing along, especially with Senorita (I don't know what I'm thinkin' 'bout, really leavin' with you!). Naturally, his other albums are great, but Justified remains my gym anthem.
2. Law and Order: Any incarnation will do. My sister and I developed a (likely unoriginal) theory wherein Law and Order plays 24 hours a day, if one is able to switch between various networks. It's dependability is great, but the format is what makes Law and Order perfect for gym-viewing: each episode begins with a crime, various detectives follow leads to solve the crime, and the (usually lovely and young female) DA tries the perp - no backstory or emotional investment required. Perfect for taking the mind off the stair-stepper thingy.
3. US Weekly: Fortunately, most gyms are willing to absorb the cost of feeding tabloid obsession. The mindless stories, fashion "oops"es, and my favorite, "Who Wore it Best"s are just distracting enough to make me forget that I'm only a mile into my three-mile run.
4. Listening to other people's conversations: is a really bad habit that I should stop, but I just can't. It's too much fun making up backstory for the lady in the all-denim tracksuit with zippers at the ankles (she was telling her friend about how much she loves some sci-fi show on BBC America and she kept reiterating that it was on the BBC America channel. I was counting down until she called it The Beeb.)
