Treadmill advice
I am thinking of buying a treadmill so I can run even when its nigh impossible outside (for example this week most days had slippery snowy goop out, probably still can run most days but coupled with how early it gets dark and how cold it is I am just not morivated most days in the winter). Biggest problem I have is that I live in an apartment, so I am scared I couldnt run cause my downstairs neighbors would hate me. Is there any way to make it work? Or does anyone have any ideas how to properly motivate myself to run in winter? I used to go running every other day and I loved it and I want to run more somehow, I barely force myself to do it like once a week now in the winter. Its just annoyingly cold before I warm up, or if I put on too many layers instead I am too sweaty after I warm up. Maybe I need better clothes?
cow stall mat + treadmill placement + your own form
it'd be worth visiting your neighbors on all sides while someone runs on the thing so you know how loud it actually is.
Seconding this. I have an elliptical, free weights + bench, and a Speediance Gym Monster in our top floor condo, and have them all set up on 7mm thick, 4x6ft rubber workout equipment mats that I got from Costco. Pic of my setup. IIRC, they were "Rubber King" brand ones, if OP is interested in getting similar. It's really quite noticeable how much they dampen the sound compared to before I had them, and so far I haven't had any complaints from the downstairs neighbors either so that's a good sign, I hope. I only work out during reasonable hours (9am cardio, 9pm weights) though, so YMMV if you work out at crazy early or late hours no matter how much you try to dampen the sound.
Unfortunately there's no real way to fix this problem; the conventional (and correct, imo) advice is to "be bold, start cold," knowing that you'll warm up eventually.
One thing that can help is to do as much warmup inside as possible. It gets the blood flowing, etc and it's not quite as bad when you do get out and start running.
Honestly I think a treadmill in an apartment is just.. bad. They're really big and really loud. Especially if you're an every-other-day runner and not someone trying to qualify for Boston or whatever.
Planet fitness has super cheap memberships?
If your apartment has a parking garage, you could run there when the weather is less than ideal. I just run laps in a visitor parking area which is essentially abandoned most of the time.
This is obviously not as nice as running outdoors (and you do have to watch out for the occasional person slowly driving through), but it's free, doesn't take up any room or require maintenance and won't disturb anyone.
If you live near any other sort of public area with a roof (park with a sheltered area, etc), it might also be possible to make it work there, but I found the parking garage to work best since it's for residents only and there aren't many people passing through.