One of my favorite quick conditioning workouts is the Tabata protocol performed on a treadmill. Tabata is as Japanese sports scientist who came up with the protocol while conducting his research on competitive speed skaters. While the protocol is brief (only several minutes) in length, it is brutally hard and effective, and resulted in some of the larges increases in aerobic capacity (among other physical performance indicators) ever recorded. Although the original protocol was performed on a stationary bike, we can take the principles and apply it to any form of conditioning activity, and I think it works well using a treadmill.
After a 5:00 progressive warm-up, dismount the treadmill and set it at a speed and grade which you subjectively feel would only allow you to run for about 1:00 before you were completely exhausted and could not continue. Dial yourself in mentally, and get back on the treadmill. Sprint for 20 seconds before dismounting to the side decks. Rest for exactly 10 seconds before again performing another 20 second sprint. Continue in this format until you have completed 8 20 second sets. The entire protocol, excluding warm-up, will last 4 minutes. If you selected an appropriate level of intensity (speed and grade), you should have no desire to perform more work. This is meant to be extremely demanding, so make sure you don't go easy on yourself with this one. In fact, expect to forced to lie down on the floor panting when you are finished.
If you are strapped for time, this little dandy is perfect...again, just expect a lot out of yourself and go hard. Doing this routine 3 days/week will deliver great results, especially in terms of your conditioning and work capacity. Also, although the protocol may not burn a great number of calories during the actual workout (due to it's brevity), rest assured it will keep your metabolism way up for hours afterwards...the extreme intensity creates a great metabolic disturbance.
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