Question: Need some ideas on practicing the major scale instead of just running up and down in a box pattern.

Answer:
Contributor: JonR

Practise in thirds.
I.e, instead of running up 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1 and own again(yeah, boring ain't it?), go up 1-3,2-4,3-5,4-6...etc.

Then try 4ths: 1-4,2-5,3-6, etc.

Then sets of 3: 1-2-3, 2-3-4, 3-4-5.

Or sets of 4, maybe staggered so you don't start on the downbeat: 1-2-3, 2-3-4-5, 3-4-5-6.

Combine upward leaps with downward runs: 1-5-4-3,2-6-5-4,3-7-6-5, etc. - and vice versa: 1-6-7-1, 2-7-1-2, 3-1-2-3, 4-2-3-4, etc.

I'm sure you can work out your own variations. Be strict with yourself about getting each one right (it can be tricky), and make sure you come down the scale in the same patterns too. (E.g. 1-7-6,7-6-5,6-5-4, etc)
Go slow and even, get it right and clean, build up speed gradually.
Most of these things make your practise sessions more musical-sounding, and can even give you ideas for solo licks.

And do the same thing for every position of the major scale, right up the neck. Remember the box patterns link up into one "grand scale" - so practice linking one to the next, and learn where the root notes are.

Also, get familiar with the relevant chord shapes for each scale, and check how they fit together.

Lastly - don't get too fixated on scale practice!
When it gets boring, start jamming to CDs, playing anything, just hunt for notes that sound OK. Don't let music become a mechanical exercise: as long as you're playing ANYTHING, you're improving (finger skills and listening skills).
In a way, it doesn't matter what you play, as long as you enjoy it. If you enjoy what you're doing, or if you have a specific goal (eg learning a particular solo) you'll practise till it hurts. So that's the only time you stop: either it gets boring, or it starts hurting (or someone tells you to "shut the fuck up!":-)). Then you stop. (Or tell them to shut the fuck up, depends who they are I guess...)

JonR