Curious about treadmills
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If you do a search on the slowtwitch.com forums, there are a lot of serious treadmill users. I saw a few on our local craigslist that were of good quality, it seems like you need to drop $1000 for something decent, they do take a beating and one with a weak motor will tend to "bog" when you land.
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I have run on a treadmill very few times, but wanted to try it today as I had some intervals planned and it is icy around here. I ran my workout at the pace I wanted and my heartrate was about what I expected. I'm curious if the treadmill is seen as a decent tool for speedwork? I don't feel as banged up for sure.
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You'll probably get about a bizillion opinions on this. There's some good factual stuff <a href="http://coolrunningnewbie.pbwiki.com/TheMovingBelt" target="_blank">here</a>.<br><br>
In my personal opinion, there are advantages (it's easy to keep a steady pace, the surface is more forgiving than a road, weather is not a factor, etc.) and some disadvantages (shorter stride, less "specific" training", scenery never changes, etc.). I use the mill when I <i>have to</i> but get outdoors at every opportunity.
In my personal opinion, there are advantages (it's easy to keep a steady pace, the surface is more forgiving than a road, weather is not a factor, etc.) and some disadvantages (shorter stride, less "specific" training", scenery never changes, etc.). I use the mill when I <i>have to</i> but get outdoors at every opportunity.
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Yes, you'll get many opinions, and this is from someone who hates dreadmills.<br><br>
I see no point in long runs on the TM, since the running is a bit different and you don't simulate the real road conditions. But I think they might be a bit useful if you try speedwork or high intensity workouts. That is, when you don't focus on running endurance, or adapting your legs to longer running.<br><br>
If you go for speed, it might teach you move your legs very fast, for short intervals. Also, if you do intervals, it can help with heart rate training. This is where I find it most useful, when I can't run outside: doing intervals with very fast running and high heart rate.
I see no point in long runs on the TM, since the running is a bit different and you don't simulate the real road conditions. But I think they might be a bit useful if you try speedwork or high intensity workouts. That is, when you don't focus on running endurance, or adapting your legs to longer running.<br><br>
If you go for speed, it might teach you move your legs very fast, for short intervals. Also, if you do intervals, it can help with heart rate training. This is where I find it most useful, when I can't run outside: doing intervals with very fast running and high heart rate.
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The one thing I love about dreadmills for speedwork is there is no guess work in how fast you are going. While training for my HM this fall (before the stress fracture) I had very specific speedwork and I personally don't feel like an experienced enough runner to know for sure how fast 9 minute miles are or 9:15 min miles are, etc etc and my training had me doing lots of things that involved very intricate timing. I liked the dreadmill for that.
Does anyone else feel like their stride is shorter on the treadmill vs. the track or outdoors in general? When I'm doing intervals around the track, I can feel my stride lengthen out as I turn onto the straightaways. I never feel like that on the treadmill.
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I'm considering buying a treadmill because I'm tired of the weather foiling my plans to run outdoors. I don't want to run indoors, but I want to make sure I can get my mileage in. I've never actually run on one though. They range in price significantly though. I wouldn't want something fancy, but I don't want a piece of crap that falls apart either. Any advice?
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For short intervals, you can use a track. Know your target split for 200m and practice hitting it every half lap. It takes some practice but you'll be amazed at how accurate you can get.<br><br>
Yes. This is a documented phenomenon. A good reason to not do too many miles on the mill.
Yes. This is a documented phenomenon. A good reason to not do too many miles on the mill.
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I use the treadmill a fair amount due to weather and night time running. I almost always do interval work either speed or hills because otherwise it is too boring. I think it is a good tool for moderate intervals. I find it difficult to really run fast I think that is because I tend to lengthen my stride alot when I run outside on the track (which I prefer) I think the treadmill is great for hill intervals because you can choose the difficulty while forcing yourself to maintain a certain pace.
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I love the mill. It doesn't care if you tired or want to slow, you go because the belt below is spinning. The surface is very forgiving so the chances of fractures is much lighter. The weather doesn't change, so if your HR training you know what your gonna get at each workout. You know your speed at all times. If you are to tired to continue or get a pain, you can stop and not have to walk 10 miles back home. It's safe, your indoors.<br><br>
CS
CS
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I definitely use it for speek work and hills year round (it's not hilly where I live), the quality to me has been better than going to the track. There is a definite benefit to not beating up your legs while doing speed work on the TM.<br><br>
I try to avoid it on long runs at all costs however.
I try to avoid it on long runs at all costs however.
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Edited to add: Sorry if this is off-topic. For some reason this thread showed up completely out of order for me, so I couldn't tell who was the original poster. First thought it was CS and that's who I was responding to, now realize it is JR and my response is off topic.<br><br>
I used to hate the dreadmill. Now I only slightly despise it and grudgingly admit that it is sometimes an effective tool.<br><br>
I love running outdoors. I spend most of my life indoors. I've lived in cold-weather climates most of my life, which means I go from a heated home to heated car (well, heated after 15 minutes) to a heated office. Running is one of the few opportunities I have to commune with nature. Its one reason I love trail running more than road running. The crunch of snow under your feet is music to my ears. I love running at night, under the stars. It reminds me that I'm a pretty small part of a huge universe, a universe that is full of amazing things. Even better was growing up in Alaska and having the aurora Borealis dance and crackle in the sky I ran. The feeling you get when you first step outside and take that deep breath of frigid air reminds me that I still have the potential to be really alive.<br><br>
Running outdoors in the winter reminds me that I'm tougher than I give myself credit for. When it's 10 deg F and I'm cursing as I scrape my truck windows, I remind myself that I've done 20 mile runs at -30 deg F. When I run outdoors, the stress of the day just melts away as the miles go by. For some reason when I run outdoors my mind is able to wander in a great way that I can't do on the treadmill. Before I know it, I've run for an hour.<br><br>
When the weather or footing just isn't conducive to the workout on my schedule, I'll head in for a dreadmill workout. But the pure joy and love just isn't the same as when I'm outdoor. I wandered into my health club last week from a run when the temperatures were in the low 40's and saw that the line of dreadmills was full. My first thought was 'what the hell is wrong with these people, it's beautiful out there!'. It's great that they are exercising, but I just don't understand how anyone could want to run on the dreadmill when they could be outside. Maybe that's my loss. To each their own I suppose.<br><br>
I'll whine about the winter with the best of them (I did so in today's workout thread), but in the end running outside is one of the things that gets me through the winters.<br><br>
Mike
I used to hate the dreadmill. Now I only slightly despise it and grudgingly admit that it is sometimes an effective tool.<br><br>
I love running outdoors. I spend most of my life indoors. I've lived in cold-weather climates most of my life, which means I go from a heated home to heated car (well, heated after 15 minutes) to a heated office. Running is one of the few opportunities I have to commune with nature. Its one reason I love trail running more than road running. The crunch of snow under your feet is music to my ears. I love running at night, under the stars. It reminds me that I'm a pretty small part of a huge universe, a universe that is full of amazing things. Even better was growing up in Alaska and having the aurora Borealis dance and crackle in the sky I ran. The feeling you get when you first step outside and take that deep breath of frigid air reminds me that I still have the potential to be really alive.<br><br>
Running outdoors in the winter reminds me that I'm tougher than I give myself credit for. When it's 10 deg F and I'm cursing as I scrape my truck windows, I remind myself that I've done 20 mile runs at -30 deg F. When I run outdoors, the stress of the day just melts away as the miles go by. For some reason when I run outdoors my mind is able to wander in a great way that I can't do on the treadmill. Before I know it, I've run for an hour.<br><br>
When the weather or footing just isn't conducive to the workout on my schedule, I'll head in for a dreadmill workout. But the pure joy and love just isn't the same as when I'm outdoor. I wandered into my health club last week from a run when the temperatures were in the low 40's and saw that the line of dreadmills was full. My first thought was 'what the hell is wrong with these people, it's beautiful out there!'. It's great that they are exercising, but I just don't understand how anyone could want to run on the dreadmill when they could be outside. Maybe that's my loss. To each their own I suppose.<br><br>
I'll whine about the winter with the best of them (I did so in today's workout thread), but in the end running outside is one of the things that gets me through the winters.<br><br>
Mike
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I use the treadmill about once a week....I find my knees feel a lot better and I DO like to do speedwork on it...first, because it makes the treadmill less boring, and second, because like Kristine said, I can go specific speeds. I do think it's important to keep that 1 percent incline set at all times, though, to simulate outdoor running.<br><br>
Whoever asked about buying one....Consumer Reports rates them every so often...you can check online. There's also another online site that rates them, but I can't remember the name. Dr. something? You can google for treadmill ratings, I'm sure and find something. Good ones (for running) are expensive. There are HP requirements on the motor, and you want a good warranty (good treadmills come with nice long warranties on the motors. You shouldn't have to buy an extended warranty). If you can, go somewhere that you can actually run on it in the store before buying.
Whoever asked about buying one....Consumer Reports rates them every so often...you can check online. There's also another online site that rates them, but I can't remember the name. Dr. something? You can google for treadmill ratings, I'm sure and find something. Good ones (for running) are expensive. There are HP requirements on the motor, and you want a good warranty (good treadmills come with nice long warranties on the motors. You shouldn't have to buy an extended warranty). If you can, go somewhere that you can actually run on it in the store before buying.
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<a href="http://www.treadmilldoctor.com" target="_blank">www.treadmilldoctor.com</a><br><br>
They have 2008 reviews up.
They have 2008 reviews up.
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6,300 Posts
I've got three pluses with the treadmill:<br><br>
one, I'm just starting out with running, so a treadmill allows me to pick a pace and stay at it. I find that I work harder if I have to make a conscious choice to slow down (ie, lowering a speed setting) than if I can just back off a little bit.<br><br>
two, I have exercise and cold induced asthma, so as much as I love winter and love the outdoors, I need to limit my time out there, at least until I am back in better shape and my lungs are stronger<br><br>
three, I don't live in the safest of towns, so I get wicked nervous running by myself in the dark (either early am or evening).<br><br>
once it warms up, I'll run in boston at lunch, and by then I'll have a little bit more feel for consistent paces.<br><br>
(definitely don't buy a treadmill without running on it - on the cheap ones, sometimes the belt slips a little as you land. Not the safest thing)
one, I'm just starting out with running, so a treadmill allows me to pick a pace and stay at it. I find that I work harder if I have to make a conscious choice to slow down (ie, lowering a speed setting) than if I can just back off a little bit.<br><br>
two, I have exercise and cold induced asthma, so as much as I love winter and love the outdoors, I need to limit my time out there, at least until I am back in better shape and my lungs are stronger<br><br>
three, I don't live in the safest of towns, so I get wicked nervous running by myself in the dark (either early am or evening).<br><br>
once it warms up, I'll run in boston at lunch, and by then I'll have a little bit more feel for consistent paces.<br><br>
(definitely don't buy a treadmill without running on it - on the cheap ones, sometimes the belt slips a little as you land. Not the safest thing)
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Outdoors or treadmill -- it's better than sitting on the couch.
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I could see this as a double edged sword. CC almost never lets me run "by pace" but rather "by zone" (HR). The purpose being if you FORCE a pace you increase risk of injury if the body isn't as ready as the mind is. Food for thought.<br><br>
I am a recent treadmill convert. I don't LOVE it, but I no longer HATE it. This winter forced my hand both from time constraints (it was dreadmill or nothing - due to transition times bundling/unbundling) and weather (we've had like 14 days under 0 this year so far) and ice (lots) have forced me inside. I've done MOSTLY inside this year, for a change.
I am a recent treadmill convert. I don't LOVE it, but I no longer HATE it. This winter forced my hand both from time constraints (it was dreadmill or nothing - due to transition times bundling/unbundling) and weather (we've had like 14 days under 0 this year so far) and ice (lots) have forced me inside. I've done MOSTLY inside this year, for a change.
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Thank you, that's a great link. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">
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