Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Options
Treadmill lovers anyone?
![[Deleted User]](https://w1.vanillicon.com/16bb0aeb47b4d45daa73c5ab1594455e_100.png)
What is the general consensus out there on treadmills?
Personally, I wouldn't have started running if it wasn't because of the treadmills down the gym. We now have our own (works out long term cheaper than gym costs) I've been running for a little over 4 months, I do outside running as well and can do 10k in around 45 mins. 4 months ago, I struggled with 3k.
For all those treadmill loathers out there saying it's not the same as the road because of wind etc. no, it's as hard or as easy as you wish. I agree with general opinion that you shouldn't run on less than 1% incline. But try 3%. That's relentless. Road is easier, even grass. At least on the road if there are uphills you also get downhills to recover. On the treadmill you can have up or less up.
Is my opinion unique in this?
Personally, I wouldn't have started running if it wasn't because of the treadmills down the gym. We now have our own (works out long term cheaper than gym costs) I've been running for a little over 4 months, I do outside running as well and can do 10k in around 45 mins. 4 months ago, I struggled with 3k.
For all those treadmill loathers out there saying it's not the same as the road because of wind etc. no, it's as hard or as easy as you wish. I agree with general opinion that you shouldn't run on less than 1% incline. But try 3%. That's relentless. Road is easier, even grass. At least on the road if there are uphills you also get downhills to recover. On the treadmill you can have up or less up.
Is my opinion unique in this?
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
They're yuckety yuck!!
I admit, you've got to have decent music but even so it's hard to stop your mind getting mashed, so I tend not to do longer runs on it. But it's sooooo convenient, especially when it's cold and wet and miserable outside.
Stylish
Variety. Spice of life and all that.
Also ideal for anyone not comfortable with running alone in the dark.
a) they're fairly easy on the legs
b) good for keeping a steady pace
c) great option when the elements conspire against you.
Helps that my apartment gym has the treadmills overlooking NY harbour
I think running on treadmills as someone said can be as hard or as easy as you like. The only gripe i've got with them is that they can at times be very boring and at the gym i could only run for 20 minutes at the most, maybe twice in a session, tops!!
David, we did a lot of research on treadmills and have got a Trimline T335HR, it's about the best value for money one out there and you should be able to get it online for about £1200. It goes up to 18kph and has an extra long running belt, a firm deck (not bouncy) so more akin to the road. John Lewis have got it so you can test it out there. Definitely recommend it. I've found most of the Lifefitness ones only go up to 16kph and are quite bouncy - not good.
I'd say the only problem with them is that they are limited to how long you can spend on them at busy times in the gym, but if you go when it isn't busy you can run forest run!
I have run outside on several occasions, but i can't find a place with suitable surface that isn't covered in dog pooh, or full of gangs of kids, or long straight and boring!
If I could plonk a tready outside in the cool (maybe in my garden - but that would look a bit odd!!), I'd happily use one.
Just a thought - the ones at my gym can only be used up to an hour, is this a standard thing with tready's or can you programme them for say, two hours? Just curious.
My sister bought a tready through ebay - she paid about £1200 for hers.
i love em, gonna use one to train for a mountain top marathon finish race next year, last 17km=1650mtrs climb.
you just cant get that on the roads in england. especially in the south.
x
Can anyone tell me where I can get a good one, say at a good price (say around £700)
I did buy one off ebay that was a return, but I had lots of trouble with it, so it is going back.
I want one for bad days (ie snow, strong wind), so that it doesn't stop my fitness.
I gave up on the gym some time ago, as I hated having to wait to get onto a machine for a run for 10 to 15 minutes.
Any other question: Can you keep treadmills in the garage?
Yes, I know it's really sad!
Especially when having to do the 20+ mile training runs for a marathon! And that there's a whole big & beautiful world out there to explore, but I have a long history of persistant knee problems.
So, training on TM's & any other softer surfaces, offers me my best chance of training for my races & actually making it to the start line pain free!
TTT.
The other good points about TM's - on a less personal note - is that all your running is both accurately measured and at an even and constant pace.
The latter being a good means of training for 'educating' your body to conserve energy and, for example, avoid setting off too quickly in your races.
TTT.
I used to get really peed off in the gym with people hogging the treadmills all night WALKING at 5kph, do any of you find that too?
Mighty K - I wouldn't buy a 2nd hand or recon treadmill, you won't have all the warranties. We just had our Trimline T335 exchanged as it kept slipping and they couldn't fix it, must say, their service has been brilliant and the new machine is great.
Its certainly easier to run at a fast pace for a long time on them mind. a 6 min mile on a treader is nothing like a 6 min mile on the road.
Although I dont use gyms normally I do use them when im in a hotel and it has a treadmill just for the novelty factor - I have always wondered how long you would have to be able to run on one with it flat out to break it, some of the ones I have used in hotels sound distinctly distressed after 40 mins wound out as fast as they will go.
What do you mean they're shite for strengthening the legs?!? Try at least 3% incline. They're only cardio vascular workouts at 1% or less. Run at 4 or 5% then tell me they do nothing for your legs! Not only legs but hell on the shoulders too.
What I meant was they dont strengthen the legs well enough to use them as a sizeable part of your training for running races becuase of the moving belt - you dont have the resistance through the legs that you have when pushing away from a stationary surface - you can hold a fast pace just by picking your feet up, or thats how it feels to me anyway.
Its not half as hard on the legs - which is why you can hold a fast pace for longer periods on a treadmill. Doesnt mean it isnt very tiring and a good workout though, just that to me it seems almost more like skipping than it does running.
If you get too tired you can just stop, you don't have to run all the way back home.
I've only been running/stumbling for about 3 months, so I am pretty rubbish at the minute but totally hooked. Three cheers for the treadmill!!!!
Treadmills are a good training aid, not the whole story, but I don't like wet and cold and dark, so especially in winter, treadmill wins.
On Friday I had a bad training session at the gym, I was too tired, lack of food, lack of sleep and all that stuff. I ran on the treadmill for a short while then walked on 8% incline, my legs were burning. I felt that even though I couldn't run for that long I still had a great workout - i'm with you girl!
I think from the above comments it is clear that a treadmill can form a very useful part of a running schedule with its consistency of pace, accurate measure of time and speed etc, also the safety/inclement weather factor. I carry out one of my main runs each week (speed session) on a TM.
However, pacewise, as Jason says you can't compare TM's to the road, only compare against themselves. I have tested this (on the TM flat) and found a difference of 2-3 minutes (with a treadmill being faster.)
Jenny i think you are right, a 3% incline would make it very tough, and i am sure provide another type of leg strengthening.
Interestingly Runners World have many times said that to equalise the two types of running the TM should be set at 1% gradient. Does any think that is accurate.
I have just done a 10k on the flat in decent conditions and would be interested to trial a 10k on the running machine at 1%
Bit anorakish s'pose
Doylie
This might be interesting - a table of time comparisons between treadmill inclines and road, what the real anoraks reckon. Very interesting that the faster you go it seems the more you have to up the incline to compare it to road. Anyone got any thoughts as to why?
www.trinewbies.com/run_treadmill_chart.asp
Jenny very interesting site, thank you
Also explains why the person on the other tredmill thread only managed 20 minutes at 2% gradient.
Doylie
Jason - ideally (by which I mean on a tready which doesn't slow at all when you land your foot), and neglecting flatness/hardness of road etc, the ONLY difference between tready and road is wind resistance. Thus the tready is identical to running on the road with a tailwind equal to your own speed. The idea of the moving belt doing work for you is all in the mind.
I may have phrased that badly!