Treadmill Positives and Negatives

Doesnt Marius Bakken do a lot of his winter training on a thread mill? If so I guess threadmill running is proven to be very useful!

Are there other top runners that use the threadmill in winter?

Is a "threadmill" a new technology?

Yes Both Ingrid Kristiansen and Marius Bakken and a lot of runners use treadmill here in Norway.

Like allways a lot of "bad physical understanding" crap appears when this topic is discussed. "the foot is pulled backwards" and things like that" The truth is: There is no real differenc!!!!!!! Whether the surface or you are moving it is physically the same thing. If you can not understand this listen; to the experts in physics. Your understanding is from several hundred years back in history!!!!!!! Have a nice day.

I do the opposite - living in South Carolina, I supplement outdoor training in the summer with treadmill stuff - I do tempos and some long runs on the mill when it is unbearably hot and humid. It worked out well for me this summer.

One thing I like about treadmills, assuming its calibrated correctly, is that it allows you to run at a specific target pace. You don't go too fast or too slow in your workouts. I also feel that it helps me with heat acclimation. I sweat like a mutha on the mill due to the lack of wind resistence.

also, christine clark from anchorage, ak, trained on one and won the OT marathon.

it's convenient, what with speed, incline and clock right under the nose plus heart rate display. it's easy to do specific workouts.

This is a post I made on another thread. It is probably more fitting here.

I have about 2 feet of snow on the ground, so the basement is where I do most of my winter running. I will admit that running on a treadmill is different, but it does not suck. If I have a bad day on the treadmill, then I was probably going to have a bad day outside as well.

My wife and I bought a state of the art $3500 treadmill (it has already paid for itself as far as I am concerned) and we both love it. I run outside as often as I can, but when the weather or darkness of winter prohibit, I head downstairs for my usual 8-10 miler. I have found that mentally, an hour on the treadmill feels exactly like an hour outside. The key is to feel fresh on the first third of your run. In the winter, if I can get an even mix of inside vs outside running then I am a happy camper.

I find it to be a great equalizer too. If I have any little nicks in the body, the treadmill usually smooths them out since it is consistant with (obviously) no corners or undulations.

Here's what I think are the essentials to successful treadmill running:

1. Short shorts and bare chest (or jog-bra for the ladies).

2. A good fan - if you aren't cool then you're a fool.

3. Music and/or TV. (I never listen to music outside though)

4. A good attitude - If you think it will suck, then it will.

5. Start at a very relaxed and easy pace until you know what kind of day you are having.

6. Don't get too reliant on the treadmill. You still need to run outside to work the stablizing muscles.

7. No video cameras!

One last note: There have been world class runners that have excelled by doing a lot of there training on the treadmill. From what I understand, their general philosophy was running is running is running. If you are putting one foot in front of the other and elevating your heart rate, then you are benefitting. I have personally found this to be true.

Josh wrote:

Just put the treadmill at 1% elevation to better simulate the correct resistance. 0% is like running downhill. It can be different - on the treadmills at my gym 1.5-2% is the right amount. You can feel it when it's right, if you pay attention.

Not true. 0% is not like running downhill. You also need to account for the lack of wind resistence. While it may make the pace seem slightly easier to some, the lack of wind will contribute to an increase in body temperature. That will raise your heart rate higher than if you were outside. So I wouldnt worry so much about the incline percentage.

Just a question. Why is it that when I run on a treadmill, the pace seems to be WAY off. When I start, an easy pace is about 13:00 min/mile, and I feel like I'm moving really fast by the time I get down to about 9:00-8:30 min/mile. Outside, I'm normally accustomed to starting at maybe 8:00 pace for a mile or two and then running 7:00 pace or faster. Why is it so different?

TC wrote:

Just a question. Why is it that when I run on a treadmill, the pace seems to be WAY off. When I start, an easy pace is about 13:00 min/mile, and I feel like I'm moving really fast by the time I get down to about 9:00-8:30 min/mile. Outside, I'm normally accustomed to starting at maybe 8:00 pace for a mile or two and then running 7:00 pace or faster. Why is it so different?

i had the same situation before i ever ran consistently on one. if i run on one a few times a week the pace seems about the same mentally. i personally don't like running sub 6 minute pace though. it feels like i'm going to fly off the back of the thing and nail the wall at any given moment!

I ran my 10k PR on a treadmill this summer - went 5 min. pace for 31:00 (my track PR is 31:13). Of course, I am aware of why the treadmill is faster (no wind resistance) but it felt wild to turn over that fast for that long. Also, I think the treadmill tends to be even faster than the roads for those of us who don't have good toe pushoff as it negates this economy problem. Also you make absolutely no pacing mistakes. I wore a HRM and it was the same effort as about a 5:05+ pace on the track in good conditions. My average HR was 161 for that 10k and this past Sunday I did an 8k time trial outdoors in 25:20 with my average HR at 160. The mill is also easier just because you can't "accidentally" slow down and for those of us who are already robot time trialers, it is even easier.

I think if you are just aware that even a well calbirated mill is going to be a bit faster than running outdoors and don't have unrealistic expectations based on it, you can do alot fo the same work. Use a HRM and you won't even have to worry about the calibration.

Ask Brandon Moen he loves them.

In the winter I love using the treadmill to straighten my body out. With trails snow covered, all runs are done on crowned roads. Causes my back, & hips to get all crooked even though I try to spend equal time on both sides. After running a couple of miles barefoot on the level treadmill I feel like a million $$$.

TC wrote:

Just a question. Why is it that when I run on a treadmill, the pace seems to be WAY off. When I start, an easy pace is about 13:00 min/mile, and I feel like I'm moving really fast by the time I get down to about 9:00-8:30 min/mile. Outside, I'm normally accustomed to starting at maybe 8:00 pace for a mile or two and then running 7:00 pace or faster. Why is it so different?

maybe you aren't running as fast as you think you are outside. not being a jerk, but i know a lot of people count their miles at 6:30 pace and they aren't going that fast.

or

maybe your strides are too short on the treadmill.

conclusive wrote:

Negatives : Treadmills suck

Positives : You don't have to run on one, get outside you pussy.

Tards, tards, tards. As someone already said, you want the best conditions for the workout you need. If you need to get in 40 minutes at 10-mile pace, and there is a blizzard going on with black ice on the roads where you live, only an idiot would avoid the treadmill out of 'pussy' fear.

Come up north where I live. While you're out compromising your workout and getting injured, I'll be staying on point all winter.

yo dawg wrote:

running on a treadmill is easier because the belt pushes your foot back for you.

Is there some sort of requirement to post on treadmills that you must have failed a physics class?

Glad to hear more positives than negatives here. It seems that the bashers have no reasonable arguments, either.

I do a fair amount of treadmill running for a lot of the reasons others have stated: bad weather, even pace, even footing, etc. The only downside is that I do it in a huge gym with at least 100 other sweating people and no fans. The lack of cooling is a bitch and definitely compensates for the lack of wind resistance.

I'm currently running all my miles on a treadmill, which is only 20 a week as I'm coming off of a stress fracture. I'm mainly doing this because I feel it is easier on my leg than the roads. I've heard others say this, too. However, I'm not sure how much of a difference it really makes. For example, is it as soft as your average synthetic track? Or is it only slightly more give than asphalt?

Treadmills are also good for getting in hill work..when you have no hills.

+ no coasting downhills you outdoor only pussies ;)

I can concur with the person above that mentioned 'how it feels like you are going much faster on a treadmill'. I only run on a treadmill once every couple months and when I do my normal pace (6:30ish) feels really quick for the first couple of miles. Personally, I think my body just isn't used to the feeling of the treadmill and so it takes a couple of miles to adjust before I settle in to my normal pace. So usually when I do get on the treadmill, I start out nice and easy, 7:30 pace for the first mile or so and then work down to my normal pace as my body gets used to have the belt moving under my feet.