Do treadmills promote heel striking?

I'm a forefoot striker and I love treadmills. They take some of the weight off and propel you forward. I tend to have a closed stride. So treadmill at an increased incline helps me open up my stride and have better form.

If you notice the treadmill is hurting your mechanics you should definately lessen. Or do activity on a treadmill which does not interfere with mechanics. For example I like to run very fast but not for very long to maximally increase my stride length. Where as the opposite may be best for you. Just make sure you work out your respitory and get your heart rate good and elevated.

My opinion.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

They promote fair weather runners!

Exactly!! I run virtually all my races in fair weather. Why would I want to run in unfair weather like snow, ice, and cold?

I did a marathon where it was 5°F so I know enough about cold weather running to know I don't enjoy it.

Yeah, you don't "learn" to run in shit conditions, of course. Why not go running carrying weights or wearing 3 pair of blu jeans or slit your wrists every 3 miles. That might make you abstractly "tough", but it isnt' going to make you faster.

In daylight, I would rarely choose to run on a mill except on workout days unless it was so icy that it was a glorified hike. If some of these college kids keep running when they are working 8am-6pm, they will learn why many of us in cold climates run on tradmills. Get off work when it is dark, rush hour, and roads are only plowed enough to let cars pass and your local nike paths are unplowed.

I still heal strike when barefoot running. WTF is wrong with heal striking!

Question1438204 wrote:

They take some of the weight off and propel you forward.

My opinion.

No and no.

Some good answers so far:

1. That's right, 1% may be a similar effort as running outside, but if you always do that it really mimics running with less (no) wind resistance up a (slight) incline.

2. The more incline, the less likely you are to heel strike. But run 5 days in row up 8% and I guarantee some Achilles injury (assuming you're not used to it)

3. Many people have horrible form on the mill. I would say 80% of folks at the gym that I observe are afraid of falling of the mill and therefore just use the first half of the treadmill.

4. It's definitely harder to run on the mill as compared to outside from the "feel" perspective.

5. Because the mill is softer than the crete, you can get away with heel striking.

Remember Way Back When wrote:

I've heard that a treadmill will lengthen your stride, which could very well lead to more of a heel striking form.

Ehh...its actually the complete opposite, a treadmill will shorten your stride.