Treadmill advice

Don't bother if you all you have is $1000. That will buy you a dinky 2.0 HP machine that goes 10mph (at best), won't incline, shakes and rattles, and has a deck about the size of a postage stamp to run on.

You will want to spend about $1600-$1800, bare minimum. If you can't come up with the bucks, don't waste your money - join a gym.

Dirt wrote:

Looking for something to do tempos/workouts on when its cold/icy out, so I want it to be able to go up to 12 mph.(Do they make them any faster?) So my question is, anyone know of any durable machines that are under the $1000 range that go that fast?

there are none. my wife works at a bike shop and they sell fitness equipment in the winter.

you need a good quality one for running and there are none under 1 grand.

when you buy one, RUN ON IT before you buy it. try it out.

my advice, join the y.

sam w wrote:

my advice, join the y.

My Y has a couple monsters that go faster than 15 mph. They are great for speed work and fartleks.

Actually, if you have a Costco nearby, you can get a decent deal on a NordicTrack. I've gone through the same dilemma, was looking for a machine with similar specs as you are, and was fortunate enough to pick up a decent machine at Costco for $600 last month (a display model that usually runs $800) with a 3HP motor, 12mph/12% incline (although some would argue that treadmill horsepower ratings are inaccurate). Certainly enough machine for me, as I don't usually train on a treadmill faster than 6:30 -7:00/mile. I save the faster stuff for the roads and the track and don't really feel safe doing speedwork on a treadmill. I saw a similar model (same model, different branding) at Sports Authority today for $1300. Plus, with Costco, if it dies in the first 2 years, you can return it and get your money back.

I understand the arguments that some make for the cost difference of having a treadmill at home and dealing with future repair costs possibly outweighing a membership fee at a healthclub. I really think that it depends on your body weight and how well you maintain the 'mill as to how long it will last. For someone like me, 145 lbs and usually running with an incline, there's less wear and tear on a treadmill than for a 200 lb person walking. Plus, with my patient care schedule and family responsibilities, taking more time to go to a club just wasn't feasible.

Check out

www.treadmilldoctor.com

. Good advice for treadmill purchasing from someone who seems to have a great deal of experience with treadmill repair. I ended up e-mailing him with questions about my purchase and he was quick to offer advice.

why not find a couple of gyms in the area and take advantage of their 1, 2, or 4 week free passes to try their gym out. By the time you're done with all of them, it'll be spring again.

no way you need to spend over 1k, i just bought one for xmas, its amazing, great incline, mp3 with speakers, 12mph, for only like 800 bucks, worth every penny if it rains or snows a lot in your area

I'll second the bullshit call. We got one at costco a few years ago- Ironman brand, about $1,000, only goes to 10 mph but when you have a kid and are trying to fit in 2 runner's schedules and a busy job in, its a decent option, especially in winter.

Winter running clothes cost less then treadmills. But running in the winter requires balls......I see your delema

(I have no idea how to spell that, feel free to bash me for it if anyone is that anal...)

^o^

Blaze

You might be able to if you can snag a sale or floor model for a model that is being replaced. I bought my wife a Spirit XT200 that has a 3 hp motor and goes 12 mph (due to characteristically poor calibration, it is even faster than that) and it is quite solid and even folds (which Id idn't specifically want). It was on sale from $1800 to $1200 and I talked them down to $1000. I am 6'4" and 160 pounds and I have run fine on it at many paces.

Make sure you check out Treadmill Doctor

www.treadmilldoctor.com

Woodway. The only treadmill that matters.

Blaze wrote:

Winter running clothes cost less then treadmills. But running in the winter requires balls......I see your delema

It doesn't require balls to fall down on ice and break your neck. Just lack of brains. I can see how you would naturally gravitate toward that alternative.

Slick Wilhelm wrote:

Woodway. The only treadmill that matters.

I agree!! Woodway are the best treadmill you can run on, end of story! They go fast and feel really good to run on and it feels more like running outside on grass or soft surfaces. If you can find one they are amazing and last along time.

Your not supposed to run on the ice...and unless you got polar bear knocking at your back door, I'm pretty sure the ice doesn't cover the entire ground. Last year I was running through wind chills of -36 F. I know way more about the winter than you. There is always some none icy spots (I.E. Roads) to run on. Your just trying to start an argument you know you'll lose...

Give up bud,

^o^

Blaze

All it takes is a good snowstorm in the northern climates and you have ice all over the place. Plows do their best but where I live you are still slipping and sliding quite a bit for days.

I've been running in snow country for almost 30 years, kid. Temperature is not the problem. Ice is.

Nobody gives a shit how cold the temps were when you ran through. Nobody gives a shit how "hard core" you are. I know that's important when you're 13, but once you grow up you'll find it doesn't mean a thing. The key is to get from point A to point B in the time desired without getting hurt.

Judging by the sales of treadmills out there and their use by everyone from weekend joggers to elites, I already won the "argument" before it began.

I totally agree.

I used to think there was a prize for running in -40. Yes, the fahrenheit and celsius scales are the same at -40 and I've run in it, but there are none. Usually you end up running much faster on the treadmill just to get it overwith and it ends up being not that painful. In bad snow or ice I hit the treadmill. Yesterday I ran 5 miles ending up at the gym at about 7:30 pace. Did 3 miles on the tmill in 19:20 then another mile home. Put in 9 miles and without the tmill it would have been very hard to run that speed outside in the dark. There is nothing wrong with running on the treadmill once in a while. The boardom factor is high but I pick an outdoor route and try to figure where I would be on it as I go along.

You are a fool, slippery roads and ice are not the same thing.

Also getting from point A to B is hardly all there is. You have no drive, nowhere to go, so you can't understand, you do not have a true runners drive to reach their own personal goals.

When you said treadmills go from joggers to the elite. you are the jogger....and there is no elite on your dumb little treadmills so I guess no ones them in this particular argument.

Now I'm not gonna check this thread again so any continuance of your pointless arguing will be nothing but trolling to draw others in, and I hope all the letsrunnians treat you as such. In short, your a failure who knows nothing, and your (and peoples like you) spread of false knowledge is the most recockulus part of this forum.

Just because Your old and out of your prime does not make you knowledgeable in any way.

Blaze

Sigh... Slippery roads are caused by ice. Is there some part there you did not understand? And you see, actually Ingrid Kristiansen used to run on treadmills. The woman who won the US Olympic Marathon trials in 88 or 92 (forget the year) used to train almost exclusivly on treadmills. Henry Marsh used to run almost exclusively on treadmills.

Go back to pwning n00bs on Halo 3, little one. Adults are speaking here. You wouldn't understand.