PR column #1 - Treadmill

[frojoe23]

Daniel,
A few things about your column. I'd like to note that going into Boston '08, I logged at least 60-65% of my miles on the treadmill. There were a few days that were 10 on the treadmill in the morning and 12 on the "mill" in the evening. Having a treadmill handy allowed me to get in the miles that I needed to be ready for Boston. The thing that it didn't allow me to do was be ready for the hills at Boston or the early downhills. Therefore, the 2:24 I thought I could run turned into 2:27.

The other thing I'd like to comment on is the discrepancy between the pace you can run outside versus the pace you can run on the treadmill. It seems to me that the difference between this all has to do with the return you can get from striking the pavement. If your foot strikes the pavement (which is stationary) then you get more return to move forward. But on the treadmill, the belt is moving in the opposite direction your body is supposed to be headed. I believe that the return that you get is decreased by the movement of the belt in the other direction.

Essentially, running fast on a treadmill seems to all come down to leg turnover. I find that I cannot use that loping stride that I use on the road, but instead my knees are almost hitting the bar as I'm running with high knees to increase cadence.

[Justin]

I agree Jaron, treadmill running is different than running on the ground. I used to not be able to run at all on the treadmill, but last winter I started and made some adjustments and now I can do some running inside. The key thing I need to do is to warm up properly, in the past I'd crank it right up and right away be clipping along at my usual pace, about 1/2 mile in I'd be dying wondering what the problem was.

I agree that the treadmill seems to be more a factor of cadence as opposed to stride length. It may be mental though, I almost always am kicking the front of the thing in fear of shooting off the back end, where in reality I have lots of belt behind me that I never touch.

Some factors that are different that I've found are; temperature. It's warm in our gym here at work, and you don't have the air circulation to help with cooling, that's a big difference for me.

Overall I have grown to use one on occasion, no more than 2x a week and never for long runs. I think if I actually owned one in my house I'd use it more, but overall I prefer to go out in the cold and snow.

[ericjoe]

Nice job on the PR corner. This is exactly the kind of thing we need on the website to make it more dynamic and “fresh”. You commented about running on the treadmill in Jamaica and the humidity and heat. Every time I go on a trip and have to stay in a hotel I experience the same 90 degrees and high humidity. The reason—the workout room is always right beside the pool! The longest I have EVER gone on a treadmill was 9 miles and I hated every second of it.

[Justin]

Another question for our treadmill owners; which one did you guys get? I'm pretty sure in my future (I'm holding off as long as possible) that I may consider purchasing one. As life gets even more busy I could see some utility in having one in the basement for training runs whenever I can (middle of the night).

[frojoe23]

I got mine at Dunham's. It is a Reebok, but I'm not sure of the model. I've broken the platform on it twice - the second time only after about 25 runs on it. Then Rob gave me his treadmill. I broke the platform on it as well - I haven't bought a new board to fix either of them yet, so I just run at the gym behind Comfort Inn or up at FSU.

[burgrunner]

I have a love/hate relationship with my treadmill. I love the treadmill and hate the weather outside that forces me to use it. The convienience factor for me is a big one. Most mornings I hop on the mill and get in between 8-10 miles. When my wife leaves for work, I just turn the baby monitor on and listen for the baby to wake up. Without this convienience, I would be forced to start between 4:30 and 5:00 in the mornings instead of 5:30 to 6:00. That extra hour makes a big difference day in and day out. Once the weather breaks, I don't mind it, but there is something about heading out that early, in the dark when it is bitter cold (and usually windy). Plus, you don't have to worry about hitting that patch of black ice and taking a nose dive into the pavement!

As far as Eric's post, the heat is one reason that I really enjoy running on the treadmill. I love working up a good sweat. I never feel like I get as good of a workout running in the cold of winter because I don't sweat as much as I do in the summer. I would take a 90 degree day over a 30 degree day anytime. Many of you will disagree with this (Rob) but I like it hot.

I feel that the monotany of "running in one place and not going anywhere" makes one mentally stronger. It does make for some tough runs from time to time but with a treadmill handy, there really is no excuse not to get in a run.

Justin- I got a Nordic-Trac from Sears. After breaking two machines before this one, I went with the extended service plan so that it is covered for three years. I figured that I will have broken it by then so hopefully I recoup some of that investment.

[baldisbetter]

The earth is my treadmill.

Ok, I gave my mill to Jaron and it fell apart. I'm too cheap to buy another one. I'm always hot because I'm covered by a rug. But, the mill has it's purpose and this winter has definately pushed me into FSU's cardio room a couple of times.

[woody]

This is an investment I would love to make. I am not a big fan of dreadmill running, but it is nice when there is a foot of snow on the ground. Right now I use an eliptical and stationary bike on those days, but it isn't the same. The other positive about the mill is that I can be home more often to spend time with my wife.

[brucedenton]

We have an IMAGE treadmill we have used for many years now (6-8). It still works fine but the incline no longer works. It has to be REALLY bad for me to use the mill instead of running outside. Any time I use it, it tends to turn into a tempo run or interval workout, because even with the TV, headphones, etc. I can only handle 3-6 miles. I think I did 8 a couple times. We use it mainly in the winter...my wife uses it more than I do. If possible, I prefer to head out in the dark and cold to run, although I do sometimes wonder who's on the other side of those eyeballs reflecting in my headlamp. It is kind of fun at the gym on occasion to fire up the mill and see people's looks when you crank out a fewl 5-6 minute miles (well, more like 6 to 7 these days) and it does give a little extra motivation. Last weekend I was in Myrtle Beach for my brother's wedding and the hotel had a treadmill that allowed me to input a maximum pace and put me through an interval workout that was pretty cool...successive hill repeats, each one steeper and at a faster pace, I liked it...but it was only three miles because that was about all I could handle. Nice article Dan.

[kw]

I am not a fan of the treadmill but I use the one at my gym if the weather is bad. I, like Justin, miss the air circulation you get from being outside.
Jaron- I never thought about the return you get from a treadmill vs outside. Interesting concept.

[wvrunner]

First of all, great article Dan, what a super idea. I've never have run on a treadmill but have been on an elliptical a few times and I have a cycling trainer in my basement I use quite frequently. I must agree that indoor exercise equipment is torture compared to working out outside.

The only way I have found to make it more tolerable is to use a heart-rate monitor and do interval type workouts. I'll approximate the time for certain intervals (5-6 minutes= 1 mile repeat) and do 5-6 x 6 minutes with 2 minutes easy.The heart-rate monitor keeps me honest and gives me some type of feedback in relation to where I would be in that type of workout outdoors. I also need some type of 80's or 90's hard rock cranked up to 100 decibels to make it through.

For those of us with little ones or when we have winter's like this one I can see why the "mills" or the "cyclo-torture" can be useful.

[frojoe23]

I have enjoyed running on the treadmill at the gym. When the TV's are not on ESPN, instead I just people watch. I really enjoy all of the corpulent weight lifters that flex in the mirror every 5 minutes. I always wonder if they are thinking "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirts, so sexy it hurts."

Dennis is right on about the music cranked way up. I have made it through 90 minutes a couple of times on the treadmill with no distractions (no music, no TV), but that is mind-numbing. When I used the treadmills at home, I plug in my MP3 player and crank up some CCR or Arcade Fire.

While Jeremy likes running in the heat and working up a good sweat, I do not. There have been instances at the gym (especially at FSU) where it has been so hot that I thought I was going to pass out. At home, my treadmills are in an out-building that I have. There is a wood burner in there, but I've never had to use it. Even the mornings when it has been around zero, I could go out there and about 10 minutes into have to peel off my shirt. It usually stays around 45-50 degrees in there all winter.

[Justin]

One plus I've found recently about running in a gym setting on treadmills is it's a good way for people of very different fitness levels to "train" together. I have a group of people at work all into running, but naturally we are all at very different levels. As most of us know it's so much easier to get motivated and consistent when you are meeting people and in a team atmosphere, so many of us have been setting meeting times at the gym to get our runs in. It's just a whole lot easier to get up and in to work early when you know there are 2-3 other people waiting on you. It has worked great for us, heck we have the whole group in tact with their training through January, that's saying something.

Overall though my favorite part of running is the freedom of traveling and moving all on my own accord. The treadmill doesn't give me this feeling because you are not moving. Just the feeling of moving through space at a good pace for a long time makes me happy. I'm addicted to the escape of heading out on my own and just running. In many ways bad conditions elevate this escape, everyone knows the feeling as you're headed out in the dark at 10 degrees and the snow falling and saying to yourself "no one else is doing this" with the feeling that the whole world is yours as everyone else is asleep in their beds. That's the best feeling in the world.

On the other hand, those of us with little ones and busy careers know that to reach the necessary fitness level to be able to have those feelings some concessions must be made, so the treadmill is a tool in order to reach the promised land I guess.

[dmickey]

Talked to my brother today about this, and I have had a treadmill for almost 10 years. I bought a reconditioned one from a health club supplier, and it has been fantastic. Early on I rarely used it, but as I have gotten older, and once my son was born I use it all of the time. I can easily go 60 to 90 minutes without thinking. I have an old tv set up right in front with a dvd/vcr and I have a fios box with it so I can get watch movies through that as well.

Also right now with about 40 inches of snow it is a lifesaver, haven't missed a day of running with all of the snow. It is slow running, but still running.