Treadmills

Kawabata

Hi folks,

Visit boards frequently but seldom post. Grateful for any advice you may have on treadmills.

Just to explain my situation. I run 4-5 times per week outdoors in the mornings. Up at 6am (the only time of day I can fit it in) for a 7.5km run in under 40 minutes: Not exactly fast but I do it for the basic health benefits and to keep the weight off (I've a sweet tooth ) and nothing more. Running is the only exercise I've been able to stick with since my early 30s (I'm now in my late 30s).

Running outdoors is great in the spring, summer and early autumn, but coming in to winter I always find it just too hard to get up in the dark at 6am and go out in the cold and rain/sleet, etc. So every year, I end up giving up running from around October (depending on the weather) until February/March, missing out on 4-5 months running.

I've been thinking of investing in a treadmill for the winter months (and looking in the Argos catalogue, etc.). I have the space indoors and can afford it (within reason), but I was just wondering what experiences other people have of them? And before you ask, no I can't use a gym (I live in a rural area) and, besides, I wouldn't really want to anyway even if I was near one!

Would it be okay to get a manual treadmill (as these are the least expensive), or is it necessary or worth investing in powered ones? Is the basic 120x40cm area sufficient or should I go for a larger one? Are the treadmills with pre-set programmes, pulse sensors, etc., worth it or is it just a way to bump up the price? Should I consider getting a cross trainer instead?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can throw my way.

Slogger Jogger

Hi,
I have a proform treadmill that was in the mid range of prices as far as I remember. Its powered. I got it for similar reasons to yourself. I wasn't particularly interested in it having programs and sensors. Once it go could a decent speed (the top speed is 16kph) and it has a gradient adjust button while you run. It folds up out of the way but when its down it takes up a space of roughly 3 ft by 6 ft. With the weather we've been having recently I have found it invaluable (if a tad boring from time to time). I can get a 10K run in before dinner when I get home from work. Because I got one that can go a decent speed it means I can do a bit of speed work and fartlek type runs (alternating speeds over your run)
Thats my 2 cents worth.

plodder

Always been a bit sceptical about treadmills - especially the bells and whistles like gradient settings. Running on a gradient on a treadmill is not the same as running up a hill, because you are not actually moving against the force of gravity.

cfitz

plodder wrote: »

Always been a bit sceptical about treadmills - especially the bells and whistles like gradient settings. Running on a gradient on a treadmill is not the same as running up a hill, because you are not actually moving against the force of gravity.

On the rare occasion that I use a treadmill, I set the gradient to 1% to offset the 'advantages' of using a treadmill.

I'm not sure of the reasons behind this but Jack Daniels has done lots of experiments so maybe check those out to find out more.

plodder

cfitz wrote: »

On the rare occasion that I use a treadmill, I set the gradient to 1% to offset the 'advantages' of using a treadmill.

I'm not sure of the reasons behind this but Jack Daniels has done lots of experiments so maybe check those out to find out more.

There might be "something" to it, and I've argued this with a mate who is a personal trainer. He was convinced that running on a gradient on a treadmill, was somehow equivalent to running up a hill. It's possible that there is something slightly "harder" about it, but it is in no way, equivalent to the effort involved in running up hills. That would be defying the laws of physics.

cfitz

plodder wrote: »

There might be "something" to it, and I've argued this with a mate who is a personal trainer. He was convinced that running on a gradient on a treadmill, was somehow equivalent to running up a hill. It's possible that there is something slightly "harder" about it, but it is in no way, equivalent to the effort involved in running up hills. That would be defying the laws of physics.

I meant that using a 1% gradient on a treadmill is regarded as somewhat equivalent to normal running on the flat.

Slogger Jogger

Running outside and on the hills will always win out for me over the treadmill, but the latter has its place the occasions when the weather is brutal or the night has taken over. I agree that the gradient setting is a pure substitute for the real thing, but it does make things a bit tougher. I typicall run at a 3% setting. If I ever wind it down to 1% its like I'm running downhill!