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Slowtwitch Forums: Triathlon Forum:
Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater.

Jeremy K

Oct 5, 08 18:14

Post #1 of 17 (1024 views)

Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater.	Can't Post

I have to admit that I am coming around. I haven't run on one in a long time, but did today. I am pretty impressed with the newer technology. This one today had a color screen with a track or 5k cross country course, and the option to upload the data to a usb drive. I didn't have one on me but I will the next time. I was also able to watch some football and have ice water right there whenever I wanted a sippy sip.
Maybe the biggest thing though, after a longish run for me (8 miles) my knees and ankles feel fine.
Anyone else a convert? I will be back.

ElGordo

Oct 5, 08 18:27

Post #2 of 17 (1004 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Jeremy K] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Winter is on its way where I live, and when it's dark outside, 38 degrees F and raining sideways there is no better run than a nice 4 miler with some surges on the treadmill at the gym. Get in, get it done, get out. Oh, and remember to add 1 degree of incline for an effort more like running outside. What's not to like?

Tri N OC

Oct 5, 08 18:32

Post #3 of 17 (987 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Jeremy K] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Embrace the dreadmill! I have never felt the hate. Good for all types of runs. Good discipline on the speedier workouts because the speed does not lie. RPE does.

tigerchik

Oct 6, 08 0:43

Post #4 of 17 (870 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Jeremy K] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I love the treadmill :-) and run 98% of my miles on it...
_________________________________________________________
"You should know what you stand for, not just what you're against."
-Speak

Jeremy K

Oct 6, 08 4:03

Post #5 of 17 (818 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [tigerchik] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Someone is up late...

tigerchik

Oct 6, 08 8:48

Post #6 of 17 (649 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Jeremy K] [In reply to]	Can't Post

early, actually. I'm a reverse college student
_________________________________________________________
"You should know what you stand for, not just what you're against."
-Speak

Cannonball

Oct 6, 08 9:03

Post #7 of 17 (610 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Jeremy K] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I was a treadmill hater until last winter. I live at a ski resort so running outside in the winter is pretty tricky. I picked up a pretty good home version and it actually feels better than some commercial treadmills that I've been on. I'm now a believer. X2 on bumping the incline up a couple of degrees to make it feel more like outside.

Turbomentor

Oct 6, 08 13:51

Post #8 of 17 (492 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Tri N OC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dreadmill not accurate for comparison purposes to running outside.

1. I live in SF. Running outside in 93 deg weather with 80% humidity is nothing like running inside the 74 deg gym with no humidity!
2. HRs will be much lower. See above.
3. Treadmill moves for you. Outside, you move yourself (or you don't move!)

Run plan got interrupted by a massive T-storm last weekend so I had to do 18 miles on the dreadmill. Ugh. Faithfully recorded my HR for the whole thing. Was waaaaay lower than my 22 miles I did yesterday at almost exactly the same pace.

Don't get me wrong, the DM has it's place, but it's not the real thing!

JoeO

Oct 6, 08 14:08

Post #9 of 17 (466 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Turbomentor] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

3. Treadmill moves for you. Outside, you move yourself (or you don't move!)

This is a common misconception. The treadmill "moves for you" allright. If you fail to exert the proper counterforce by running, it will move you right off the belt.

There are other variables like weather, and lack of airflow that make a treadmill different but in this particular respect, the treadmill is no easier than running outside. Not one bit.

Bob Loblaw

Oct 6, 08 14:21

Post #10 of 17 (443 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Jeremy K] [In reply to]	Can't Post

my first marathon was a point-to-point into a headwind.
no way i'd have done nearly as well if i'd done my training on a treadmill.
it helps that i run with my gf and we don't have a treadmill, i can't go to her gym, etc.
i agree that it's better than riding on the trainer, but that's not saying much.
i won't give in.
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http://positivesplits.blogspot.com

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Tri N OC

Oct 6, 08 14:31

Post #11 of 17 (427 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Turbomentor] [In reply to]	Can't Post

I live in SF. Running outside in 93 deg weather with 80% humidity

Ah, yes, summer in the City. This was last week, right? Not to be confused with what the rest of the world thinks is summer. But that also goes to show why you want nice weather for your tri and not so much about the dreadmill.

Don't get me wrong, the DM has it's place, but it's not the real thing!

I agree that the dreadmill is not the be all and end all for running. For one thing, I like hills outside because there is no giving up on it but you are only a button away from ending a hill on the dreadmill. (Although somewhat perversely I like it for speed work) It also takes away the excuse of missing a run because it is dark, too hot/cold, late, etc.

jyeager

Oct 6, 08 14:31

Post #12 of 17 (426 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [JoeO] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

3. Treadmill moves for you. Outside, you move yourself (or you don't move!)

This is a common misconception. The treadmill "moves for you" allright. If you fail to exert the proper counterforce by running, it will move you right off the belt.

There are other variables like weather, and lack of airflow that make a treadmill different but in this particular respect, the treadmill is no easier than running outside. Not one bit.

When compared to a track perhaps...where the terrain never rolls at all.

To the OP: yes! Treadmills are a great way to save your legs! Perhaps hard to mentally handle longer workouts without having terrain moving by and interacting with your environment.
I think treadmills are a very good way to experiment with running technique, foot strike position, stride length and cadence because the terrain is absolutely consistent, so is the speed of the treadmill, and heart rate is being monitored the entire time.
You can actually use your measured heartrate as a form of biofeedback while searching for the most economical stride at a given speed.

That's a little bit like working with a power meter on a trainer while trying different riding positions.

Turbomentor

Oct 9, 08 9:18

Post #13 of 17 (302 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Tri N OC] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Should have been more clear. SF = South Florida not San Fran.

I'm very much used to training in heat/humidity. Looking forward to Marine Corps Marathon on the 26th...temps in the 50s/60s...my HR will be so low I'll think I'm asleep! LOL

Scott_B

Oct 9, 08 9:24

Post #14 of 17 (284 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Turbomentor] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Try setting the incline to 2% and then reducing the speed on the treadmill by 1 km/h as compared to your target speed outdoors. The exertion should be comparable.

ohiost90

Oct 9, 08 11:23

Post #15 of 17 (214 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Scott_B] [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Try setting the incline to 2% and then reducing the speed on the treadmill by 1 km/h as compared to your target speed outdoors. The exertion should be comparable.

Or you could just increase the pace of the TM .1~3 mph to get the same exertion. I really don't like running on a constant incline. To each their own I guess.

ironwmn

Oct 9, 08 11:30

Post #16 of 17 (202 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Jeremy K] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Treadmills rock for sure - you get used to a constant speed and turnover, and the things you can do with interval training is amazing!

It is boring as all heck though - listen to music or when watching TV, make commercial break your "hard" intervals!
*ugwi* u gotta want it

thetrilife

Oct 9, 08 11:40

Post #17 of 17 (183 views)

Re: Confessions of a longtime treadmill hater. [Scott_B] [In reply to]	Can't Post

Never used the term "dreadmill" before but I like it! The treadmill and I def have a love/hate relationship going on.
Pros:
1. Can't beat it for specific race pace type work. I give the tm credit for helping drop my 5k time this summer as I was using it every few weeks to do overspeed drills and 5k race pace efforts.
2. It's INSIDE. Yes in Texas it gets freakin hot in the summer and my hr will easily be 10-15 bpm lower when I go inside on the tm.
3. Everyone in the gym knows your a stud as you pound out those 5k race pace efforts with sweat flying off every extremity.

Cons:
1. It's boring. GAWD it's boring.
2. We don't race on treadmills. Races are run OUTSIDE and weather happens OUTSIDE. One of the biggest reasons I love running and triathlon is because I love the outdoors and racing, training in all sorts of conditions. There's nothing I love better then waking up Saturday morning in January to see freezing rain coming down and temperatures below freezing. It means I get to go earn myself some man points by running 90min in the elements.
3. Everyone in the gym gets to see just how much you sweat from all the training you do outside in the hot Texas sun. This results in sweat flying off every extremity after less than 10 minutes of running and a minimum of 3 towels used per 45 min workout.
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"Somewhere in the world someone is training when you are not. When you race him, he will win."
-Tom Fleming

willrace4food