Winter time I find myself not running outside and always in a time crunch to make it to the gym. Thus thinking about a treadmill. Anybody find themselves in a similar situation (time, weather, etc) and pull the trigger on a treadmill only to find out it collects dust?
And you’re an economist?
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I’ve only had mine since Christmas, but I love it. I’m frugal, so I now feel the need to justify the cost.
edit - I was already using one regularly, now I just get to do it in the comfort of my own home.
I bought a used TRUE treadmill about 8 years ago for about $200. Over the past few years I haven’t used it that much, mainly because I prefer running outside or at the gym where there is activity going on all around me. However, I’m glad I have it for those rare mornings when I don’t want to leave the house. Or, on weekends when the gym closes earlier and I want to run at night. Still, mentally, I find it much harder to run on my home treadmill than anywhere else.
A lot (?majority) of TM owners don’t use it much at all. Folks on ST tend to be more hardcore about it, so you won’t get a typical representation of TM owners here.
But FWIW, most ‘studies’ I’ve seen reported say that of all home endurance equipment, treadmills tend to be the most regularly used long-term by a fair margin.
I love mine, and it gets a lot of mileage in the dark mornings and for fixed speed intervals, but there’s no contest compared to a beautiful outdoor running day!
And you’re an economist?
marginal analysis in action baby.
Winter time I find myself not running outside and always in a time crunch to make it to the gym. Thus thinking about a treadmill. Anybody find themselves in a similar situation (time, weather, etc) and pull the trigger on a treadmill only to find out it collects dust?
I purchased a used commerical quality treadmill. One of the best purchases I made. The wife walks on it 4 days a week and loves it. I use it to do 10 minute bricks after my trainer bike rides.
I never do long runs since when one is having 70 degree weather like we are now, I 99% of the time can run outside in the morning 12 months a year. 
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If you are time crunched athlete, a treadmill is a great purchase. I bought a commercial grade one last year and use it all the time. In the winter when snow and ice on the ground, I probably do only my long run on the weekend outside and the rest of my runs on the treadmill.
Bought a shitty one on Craigslist to try and test that hypothesis (will I use it or not) and basically ran it into the ground in a couple months. Bought a semi decent one (at Costco) and have used regularly ever since. I find often times I opt for the convenience of the treadmill over running outside, in order of importance:
- Can do it in my gitch (less laundry)
- Don’t have to put on GPS watch
- Uninterrupted work out (no stoplights, people, etc. but I live in an urban environment)
- Controlled pace (hard to run as slowly as prescribed outside sometimes)
I love a nice run outside in good conditions as much as the next guy but the treadmill gets used a lot.
I had one for about a year and initially used it a fair amount.
I recently sold it and continue to do a majority of my runs on the treadmill during the week (weather, darkness, easier on the joints, better able to control training stimulus), however, I make the short drive to the community gym as I missed the strange looks I got when I was busting out treadmill shaking intervals and making manly groans trying to hang on.
Seriously, I just missed the distraction of having other people around and a bit more space as opposed to being in a locked down room with more tightly enclosed walls.
Having it next to the trainer though definitely helped with brick workouts and made it more efficient when time crunched.
I use it to dry my clothes on.
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Nope. I had one for 10 years. It broke and my miles went way down while I debated on buying a new one. Finally bought it and the miles are back up.
Not exactly the same thing but I bought a bike trainer and never use it. Bores the hell out of me so I do most of my winter training in spin classes at the local gym. The gym also has an indoor track so when weather like the blizzard that hit on Sunday forces me to run inside I run on the track because I can’t stand treadmills.
Not exactly the same thing but I bought a bike trainer and never use it. Bores the hell out of me so I do most of my winter training in spin classes at the local gym. The gym also has an indoor track so when weather like the blizzard that hit on Sunday forces me to run inside I run on the track because I can’t stand treadmills.
The indoor track on my YMCA is so frustrating. FOUR signs that say walkers inside lane, runners out side. The signs also say no walking side by side (it’s only four lanes wide). People ignore these. It got so bad for awhile they actually had to put a fitness staff member on the track to babysit people. I’ve seen people almost come to punches over it. Apparently it’s a super complicated concept to walk on the inside and not walk side-by-side. I must be a freaking genius because I picked it up right away. I only needed one side. I should work on solving cancer.
The most I’ve ever run on a treadmill is 6 miles. I get bored after that. However, by not making it too the gym, I’m running 0 miles. Thus the reason I started this thread. A TM sounds great right now but I don’t want it to collect dust. I found a Norditrack (sp) online for $400 and Sole has the entry level F60 for a good price. Maybe worth the experiment.
Our track is only 3 lanes and can get a bit crowded too if I’m not careful when I run. I try to swim during the post work rush since the lap pool is never crowded and then run after when I really just need to dodge the meat heads that wander onto the track. Not going to the gym is not an option for me. All my friends are there until it gets warm and light enough out that the training moves outside.
I know a guy that does all his marathon training on a dreadmill. I’ve done 15 miles at a time until I joined a gym with a track.
You seem concerned that your treadmill will collect dust and seems like you know the answer.
Any other options for track running near you? Have you considered alternatives? Colleges with indoor tracks? We have The Pettit Ice Center nearby which has a nice track.
Our track is only 3 lanes and can get a bit crowded too if I’m not careful when I run. I try to swim during the post work rush since the lap pool is never crowded and then run after when I really just need to dodge the meat heads that wander onto the track. Not going to the gym is not an option for me. All my friends are there until it gets warm and light enough out that the training moves outside.
I know a guy that does all his marathon training on a dreadmill. I’ve done 15 miles at a time until I joined a gym with a track.
You seem concerned that your treadmill will collect dust and seems like you know the answer.
Any other options for track running near you? Have you considered alternatives? Colleges with indoor tracks? We have The Pettit Ice Center nearby which has a nice track.
I’m not so concerned about it collecting dust. I so wish I had one to help save me time, I’m just trying gauge how long the desire is use one. My trainer does collect a little dust in November and December and usage cuts in half if not more during the summer, but it’s on fire right now. I’m thinking the treadmill would see the same pattern. Sounds like most of you use it like I would (balance between convenience and outside running).
Bought one for my wife last year since we have small kids, and sometimes that’s the only way we can squeeze a workout in. It’s definitely used more in the summer (I’m in Phoenix), and I prkbably use it more than her, but we are both glad we have it. I also use the bike trainer a lot. Thanks tk TR, if I only have an hour I’ll probably stay inside.
We have a membership to a great gym, but that’s mostly for the pool and occasional childcare.
We even have family members swing by our place to use it (they are runners). Mostly when injured or house sitting.
Ours is in our bedroom with a 52" TV and Netflix. Way better than the gym.
I had a Treadmill long before I ever started doing Triathlons. Over the years I used it and didn’t use it. The kids used it a bit, we had one of the dogs using it etc. Then, I started to use it more as I got into Triathlons. Had to replace the belts. Used it for another season and then it broke! Bought a new one this past December. Much to my surprise, my wife who has just retired has started to use it as well. While she is only walking, she has both hips replaced and one knee so running is somewhat contraindicated. Walking inside means no slipping for her.
Many years ago I had reconstructive Ankle surgery and every since then I’ve attempted to be careful running. I don’t run on grass, I try not to run on slippery conditions. Up here, the winters are long enough that in order to keep running I need to run on the Treadmill. And so, I’ve gotten quite used to it. I like that I can set a pace and keep at it, I control the course elevation and the speed. If I want to do intervals I can set up a program to do so or, I can just manually change speed and elevation. I can switch between run and walk paces to keep a low HR when I want to. As someone else said, no stoplights, no uneven places to trip over, no dogs, no gearing up differently for heat or cold etc.
As well, I have a pair of shoes that I use for the Treadmill along with my others for outdoor running (when the weather gets better).
I also have a Computrainer for biking indoors. Makes it way easier to do bricks with the two of them.
Unfortunately, these devices aren't cheap but at this point I think I'm getting my monies worth out of both devices.
No, my sons and I ran our soul F80 into the ground. I’m between treadmills now since my workplace has one i use at lunch and I also use one at our gym. My son also still runs on one at his college fitness center. We both prefer the safety and securing of running on them during the winter or at night when pressed for time. They also make it really easy to hit certain workouts so we use them all year in that regard too.
Everyday… until my downstairs neighbor charged in, screamed at my wife and threatened us…Apparently the humming was driving him mad…now only running outside and when their cars are gone.