Who runs on the Technogym Skillmill / Woodway Curve?

Triathlon Forum
1

A few weeks ago I found our local Y had a Skillmill tucked away in the corner of the weight room. It looks very similar to the Woodway Curve:

http://www.technogym.com/int/skillmill-connect.html

https://www.woodway.com/products/curve

I’ve been battling PF in my right foot and so have been using the treadmill for most of my runs. I gave the Skillmill a go and targeted my usual treadmill pace of 7.5 mph - 5:00/km - 8:00/mile.

Within about 15 seconds it was clear that there was no way that I could sustain the effort for an entire run. The RPE and my heartrate were close to my 5 K race effort and so I had to alternate between a run and walk.

I’ve ran on the Skillmill about 4 times since and tack it on to the end of a normal treadmill run. The last was an interval run of 6 x 1:15 at 7.5 mph with :45 of rest/walking. I was drenched in sweat and there was no pain in my foot, and so it was a good workout for sure.

My question is, what is the purpose of these manual treadmills? To me it feels more like a hill repeat exercise than a run, and maybe that’s the point of it.

Does anyone run a straight run workout on these machines? If not, any workout recommendations that you can share?

Scott

2

There’s a Woodway curve at my local gym as well. I agree regarding pace: it’s a lot more work… almost like running in sand. Beyond that I can’t speak to the efficacy of training on one.

3

I’m only good for about 10 minutes on the Curve before I feel like I’m going to keel over. Definitely harder than a regular treadmill. It’s really deceiving… it sure doesn’t look like a killer heart rate spiking machine.