I have always said I have a love/hate relationship with the treadmill. The treadmill is boring. The treadmill is annoying. The treadmill does not allow me to be outside and enjoy the scenery. The treadmill gets hot because inside of a gym running gets warm after a mile or 2.
All that being said I must admit and give some love to good old treadmill.
The treadmill has allowed me to keep training no matter what is going on outside. When I started running last year, it was the treadmill that began it all. In fact I really did not start running regularly outdoors until after my first 5K. Before it I had done maybe 10 runs total outside, 90% were always on this old treadmill at my condo complex gym.
Wow I forgot these existed hahaha these are from May 2010!
We got a YMCA membership this year so I have upgraded the treadmills I use but it is still the same. Now I use the treadmill to work on my speed and help me increase mileage when my joints are sore. You see my knee loves when I run on the treadmill, it really appreciates the lower impact it has versus pounding the concrete and pavement outdoors.
When I was feeling shin pain last month I turned to the treadmill and it did not let me down.
Sometimes when I run outside I get pain but when I am running on the treadmill it is 95% pain free. This leaves me feeling great.
My speed work is usually done on the treadmill. I know I know, most people will tell you get to a track, get it done outside. There are not many tracks around here and in New England the weather is unforgiving. I would not want to be working on speed on a slick icy or rainy track or roads. The beauty of the treadmill is it allows me to work on my speed safely.
My treadmill never lets me down. It is always there waiting to be powered up and ready to go. When we move and get a basement I know my first purchase will be a treadmill ;) I may call it the dreadmill sometimes because it can be monotonous, but I have a solution for that too. I get a running magazine and cover the display. Usually those super fit runners are enough to inspire many miles run on the treadmill ;)
Do you have a love/hate relationship with a piece of fitness equipment?
5 comments:
My love/hate would also be the treadmill. Regular, long runs and hills I do outside. I save the treadmill for rainy days and speed work. I absolutely love running sprints on the treadmill. Getting that machine going 11-12 mph for 30 seconds at a time really, really is a butt busting workout!
I LOVE my treadmill! I live in waaaaay northern NY so between the snow, ice & arctic winds (-50 degrees last year) if I want to run safely & comfortably that's my go to for winter training.
I am fickle about my treadmill. I appreciate it for the same reasons you do, but treadmill workouts are always so much more "work" than running outside. Some people think treadmills are not good for longer runs because of the forced constant pace/constant incline -- so be careful if you go long on the 'mill!
Great post! I, like many others, hate treadmills, but they do play an important role. I used to run on a treadmill Monday-Friday because there was nowhere safe to go in the dark in the mornings before work. I was only able to run outdoors on weekends and I trained for 9 marathons that way.
Exercising on a treadmill is usually low-impact and risk of injury to your joints, hips, and back is minimal here. On the treadmill the speed of walking and running can be controlled and therefore by setting it to greater speeds you can get more intense workout that will help you shed off more number of calories rapidly. Soon, the pounds will fall off and stay off, if you continue to work out consistently. Your heart will also benefit from the treadmill workouts and your muscles will remain slim and strong. Thanks.
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