With Old Man Winter upon us forcing temperatures in the teens and wind chills near 0 degrees, the treadmill has become a friend of convenience for many endurance athletes.
Some athletes loath the treadmill so much they brave sub zero temperatures and dawn multiple layers of clothing to shiver and shuffle their way through a run.
Other athletes welcome the treadmill workout and even use it when the weather is perfect for running. Whatever your reason, here’s a list of pros and cons.
Pros
- Many commercial-grade treadmills perform such a good job of reducing impact forces, that some consider the treadmill a soft surface, reducing wear and tear on knees and ankles.
- The treadmill allows runners to address running economy in a controlled environment and study stride and gait for deficiencies.
- No downhill running required for hill repeats. Running downhill has been long thought to be a major source of knee degradation from running.
- Intervals and tempo work on a treadmill provide real time feedback while speed and pace can be dialed in without having to worry about factors such as heat, humidity and state of hydration. Plus, there are no turns on a treadmill, unlike a track. Weather is usually not a factor.
- Safer than running outside, depending on your location.
- Multiple layers of clothing are not required. Saves on laundry.
- If you have a treadmill at home, convenience is key. Those with children may not be able to plan naps, have sick kids, kids too young for gym child care, etc and having a treadmill available at home provides running time anytime.
- Running on the treadmill may be boring, but it can also build mental toughness by gutting it runs.
Cons
- Limited stimulus, fresh air and limited social interaction.
- Running on a treadmill in a warm environment can lead to overheating. Make sure you have adequate air flow coming toward you, preferably in the form of a large fan.
- Speed work involves rapid acceleration/deceleration that cannot be duplicated on the treadmill.
- Running on a treadmill usually involves listening to music or watching TV, thus limiting the ability for the athlete to be in tune with their body and how it is truly performing for the workout.
- Treadmills are not cheap. If you want a quality treadmill, you are looking at $1500 or more.
- If you own your own treadmill, maintenance beyond warranty period may become expensive and cumbersome.
- If you have a deficiency in your gate or stride and do not address it, repetitive running on the treadmill may make it worse or cause injury.
- No wind resistance. Careful not to use the treadmill for too many runs, as you will miss out on the environmental factors you may experience on race day.
- Injuries – if your treadmill turns into a state of disrepair, a slipping belt could cause major injury.
When the weather is this cold, learn to love the Pros and get your treadmill on!
Ryan Falkenrath writes the blog falkeetriathlon.blogspot.com, and is a married father of two, owner of three dogs and trying to balance life, work and multisport. Ryan has participated in multisport events since 2001. Ryan is also the Kansas Endurance Sports Examiner and you can read more of his triathlon thoughs HERE. Contact Ryan at: [email protected] or follow him on @TriJayhawkRyan
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