Treadmill Training

Yes There is such a thing. Now Im no expert at this subject but I've compiled some articles that talk about the benefit of treadmill training and how to do it right. Now Yes, I am coached so I do stick with my plan. If I have to do Hill repeats or Hill Jumps, I'd rather do them outside. Here in NY though, you never know how dark its going to be or how cold it will be.

I try to do most of my workouts in the morning as to not interfere with my 7 year olds activities. But somedays I do have only the choice of a treadmill.

Here are some great tips to get the most out of your workouts

1. Place the treadmill at a 1-2% incline as this most resembles the asphalt and wind you experience outdoors
2. An advantage is the treadmill gives you a level of consistency that makes it easy to identify asymmetry in gait and stride. I have noticed this in myself that I tend to foot strike harder on my right than left and it is heard on the treadmill. I've been trying to take nice light steps and pick my knees up!
3. You know how I've been working on cadence? Yeah well I do this on the treadmill once a week so that I can feel what it feels like to go 90 strides per min per foot.
4. Hill Repeats are good on a treadmill at a 5-6% grade. No downhill required just set it back at 1% to recover!
5. The treadmill forces you to keep a consistent pace which you cannot always do outside. You can see how it feels to run at a 7:30 pace for a full minute.
6. And also Convenience, safety, privacy (if you own your own)
7. you can challenge the guy next to you to run faster...oh wait that wasn't on the list!! ha ha!

See treadmill training can compliment your outdoor training if you remember some of these tips!!

Tomorrow Ill be running outside in the Frigid weather with some Tri Buddies...who in fact are WAY faster than I am...Im going to put them all on a leash tomorrow and have them run slow...If they will let me!! :)

Happy Training!!