Treadmill Training

So what are the advantages of a treadmill?


There are a number of notable ones:

• The weather can be controlled. If you run outside then hot weather can raise risks of dehydration or sunburn (often a forgotten danger of exercising in hot weather). In the winter it can be cold and wet. This too has performance, not to mention comfort, implications. Very cold weather can mean icy roads with even more risk of injury. High winds also impact on your ability to train. Indoors the temperature can be controlled. Gyms usually have air conditioning and fans to keep temperatures well controlled.
• You can run more safely. Unfortunately there are routes it is best for runners to avoid for personal safety issues. No-one wants to be on the receiving end of inappropriate, offensive or intimidating comments. Road safety can be a factor, particularly after dark. And the dark can also rule out unlit areas – you wouldn’t be the first to run into a post on an unlit path or turn an ankle in an expected pothole. Treadmills remove these dangers.
• Many treadmill models are shock absorbing. By reducing the impact forces you increase the amount of training you can do/reduce the risk of injury.
• You can programme your speed exactly. This is a big advantage if you are a beginner or are trying to learn better pace judgment. It can also work well if you are doing a session that requires running at a variety of paces. You programme the pace in and ‘bingo’ you know you are doing the session right.
• You can control the gradient. Treadmills often have options to allow you to set how steep the angle is you are running up (or down). This means you can control the resistance exactly rather than facing hills at the wrong time in a run.
• You can look in the mirror. This means you can check your hair looks good, but more importantly you can check your running form. Are your shoulders loose and relaxed? Are your arms swinging rhythmically? Are you landing lightly on your feet and ‘toeing off’ smoothly? You can monitor these things and become a more efficient runner.
• You can set a specific session without thinking of it. Many treadmills have options on choosing or setting a session. Once you have hit the Start button you know that if you stay on the treadmill you are running at the right pace, at the right angle for the right length of time all the way through the session.
• You can build mental focus. Outside there are many distractions to make the time pass by. Indoors it may not be the same (although you can use music, TV or conversation with the person next to you as a distraction) and so you develop a level of mental toughness.
• Hydration is easier to manage. On a treadmill you stand as much water as you need in bottles next to you and there it is for the whole of the run. You don’t even have to carry it. Outdoors you must carry it or run loops to pick it up.
• You may feel far less self conscious exercising in a gym or at home. After all everyone is in a gym to exercise so no-one is likely to be making those ‘Run, Forest run’ comments or looking at you as the only person around wearing shorts/lycra.

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Nike Air Pegasus The Pegasus is the best selling cushioning shoe of all time. Great cushioning and a stable feel for a neutral shoe. Good protection and enough responsiveness for when you want to push the pace. A well designed outsole means the shoe is suitable for running on varied terrain too! Mens | Womens

Adidas Supernova GCS adidas's top support shoe is their ground breaking GCS and it's a cracker. The GCS system deals with impact forces and starts controlling pronation from the moment your foot hits the ground! There’s adiPRENE+ cushioning for even more protection – a great ride. Mens | Womens

Nike Air Vomero Designed to bring all the benefits of Nike’s legendary Air cushioning and the Control At Origin technology that gives comfort from the moment your foot hits the ground. But the shoe also gives the freedom of allowing the foot to move naturally giving a beautifully smooth feel to the shoe.

Nike Air Zoom Percept A women's shoe combining of the principles behind the Pegasus and Free (the Nike shoe designed to train your foot to work more naturally). But there’s extra cushioning and stretch panels in the upper to make the overall feel a real delight.

Adidas Supernova Cushion This is a shoe that gives great cushioning whether you are running the miles on the road or on the treadmill. The shoe is also spot on for when you want to push the pace. Mens | Womens

Nike  Air Structure Triax Great cushioning comes from Air units in the heel and forefoot plus a PU 'Crash Pad'. Then for support the Structure Triax has a combination of features including medial support, specially placed flex grooves and forefoot WARP. Mens | Womens

Adidas Response Cushion Highly effective running shoe that shows why the Response range has been a 'go to' line for runners for years. Mens | Womens

Adidas Response Extra A new Response shoe that includes cushioning from adiPRENE and adiPRENE+ and adidas' Pro-Moderator system to guide your foot through it's correct movement. Mens | Womens

Adidas Nova Cushion A great shoe at this price! Good cushioning and protection with a smooth feel to the shoe. Mens | Womens