2014-03-05 - Treadmills have their place

I get a kick out of Facebook posts where someone mentions a treadmill workout. Then, they get hammered by a so called "friend" beating them up for wimping out and not getting out the door. I kind of get it but on the flip side some runners use the treadmill as a tool, regardless of the weather. The fact is, treadmill running can make you a faster, more efficient and a mentally tough runner.

Let's start with the, "mentally tough" claim. Let's say you jump on the treadmill for a workout. After what you guess is about hour of running, you look down at the time readout on the treadmill and you see that you have actually been on the thing for all of 5 minutes. If you hold out for an actual hour, you will be one mentally tough runner when you get back outside running in the natural environment!

The treadmill makes you more efficient. An interesting phenomenon takes place when you run on a treadmill. Let's say you set the speed of the treadmill at 9 minute per mile pace. As you run to keep up with the moving belt at a specific speed, you will have a natural tendency to adjust your running form to make it the least effort possible. These adjustments in form will even happen with little conscious effort. A runner may have other form inefficiencies such as those that make them bounce or lift their feet too high. These runners will actually clean up their form seeking the easiest way to run the pace set. These effects are increased if the pace is a difficult one for the runner to hold. After using a treadmill consistently for a period of time these changes in form will be learned, you will take them with you when you go on the road.

That said, it comes down to your running goals, some of us are out to get faster, some of us are out to get outside!

Get in your run, it's all good,

Randy Step, an admitted obsessed runner, headed out the door.

PS: Join us for spike nights at Running Fit! 20% off for student athletes! Northville - every Friday in March. Novi - Every Wednesday in March. AA West - Every Tuesday in March. AA East - Every Thursday in March. Traverse City Downtown - March 20.

PS: Join us Tuesday, March 11, at our bi-monthly forum at Running Fit Novi as we explore The Rise of the Charity Runner and what running for charity means for individuals, organizations and races. There will be plenty of lively discussion and ample opportunity for audience comments and questions.