Treadmill

[Noodles91]

I have just purchased a treadmill. Any do’s and don’t from you wise and experienced runners please?

My first run on the treadmill was much harder (but I still enjoyed it) than the ground. Am I doing something wrong?

[Buddy34 Graduate]

I don't have any experience of treadmills but you will still have to keep it slow . There will be people in here who do use them and will be able to point you in the right direction of what pace to stick at. Good luck 😊

[LeeU Graduate]

Treadmill running is slightly different to running outdoors, I'm a treadmill runner transitioning to outdoor running, I will be keeping my treadmill for when it's raining heavily or snowing, also because it's 2 months old.

Obviously, the main difference is that the treadmill (if it is a motorised one) goes at the pace you set, you don't need to worry about it like you would outside.

As the 'ground' is moving below you on a treadmill it puts a heavier load on the front of your thighs and a lighter load on the back of them, unlike outdoor running where the leg is exercised more evenly.

If you want to simulate running outdoors then have the incline set to 1% as a minimum, if you add hills into your treadmill run don't forget to go back to 1% after each run.

Ignore the HR sensors, I would never run on a treadmill while holding on (ok, I did the first time I completed the program as I was running too fast for too long and nearly died!).

Just take it slow and steady, as per the first point above, the pace is relentless on a treadmill, it's mindless and doesn't know that your legs are tiring from going slightly too quickly and you want to slow your pace a little like you would outside without really thinking about it, on a treadmill you would need to consciously adjust the speed of the belt until it's at a comfortable pace.

NEVER RUN ON A TREADMILL WITHOUT THE SAFETY CUTOUT ATTACHED TO YOU!!! Sounds simple but people do and a treadmill belt can cause serious injury if you fall. If you fall outside the ground don't keep moving like a treadmill belt would and my belt feels a little like sandpaper.

If you have run outside you may find running on a treadmill boring, you may need to find something for your brain to do as you run as the scenery doesn't change.

Don't get me wrong, it will give you a good workout, I've done the program twice and both times have been on a treadmill.

[islandrunner Graduate]

LeeU's post was really good. I'd add ...

I run both outdoors and on a treadmill. The whole pace thing is really different on a treadmill. 8:30 per KM on a treadmill feels really fast (to me), yet outdoors feels slow (to me). Note, for me, 8:30 per KM at the moment is my good pace !

So, don't worry too much about the pace on the treadmill, go at a speed that you can keep up over the required duration.