My first attempt at treadmill running and I felt and looked like a plonker ........

[chusan51]

..... and don't tell me I didn't, to make it worse I was in front of full length mirrors under flourescent lights.

What an odd experience, and one I am not sure I'm excited to repeat. Don't think I ran more than ten steps before almost crashing off it. The action felt so wierd, that putting your foot down and then it being dragged behind you for seemingly no effort. I am so used to having to push off the landing leg but this felt like all I had to do was put leg in front, foot down and then the machine did it all for me. Oh yes, and it almost tried to throw me off backwards with each step too, just to add to the enjoyment. Anyway, I quit and walked on an incline instead thinking I would relax for a bit and then try again.

Got up to 7.5km/ph fast walking and then just couldn't set off into a running motion, so ended up walking at that speed for 30 minutes being constantly shocked at how few calories I was burning. 34 steps at that speed on incline 3 (whatever that means) equals one calorie - and so I was very quickly regretting that pain au chocolat and a bacon butty I'd had for breakfast.

Think I will try again tomorrow but not really sure what to do. Should I start off at say 5km/ph walking and then suddenly blast it up to 10 km/ph? Any suggestions from experienced treadmill runners greatly appreciated.

Have to say I certainly got up a sweat on that walk which I suspect was caused in part by fear and the fact that I was in a basement gym with no aircon in Gran Canaria at the time. Note to self to take towel tomorrow and to arrive after the muscle mary 25 years olds have finished pumping iron and trying not to laugh at me plonking along on my treadmill.

[swanscot Graduate]

Why are you running indoors? Is it too hot to run outside in the early morning? I've visited Gran Canaria in January and the temperature was perfect for a brisk walk to the beach for a quick swim about 8am. It would have been perfect temperature for running for me.

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to swanscot]

Well, I don't belong to a gym at home and have been thinking about joining as I cant motivate myself to go out in the cold. As hotel has one I thought I would try it out, but not impressed with my effort. Not sure what I was doing wrong, just didn't feel right, or safe

[swanscot Graduate in reply to chusan51]

Ah, now I understand. I too may 'have a shot' on one if I ever go to a hotel gym, just to try it out as, like you, I don't belong to a gym. I ran on for a few minutes in the running shop when I had gait analysis when buying my running shoes, but not for more than a few minutes at a time. I didn't really get into my stride and certainly ran slower than I do outside. It just didn't feel right.

[Mitts Graduate]

I feel your pain... I've been on a treadmill twice now.

First time was just a try-out, I managed a very slow jog which the girl programmed in for me, then she went to sort something at the desk, leaving me holding on for dear life, jogging gently and with no idea how to stop the machine... ended up slowing it down and jumping off, not to be recommended!

Second time I made sure I knew how to adjust the wretched thing, then walked three and ran 5 minutes before walking down and stopping.(am working back up after knee problems) I was even able to let go this time.

I think it's a matter of practise so don't give up, I'm having another go tomorrow. I agree it must be less strenuous than running outside. I did my five minutes on Sun after a six week break (apart from the two minute try-out) and could easily have gone on a lot longer, even breathed through my nose the whole time without thinking about it till l was warming down, which might not have happened outside - I'm usually puffing away after a couple of minutes before finding my rhythm.

Keep going - and let us know how you et on!

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

Gosh Tom, I understand totally after my glitch -- to put it mildly -- in Harrod's last month! Those machines scare the life out of me and I agree with Swan, why don't you run outdoors?

The temperatures must be ok in the mornings for a quick run. Anyway, good on you and keep on trying. Have a good holiday, Delia

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to DeliaItaly]

Funnily enough I was thinking of you as I battled the pesky contraption and took some confort in knowing I was in a relatively empty shabby basement instead of in the plushest store in the world Will go there too when back to get my gait assessed and will try the thing once more before heading to beach instead.

[RainbowC Graduate]

It's hard to say what speeds to try, since everyone's walking and running paces can vary so much. For me, I do my brisk walk at 4.5mph on the treadmill, and run at 5.5mph. It takes a bit of time, and a fair bit of trial and error to find the speed that's right for you, though. Try adjusting it just a small increment at a time until you find the speed that feels comfortable and uses your normal gait. If it's too slow or too fast, running will feel very odd; I always find the first minute or two running a bit uneven as I settle into my stride.

All that said, I really don't like the treadmill much and find it dull. Give me the great outdoors any day. Unless it's dark!

[shelleymcb Graduate]

I did all of c25k on a treadmill & didnt venture outside til Id done the b210k aswell. now I run outside & cant bear to get back on the treadmill ~ main reason being I just get soooooo hot. I have a treadmill at home which Im trying to sell & when I used it I would have the home portable fan on blowing a nice cool breeze to help things out. when I use the one at the gym I take a flannel & wet it & wring it out in the basins to take to the treadmill with me. its nice to have something cold to wipe the sweat away!

like rainbowC walking speed anything between 4 & 4.5mph. running anything between 5.5 & 7mph, depending on whether Im doing intervals.

the first couple of times I used the treadmill I felt like Id gotten off a boat when Id finished. for me I had to make sure that I slowed down gradually to a stop otherwise I felt giddy.

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to shelleymcb]

oh yes, I forgot to mention that "getting off the blooming thing" feeling, when I wobbled, felt seasick and walked into a cross trainer. Will give is another go tomorrow and see if I can get along with it, otherwise its off to the beach to run.

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Oh no you are not alone, I've been there, done that, not just once but several times. I hated a treadmill but have kept going back and building up the times. I start off walking slowly, speed it up to walking briskly and eventually get into a jog but only when I feel comfortable. I can now jog for 3K but that takes me about 30 minutes cos of the long walk and then the long cool down. If I try to get off the machine too quickly I stagger about like an old drunk who feels sea sick too, ugh. But I've found if I take the machine down in speed slowly then into a walk all is well. Big bonus is I can watch my heart rate returning to a slower pace while the cool down is ongoing. I don't like these machines and would much prefer to be outside but we have too much ice on the pavements and will have for months yet so its treadmill or no running and I'm not giving it up after all my hard work. Good luck, give it a few more tries, if I can master the darn treadmill I think anyone can.

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

i'll tackle it again tomorrow. Sensible advice. Think I should maybe not select one of the pre programmed runs, I now realise that may have been part of the problem as it kept changing speeds and incline all on its own. 5 mins walk at 5km/h then 30 mins at as fast as I can comfortably go, and then 5 mins walk. Will send update from my hospital bed tomorrow

[katrunkles Graduate in reply to chusan51]

LOL!

[NikkiJayne]

Ha, I must be the only person who likes the treadmill! I live out in the country which means no footpaths, no street lights, lots of mud, and insane drivers. Plus, I've never been an outdoors kind of person.

I guess it's just practice that gets you used to it, although I have been told that setting the treadmill at at least a 0.5% incline is better for your knees and also better simulates running outdoors (in that you have to work that little bit harder).

I walk at 5.7km/h and run at 7.5-8km/h but I'm only 5'3 with little legs

[chusan51 Graduate in reply to NikkiJayne]

i have short legs too - will try those settings tomorrow. that half hour walk at 7km/h was tougher than I thought and feeling the impact now.

[rubbishrunner Graduate]

Treadmills are boring ... but as I shuffle like a 100-year old on the ice, I will be running on one as soon as I get over the lurgy ... but I also have short-leg syndrome and walk at about 6 kph and then *run* (in the loosest sense) like NikkiJayne at between 7.5 and 8 kph. You can always turn the speed up during the run! I find it a bit depressing as I know to get to 5k in 30 minutes I should be running at 10 kph ... hopefully I do go a bit faster outside!

[tantrumbean Graduate]

Only time I've been on a treadmill was for gait analysis - comedy value is putting it mildly. Me and shop assistant came to an agreement that we might be better off giving up and letting me run outside before there was some horrible accident!