8. Simplified marathon training. We know a world-class marathoner who
has logged 30 miles in a single treadmill run and a beginning
marathoner who trained for her first marathon with 3-hour run/walk
sessions. In between these two extremes are thousands of runners
who sometimes find a treadmill safer, friendlier and more motivational
than outside running. Johanna Rees of Coronado, Calif., used
a treadmill to begin her running program and, just one year
later, finished a marathon in 3:43, after doing 95 percent of
her training on a treadmill. Tip: If you're planning for a marathon
or another race with some daunting hills on the course, you
can use your treadmill's incline function to simulate those
hills.
9. The ability to quantify workouts. Want to know how many calories you've
burned? Your heart rate? How fast you're running? The distance
you've run to the hundredth of a mile? Only a treadmill can
provide this precise data, and sometimes much more. A treadmill's
"feedback" functions provide important training information,
as well as motivation and entertainment during workouts. "I
am a beginner, and the displays on the treadmill give me 'proof'
of how far I've run," notes Heather Seymour of Stamford,
Conn.
10. Musical motivation. When you're on a treadmill, you don't have to worry
about safety concerns or anyone else's musical tastes. Put on
your portable tape or CD player and turn up the volume as high
as you like. "Whatever type of music motivates you, let
it blast away," suggests Bruce Kushner of Laurys Station,
Pa. "As your heartbeat creeps up during a workout, it's
easier to concentrate on music than on a passive medium like
TV."
11. Incredible workout variety. No road, track or trail has it all.
Each is either too flat or too hilly, too hard or too soft.
The treadmill has exactly what you want, when you want it. "With
a little imagination, you can design treadmill workouts that
are more variable and yet more precise than those you do on
the road or track," says Owen Anderson, Ph.D., Runner's
World's "Fast Lane" columnist.
12. The Zen of treadmill running. Because a treadmill does so much for
you, you can relax during your workout and not worry about traffic,
potholes, ice, dogs or people yelling at you. Patrick McAndless
of Richmond, B.C., says he can put himself into a meditative
state by listening to his breathing and focusing on key body
parts, from his head to his toes. "Before you know it,
you've completed your workout," he notes. Wally Perez is
more quantitative about his quiet time. "I exercise before
work and use the time on the treadmill to organize my thoughts
for the day, personally and professionally," says the Austin,
Tex., runner.
