Treadmill a waste?

[adversity04]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

- you run often (or not) and running on asphalt has taken a toll on your knees and lower back

If you learn to run properly you won't have such problems...stop landing on your heels.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by J'aimelescravates

I absolutely love biking A1A near the beach though on the weekends. I can easily make a whole day of it.

+1

Jon.

 

[Epaulet]

Treadmills.

Often, not so great for people.

But ALWAYS great for hyperactive Labrador Retrievers:

 

[alliswell]

The reason that treadmills are left unused is that people who buy them don't want to exercise. If you want to exercise, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll also find a way, no matter what's sitting in your TV room.

Also, for those who advocate having them in front of the TV - try living with real people.

 

[warlok1965]

I would never buy a treadmill, but I use the hell out of the ones at the gym. I got tired of road running.

-Roads are tough on joints, please don't give me that bullshit about proper form. I've been running for many years.

-You can use it as part of a much more complete workout. Doing one thing over and over is not as effective unless you are training for a race. Try doing a bunch of supersets with lighter weights and throwing in a fast run on the 'mill at the end of your workout. Mix it up with bike, stairs, etc.

-Gyms are much more social than home exercise rooms which helps combat exercise burnout.

 

[DNW]

Umm...it's been below freezing here for a couple of weeks now. Hurray for the treadmill!

 

[velobran]

Originally Posted by J'aimelescravates

I absolutely love biking A1A near the beach though on the weekends. I can easily make a whole day of it.

Originally Posted by imageWIS

+1

+ 2

Nice to see another south floridian here.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by warlok1965

I would never buy a treadmill, but I use the hell out of the ones at the gym. I got tired of road running.

-Roads are tough on joints, please don't give me that bullshit about proper form. I've been running for many years.

-You can use it as part of a much more complete workout. Doing one thing over and over is not as effective unless you are training for a race. Try doing a bunch of supersets with lighter weights and throwing in a fast run on the 'mill at the end of your workout. Mix it up with bike, stairs, etc.

-Gyms are much more social than home exercise rooms which helps combat exercise burnout.

I am in a similar situation. I have a limited amount of time to get a full workout in, and using the treadmill in the gym is just a more efficient use of my time. For years, I did roadwork - long runs, intervals, the gamut, as well as track sprints. Then I would go to the gym and do weights, circuit routines, or something else. However, the whole thing, including changing and showers, would take over 2 hours. I just can't afford that anymore. Doing primarily sprints in the treadmill, I can get a lot of cardio and power in within 1/2 hour, and then do 30-45 minutes of weights/resistance, depending on the day, and some heavybag and pad work on the weekends. Including the shower, I am typically out in 1.5 hours, which is doable.

I am sure that if I had a complete home gym, I would not slack. I like to exercise alone in any case (I try to time my workouts for when the minimal number of people are at the gym) so I would not miss the "social" aspect of the gym very much. The only thing I miss are sparring partners and partners do do pad work with, but that is life.

So, back on topic: a treadmill is not a waste if you are going to use it. Whether you will or not, you have to answer yourself truthfully.

 

[zshaver]

While not condusive to competitive running, I love plugging my laptop into the bigscreen beside my treadmill and using the playlists I've made on mtv.com. I find that this is the best way to keep up my intensity and there's about a quarter of the commercials of normal music channels.

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by JayJay

I have to be actually going some place when I run. Treadmills don't work for me.

I use my car to get places.

I do think running on a treadmill is boring as hell since you don't get changing scenery (unless watching ugly girls get on and off the elliptical machines in front of you counts as changing scenery). Glad I got my IPOD.

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

(unless watching ugly girls get on and off the elliptical machines in front of you counts as changing scenery)

Well, that would depend on where your gym is, wouldn't it? There's no better scenery than a fine piece of university ass, or two, or five, to keep you focus.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by DarkNWorn

Well, that would depend on where your gym is, wouldn't it? There's no better scenery than a fine piece of university ass, or two, or five, to keep you focus.

http://styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=54035 ??

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

http://styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=54035 ??

They do have co-ed locker rooms here, but only one is allowed in at a time. ******* prudes!

 

[J'aimelescravates]

Originally Posted by velobran

+ 2

Nice to see another south floridian here.

The 3 of us should go biking sometime

 

[velobran]

Originally Posted by J'aimelescravates

The 3 of us should go biking sometime

That sounds really gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Just don't mistake my eurotrash cycling apparel for my day-to-day wear

Do you guys ride in the MS150 to Key Largo?