Unless you live and run in a climate with no rain, no snow, intense heat, bone-chilling cold and sudden storms, your scheduled workouts are sometimes interrupted by bad weather. Last summer here in St. Louis we had many days that started out sunny and dry, but rainy by the end of the afternoon. To be sure, many outside runners got soaked.
A good treadmill allows runners to complete their workouts in the comfort, warmth, and safety of their own homes. With cold water, TV and bathroom nearby.
Rick Morris has been a competitive runner since the 1970s. He is a professional athletic trainer, certified personal trainer, president of Running Planet Inc, and owner of the website Running Planet dot com. So he knows the joys and dangers of running away from his own experiences and those of his clients.
This book extensively covers both the pros and cons of using a treadmill. His general conclusion is that competitive runners need to run when possible but, as noted above, that is not always possible.
Treadmills are an acceptable substitute for road running. They may also offer benefits. For example, they may be inclined to duplicate the effect of running on slopes. Many runners live in flat areas. Additionally, they force runners to maintain a constant speed instead of slowing down as they tire.
I will add a benefit that it does not have. We are now learning that barefoot running is healthier in the sense of allowing the muscles in our feet, ankles and arches to flex and get a good workout. After all, people have been running for a million years, long before Nike started running and even before sneakers were invented.
Few of us grew up running barefoot through the jungle like the Kenyan marathon runners did, so our feet don’t have thick enough soles to withstand pavement, ash trails, rocks, and potential broken glass. But a treadmill has none of those problems.
It reviews the extensive features available on modern treadmills and provides a buyer’s guide that explains all the items to consider.
The bulk of the book consists of explaining individual treadmill workouts and then providing weeks of suggested training programs.
Individuals include: Endurance, Speed Endurance, Speed, Hill Workouts, and Long Runs.
The training programs are: Beginners, 5K Finish, 10K Finish, Weight Loss, Fitness/Recreational Running, Half Marathon Finish, Marathon Finish, and Competitive Runner Training.
Along the way, it provides a lot of useful information for all runners, whether they use a treadmill or not: using your heart rate, using perceived exertion, and the various types of workouts.
As he points out, the biggest problem with treadmills is that the good ones cost as much as a small car, and the cheap models aren’t worth it.
However, if you are rich or serious enough, a good treadmill is a great investment in your running career and therefore in your long-term health and fitness.