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Apologies if there is a thread for this somewhere else, did a quick search but nothing really came up.
Due to a new member to the family (yaaawwwnnn!), I have been struggling to get running time, so have recently purchased a treadmill. What are the thoughts on training on a treadmill, I realise its not the same, but if I can get out 1/2 days a week and top this up with treadmill running - could this still be beneficial and give good results? Any thoughts appreciated.
I think it will be beneficial, especially if you stick it on a bit of an incline now and again...
unfortunately for you though, it's going to be a wee bit tedious!
As much as I mocked you on twitter earlier, treadmills can be beneficial. The main benefit however is that the pace is consistent (so no hiding), which is more of a benefit to road runners. That said, training intensely for the road is a better route to overall fitness, "running fast times on the road is much harder than doing well on the fells" so said a wise (not so) old sage to me recently ;)
Rob - what was the sage's reasoning behind that statement?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Furness
You can't hide on the roads. Pace is high all the time and if you blow up that's it. On the fells you get checkpoints, stiles, gates, walking climbs etc. which all can give an opportunity to recover that you don't get on the road. Basically the intensity is higher for longer periods.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnH
I do speed sessions on the treadmill listening to some high tempo music. Usually follow it up with some ab work. I think it's beneficial just to mix things up.
It is very beneficial, and if you cant get out to run then having a treadmill is ideal :) I woud use it for tempo/high intensity training, if you keep the training short but intense, you wont get bored of it so easy :) From personal experience, since I stopped using one, Ive lost a lot of 'zip', but maybe thats because im getting older :p
Thanks for the feedback. I've been on it a few times now and can honestly say that it is bloody boring, constantly watching the distance and time ticking by instead of enjoying the scenery is shocking. I can see the benefits, and found it pushed me when normally I would slow down for a breather. I also found in the past that the fastest I have been on the fells is when I had a strong training schedule in road running, I think constantly training on the fells makes me sluggish, so cross fingers it will be a big benefit. Also think I could do with air-con in the garage - not great!
Agreeing with your last post, boring is an understatement. My sister is a big road runner and got a treadmill for her room so she could run over winter, she used it about 6 times realised there was no way she could do a 2 hour run on it and sent it back claiming she was too heavy for its reccomended guidelines. a small white lie never hurt anyone ;)
Can't say I agree Rob. Up until mid February 2011 I had been a road runner for 30 years. I started training for the BG and did London late April 2011. Ran 3.16 with last 2 miles at 6.11 miling, best I have ever felt in the marathon and could have kept going quite happily. Only reason a ran so slowly overall was that I assumed that as this was after 10 weeks of running no more than 2 miles without walking, I wouldn't be able to handle 26 miles non stop running.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Furness
As a coach I have since tried to instil into all my athletes the benefits of fell training compared to the 'easy' option of running on the roads.
I have to agree, I live in Newcastle, but come from North Yorkshire, when ever I have been at home for a period of time and spent time running at home (around roseberry topping, captain cooks monument etc) for say a week or so, I find my road results have improved significantly. I always feel the climbing builds extra leg muscles that translate over into road results!Quote:
Originally Posted by Theolneywayisup
I struggled to run more than 2 or 3 km on a treadmill without losing the will to live. However now use it at lunchtimes in the local gym to do a sharp interval session, literally just 15 mins running time. 5 mins jog warmup, ramp the belt up to 20 kph, 3 or 4 gradient then a 30 second blast. then rather than faff about lowering the speed, just jump my feet to the side and have a 30 second recovery. repeat 10 times and your done! Will need plenty of time to cool down and stop sweating though.. and you'll get some strange looks from other gym-goers!
Doesn't replace the need for building/maintaining that stamina base of weekly mileage but it's great when pushed for time and a different element to training.
I have just done Peris my hardest race by a long way and I have to say I finished it too strong. Just held back too much in the earlier parts of the race. It is easy to do that on climbs. Less severe climbs are actually harder because you cannot justify walking them. There is no shame in walking the climbs on Peris, so it does allow a bit of dossing.
I noticed an old bint on the treadmill at our gym the other day hanging on for grim death with a machine on quite an incline.
Tonight I thought I would see how steep they go. The answer was 15% which I think is between 1:6 & 1:7. It was rather steep as I batted along at 10 kph, I do not think I could have kept it up for very long.
Does anyone do any hill reps on one?
I do !!!!! 8x3mins @8mph on 8% incline is a good session. Also running 5.7miles on 10% incline is the equivalent of doing 3000ft of ascent.Try doing that at 6mph !!
I'm not sure I want to give away my biggest secret :rolleyes: I used it to excess 2009-2010, and since then in smaller doses at certain times of year. 15% is fab and my drill is somewhat unique...Quote:
Originally Posted by Trog
Its like anything I guess. Use it right and its benificial to one degree or another. Reps, hill-reps etc etc - anything that builds leg speed or leg strength - would, I think be benificial. Particularly in lieu of anything else. With regards a fast road race being harder than a good fell race, again I'd say it depends on your mentallity throughout both events. I agree there's more opportunity to rest/recover in a fell race...the question would be if I'd don't take those opportunities will it be harder and will I be faster. For the record I take the rest option! :)
Treadmill training improved my speed significantly.
Better to do a mix of training if possible.
Thanks for putting this thread up. I struggle to get out for the same reason, so rely on a treadmill at work. Some great tips for making it more useful and less mind-numbing!
I live in the flatlands and 95% of my climbing training is done on the treadmill. It’s obviously not the same as Fell training, but it’s consistent, hard work, measurable, and nowhere to hide (the physical action of actually having to slow the treadmill down on a hard interval is a good psychological barrier to keep me working).
Still manage to get 40 miles/10000ft per week average, when combined with club sessions, but I won’t pretend it isn’t mentally hard sometimes.
As you’d probably expect from such a regime, I find I can “climb with the best of them” (so to speak) but I do struggle on the most technical ground. But since I applied a lot more commitment to training my results have improved significantly, and the fact I use a treadmill has not really held me back as of yet...
I try to change the speed and tilt of the deck. Variety allows me to surprise my muscles and to progress more actively. If I am not in the mood to train, I start by walking.