subject: Running Training Tips - Treadmill Running [print this page] There is a great deal of disparaging stuff said about how boring and "unreal" treadmill running is, and while most of this is true, these drawbacks are vastly outweighed by the advantages.
Any sort of running is better than no running at all, and for many novices the treadmill at their gym is where they feel most confident and relaxed about it. You will never be held slave to the weather on a treadmill, you shouldn't have to worry too much about personal safety, what time of the day (or night!) it is will be less of an issue, then there's what some may consider quite a bonus - you can watch TV as you run. Even if a noisy, crowded gym is not to your taste, the range of home-use treadmills on offer will accommodate most budgets.
Prolonged treadmill running may affect your stride, as it lengthens foot drag which wilt have to be compensated for in your balance, but the real disadvantage with it lies in what you'll be missing out on. So many of the reasons why many of us took up running in the first place will be lost: fresh air (even the most crowed cities are breathable in the early mornings); inspiration from your surroundings; and the motivation to carry on running for another couple of hours.
Five Running Tips To Get You Out Of The Front Door
1. Get changed into your running kit. It will put you in a running frame of mind, and, fairly quickly, it will be easier to go for a run than have everybody else in the house ask "You going for a run then?"
2. Arrange for a running buddy to call for you. Then you can't get out of it, or you'll have wasted their time, too.
3. Have a stretch. You'll release endorphins that will make you feel much livelier, and your newly loosened muscles will start nagging you to hit the road.
4. The 20-minute rule. lf you think you really don't feel like a long run, promise yourself you'll only do 20 minutes. Once you hit that mark and you're properly warmed up, you'll want to carry on for ever.
5. Read the TV schedules. When you confront yourself with the Three Rs - reality, repeats and rubbish - you'll start running just to get away from your set.
