Treadmill Tips Worth Saving for a Rainy Day!

Fall is here, and that means colder temps and rainy days are right around the corner. The change in weather could mean that some days you may have to take your workouts to the treadmill. Treadmill running sometimes gets a bad rep, but below are a few of our favorite treadmill tips to help you make the best of it… who knows, they may even change your mindset around treadmill running!

1) The treadmill helps you train for speed. Sure, you can get a great speed workout done on the track, but the tread will pace for you so you can hit your exact speed goals on your next interval training day. If you have super specific PR or time goals, try adding some interval training to your plan about once per week via the treadmill!

2) Three words: Netflix and Tread. You’d be surprised at how many episodes you can watch while getting your workout in. Watching Netflix not only helps pass the time, it allows you to focus on something other than running or fatigue. Over time, you might even come to look forward to your alone time on the tread, because it means you get to watch Netflix too! If Netflix isn’t your thing, try listening to a Podcast. These can be just as entertaining, but you don’t have to focus your gaze in one direction for too long.

3) You never have to worry about the weather. In fall and winter months, the weather can be less than ideal. The treadmill is great when you’re in a pinch or if you’re short on time. You can always guarantee you’ll be able to get your workout done on time, with a bit of added convenience. There is no extra time spent on route planning, no waiting at stop lights, no having to re-route mid-run due to weather, etc. It’s an easy in and out.

4) You can add in incline/hill training! We mentioned the importance of training with inclines in a previous article. This is key to getting stronger glutes and hamstrings, which will help you be a faster and stronger runner overall. With a treadmill, you don’t have to worry about finding a hill to climb in your neighborhood, especially if you live in the flat DFW area. All you have to do is set it and forget it! Pro Tip: Always keep your treadmill at 1% incline to mimic running outdoors. This will also help you prevent injury and keep your legs feeling fresh after a treadmill run.

5) Last but not least, change is a good thing. If you always run the same route or the same workout, eventually you will outgrow it. Adding variation to your training will help you stay on your toes and become a more versatile runner.

So, next time you’re thinking about skipping your workout due to bad weather or lack of time, consider taking it to the tread. Try out a new speed workout and turn on your favorite Netflix series. You may be surprised at how much you actually enjoy it!