How the treadmill can get you on track

When it comes to building up endurance and cardio aerobic fitness, a simple run  is one of the best exercises you can perform. Running, and cardio in general, should be a key component of your workout regimen for the health benefits. Running on a treadmill can help you make the first step if you’re a beginner and even help you get faster if you’re a seasoned jogger.

Despite this, the treadmill is sometimes seen as being detrimental to building your running gains, the idea of a controlled environment and less variation than you would get outside has left some runners feeling like the treadmill isn’t as challenging. However, there are many benefits to hitting the tread. Running indoors can help you build up your endurance and athletic ability, assist you with injury recovery and even help you when it comes to running outdoors. Here are a few reasons why getting your steps in on the treadmill can help you out.

You aren’t fighting the elements

One of the biggest obstacles to getting the most from your run, especially during the colder months of the year, is the weather and conditions. Icy floors, cold weather and strong winds can be the biggest obstacles to hitting new personal bests and getting the most from your run. By running on a treadmill, you get the benefit of room-temperature conditions with no wind or blistering cold! The same can be said for the summer months, where the heat can impact your performance.

You can set the incline and speed

Outdoor running can be great for a more natural, paced run, but it’s easy to burn out too easily by giving it your all at the start or running too slow without realizing you can hit a faster speed. By jumping on the treadmill, you can set an exact speed, incline, and keep an eye on your time. This can help you build speed and improve your incline running, which will translate to a faster and more rounded experience when you go for that personal best on your next park run!

You can run for longer

When you want to go that extra mile, quite literally, it’s much easier to add a little bit of extra distance onto a treadmill than it can be with a jog around the park. You can easily add an extra kilometre onto your run without having to worry about walking back the rest of your journey or burning out too far away from where you planned to end the run.

It has less of an impact on your joints

Whether you are recovering from an injury or just want to watch the stress you place on your ankles and knees, the tread offers better shock absorption than you would get on pavements and roads. Furthermore, you're able to run at an incline without the need to hit any hard declines which can add extra pressure.

It’s convenient

Busy schedule or strapped for time? A treadmill can be perfect for someone who is busy! If you want to grab a quick run without having to find a trail, you can hop on the tread and cover a few kilometres and easily hop off when you’re done. You can also listen to music, watch some TV or catch up on a podcast in a safe and controlled environment. You can even get moving late at night without having to worry about any safety concerns.

Treadmills are great toolsl, and by utilising them, you can easily hit new targets when it comes to grabbing an outdoor run! Cardio might not be as trendy as it once was, but cardiovascular health  is so important and If you want to find out more about the benefits of cardio, you can read our article here.