The benefits of treadmill running

The benefits of tradmill running

If you struggle to find places to run near you, or are just not a fan of the rainy, muddy outdoors, you may be relieved to know that treadmills have some advantages over road running and can form a key part of your training for the Brighton Marathon 10K.

While you should avoid using treadmills exclusively because it’s important to let your body adapt to the road, you should certainly consider giving them a go if you haven’t already! Here are some key benefits of using a treadmill…

Increase the intensity

Using the treadmill controls, you can increase the intensity of your workout with the push of a button. It’s also easy to do using the incline function. When road running you need to look for a new route to increase the distance or introduce hills, and use a tracking device or stopwatch to measure your speed, which can make life more difficult.

Monitor your performance

Treadmills are the most simple, accurate way of measuring your performance during your training. Because there are fewer external factors like weather conditions or route diversions that could affect your run, you get a truer picture of how you’re progressing.

Feel the health benefits

Running on the road is quite high impact and can put stress on you joints and tendons. It’s particularly risky in cold weather because you’re more likely to suffer muscles strains, or slip on icy or wet roads. Treadmill running can be kinder to your body and you won’t have to worry about wearing lots of layers either!

Explore the gym

If you’re using a treadmill in a gym, make the most of the resources around you to enhance and vary your workout. After your run, why not try out the weights, bikes, swimming pool or an exercise class? Most gyms have a thriving community, so they’re also a great place to meet new, like-minded people.

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