The treadmill.
Some love it. Some put up with it. Some absolutely won’t step foot on it.
I’m not afraid to admit that I put up with it. I have one and it has been the best thing EVER on days when the winter weather doesn’t cooperate with my running plans or when my families schedule prevents me from getting outside. It works for me. Does that mean I’d choose it over running outside? Hell no. I’d much rather be outside. But I’m all about getting my run in when I can.
As I mentioned on Monday, one of my goals for the first quarter of 2016 is to re-introduce specific workouts back into my running routine. I love doing a speed workout at the track, but all of our outdoor tracks are covered in snow until at least April. (There is the UNH track that I might be able to make it to this year during the week – yay!). My second option is the road. But with snow and ice in spots, I’d rather not mess with the roads right now for specific workouts.
So that leaves me with the treadmill. The treadmill is a great alternative for speed workouts.
Why should you do speed work on the treadmill?
Vary the terrain with a push of a button
The treadmill is the perfect flat route. If you want to work at a certain pace and don’t want to worry about incline/declines, then the treadmill is it. That is until you push a button. If you live in a flat area and you want to work in some hills, push the up button and you’ve got yourself an incline.
Pace perfect
There’s no need to worry about stop lights, mapping a route, finding the least hilly route, what to do with your water bottle, etc. You can push the button to your desired pace and run you just need to hold it! And it will figure out what your speed equates to in pace per mile. Speedwork is hard! It’s fun to run fast, but it can be hard to hold a very fast pace when you’re tired. The treadmill helps take some of the guesswork out of the equation and forces you to keep up with the speed you set it at. It also slows you down on the recovery intervals, so you can appropriately recover.
You don’t need anything extra
With winter running, you need to wear ALL the layers. And then there’s carrying your phone, ID, hydration and fuel. The convenience of running in place is that if something comes up – you tweak your hamstring, you need to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW, you can stop running and tend to the matter right then.
The treadmill really is a great tool, if you can make peace with it!
Although I choose the treadmill for this workout, you can also choose the track or a flat route outside. It’s a fun one!
Here’s some more treadmill workouts for speed and strength:
Hills are speed work in disguise. If you don’t want to push the speed, head for the hills instead.
For more workout ideas, check out Wild Workout Wednesday!
And check out my Pinterest board dedicated to all workouts Treadmill!
Follow Happy Fit Mama’s board Happy Fit Treadmill Workouts on Pinterest.
Where do you prefer to do your speed workouts?
Love the treadmill? Tolerate it? Hate it?
I’m actually in the market for a treadmill so these workouts are timely 🙂 I definitely “put up” with the ‘mill but I absolutely love the idea of having one in my house when there will inevitably be 27 snow days this year!! Great stuff and I love the plug for your Pinterest board at the end. Clever.
Allie recently posted..Let’s Eat!
I LOVE treadmill workouts!!! Pinned for later- thanks so much for linking up! 🙂
Annmarie recently posted..DVRT STRENGTH WORKOUT FOR BUSY MOTHER RUNNERS
I just talked about the power of the treadmill in last night’s post! Mile High Run Club in NYC has made me fall in love with the treadmill and become a stronger runner thanks to the incline!! Love these workouts!
Ash Diamond recently posted..My 2016 NYC Half Marathon Training Plan
I could not agree more! I actually love the treadmill for speedwork and credit it to my PR times in shorter distances.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted..Healthy Smoothies Delivered to Your Door With Green Blender
I’m seriously sitting here right now debating whether or not to run outside or suck it up and use the treadmill at the gym. Mainly because I’m being a cold weather wimp 🙂 I still haven’t decided yet but I’m doing your hill workout the next time I’m on the treadmill!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Why I Tried the Whole30 and Whole30 Meal Plan Weeks 1 & 2
I like the pyramid workout. I get so bored on the mill but sometimes you have to and that will keep me distracted.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted..Lifetime Fitness Indoor Tri recap
I don’t love the treadmill, but it really is a necessity in the winter if you want to get any training done! I do speed work on the mill (the conditions are too unpredictable here) and I do heat training (running on the mill with fleece pants and top, no fan). My treadmill is 18 years old, but it is a reliable old frenemy.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted..Rewind, reset, renew
Thanks for the great treadmill workouts! I am a basement treadmill dweller all winter, and I have to say I actually love it! I just roll out of bed and in a few minutes I’m on the treadmill. Sports bra and shorts are all I need, and every thing I need is right within my reach. In the summer I love an outdoor run, but the in winter it’s can’t be beat in my opinion. And with the Bachelor starting again, I have *hours* of entertainment waiting for me 🙂
Glad you are getting back into your running workouts again! !
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures recently posted..Training Tuesday – Glass City Marathon 1/5/16 edition
These are all great workouts! It’s always tough for me to really enjoy running on the treadmill, but speed intervals are great at adding variety!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted..ZOOMA Run Love Training Begins!
I love my treadmill. I know some hate it like you said, but I totally agree about it being easier because you’re not all bundled up or worrying about the roads in the winter. You also don’t have to worry about the sunlight versus being outside. The type-A brain of mine also likes KNOWING how fast and how much incline I’m climbing.
Kalee recently posted..Monetize Your Healthy Blog with Beachbody Coaching
Great workouts! I have been saving my speed workouts for the coldest days and doing them on the treadmill- it’s my favorite treadmill run, otherwise I go crazy waiting for the miles to pass. Thanks for sharing!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..4 Throw Together One Pot Meals
Great workouts! The first one looks so fun and challenging! I go back and forth on how I feel about the treadmill: most times of year I can’t stand it, but in winter I do enjoy getting to run on it when it’s icy outside.
Laura @ This Runner’s Recipes recently posted..Whole30 for Runners: Why This Running Coach Won’t Recommend It
Love speedwork on the treadmill! Makes the time go by…
I love doing speedwork on the mill! Then I’m sure I’m really picking up speed and I can watch a good show while I do it :). Great workouts!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted..Goals For The Dopey Challenge
I love me some treadmill time, lol. Of course I would rather be outside, but our crazy schedule makes it a necessity a lot of the time sadly. These are great workouts! Thanks!
I like the speed workout you posted. I can see how the 1 min intervals would really start to burn your legs. Have you tried sprint 8? 8×30s all out sprints with 30s rest intervals in between or you can do the heart rate variant where you allow your heart rate to return to normal before you hop on again.
Andrew recently posted..Body Champ IT8070 Inversion Therapy Table