Treadmill Timewasters

[CdnArtyWife]

Good for you.........still doesn't change my opinion or my peeve. Walk to the store, walk up and down the stairs, but don't walk on a treadmill when there is a perfectly good track for walking on. I know this post would have pos and neg comments so keep them coming.

What does 12 minutes walking on a treadmill do for anyone who doesn't get off the treadmill with sweat on???

Oh and by the way, over 26 miles, I don't walk, I run or jog.  And when I do the 2 CMBG Ironman, I don't walk either.

You know...I actually agree...12-15 minutes on a treadmill doesn't really help anybody...and you have a point...if there is a track nearby, go there.

I am not contradicting myself... I just wanted to be sure you weren't just bitching cus a hefty chick used a mill next to you...thankyou for reiterating and clarifying.

Cheers,

Kara

 

[George Wallace]

Whoa!

Was she 'voluptuous' now, or was she 'hefty'?  I now have two different pictures.   ???

A question that enters my mind, is why get expensive Treadmills (X) x (X-number), when you have a perfectly functional cushioned running track?



Then again, this whole topic is sort of a "Timewaster".    ;D

 

[Journeyman]

If the purpose of the thread was to discuss misuse of gym equipment, why was the users physical appearance mentioned at all. Whether it was a 350 lb woman, 110 lb man, or 150 lb Adonis - if they were walking on the treadmill during PT time would the result have not been the same?

muffin

Agreed. Try and focus on the matter at hand. I suspect someone (previously described as a "crusty old engineer") may have "issues"   

 

[043]

Agreed. Try and focus on the matter at hand. I suspect someone (previously described as a "crusty old engineer") may have "issues"   

No issues, voluptous in my definition was being very polite in order to not offend. You are right, if the person weighs 60 lbs, they shouldn't be walking on the equipment.

 

[Forgotten_Hero]

OK for cardio but not as good for the body

Ok... so if my muscles can handle running for an hour, and I could run on the treadmill for an hour (bringing my cardio to the same point as I would on the track), would I be able to run for an hour on the track too?

 

[Journeyman]

You are right, if the person weighs 60 lbs, they shouldn't be walking on the equipment.

No, you still haven't caught the reasons for some people's rebuttals here. The equipment is for people to build/maintain their fitness. Gender and/or weight are completely irrelevant. Skinny does not equal fit any more than large automatically equals unfit.

While I personally agree that a person who is just using the treadmill, with no incline set, at a walking pace, might otherwise use the track. Perhaps their treadmill time-slot is when they chose to catch the news (if your gym has TVs in front of the treadmills - - set on the news and not a music vid station).

Ok... so if my muscles can handle running for an hour, and I could run on the treadmill for an hour (bringing my cardio to the same point as I would on the track), would I be able to run for an hour on the track too?

Yes and no. Yes, IF the cardio level was the same for both treadmill and track. As noted, however, the track does not move under your feet, requiring more energy to cover the same distance - - therefore you would need greater cardio fitness for the same distance/speed. Therefore, no, not necessarily.

The practical outcome of this discussion would be, if you plan on running a marathon, and do all of your training on a treadmill, when you actually encounter the 42km out in the real world, you would be in for a nasty surprise.

(Conversely, the people you meet and the cheering crowds are much more noticable in a real marathon, as opposed to standing beside your treadmill as you run, which may add sufficient motivation for you to continue running the marathon    )

 

[Forgotten_Hero]

As noted, however, the track does not move under your feet, requiring more energy to cover the same distance - - therefore you would need greater cardio fitness for the same distance/speed. Therefore, no, not necessarily

Ahh, yup, I realise that. I was working under the assumption that the treadmill would be inclined sufficiently to equate them.

 

[Journeyman]

I was working under the assumption that the treadmill would be inclined sufficiently to equate them.

Fair enough...for developing cardio-vascular fitness. But at the end of the day, when going out for a "real" run, there are other factors that will come into play - - wind resistance, the greater muscular pull required in the glutes/hams, the stabilizing muscles in all of the lower joints involved.....

So don't abandon the 'dreadmill,' just don't fool yourself into believing it can do it all.

 

[Forgotten_Hero]

Nah, I realise that. Its just that during the winter I use the treadmill, and I was wondering why comming out of the winter I found it so much harder to run outside than on the treadmill, and wondered if I was wasting my time on it.

 

[Journeyman]

Its just that during the winter I use the treadmill, and I was wondering why comming out of the winter I found it so much harder to run outside than on the treadmill, and wondered if I was wasting my time on it.

Now that we seem to have made this a private discussion.....     

At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you put into it. I find it hard to keep enthused about the treadmill, which is why I'm glad my gym has a good track. The dreadmills are good for a change, to keep your training from going stale, especially if there's something appealing/distracting in front of you.......on the TV!  ;D

Just keep thinking about how much your early season outdoor runs would suck if you hadn't been keeping a base level of fitness on the machines!

 

[043]

No, you still haven't caught the reasons for some people's rebuttals here. The equipment is for people to build/maintain their fitness. Gender and/or weight are completely irrelevant. Skinny does not equal fit any more than large automatically equals unfit.

While I personally agree that a person who is just using the treadmill, with no incline set, at a walking pace, might otherwise use the track. Perhaps their treadmill time-slot is when they chose to catch the news (if your gym has TVs in front of the treadmills - - set on the news and not a music vid station).

Yup, lots fitness being built and maintained by walking on the treadmill and not putting any effort into it. There is more effort put into getting up off of the couch, walking to the refrigerator, opening the door, removing the ice cream pail, etc, etc.