Treadmills

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. . . Keep On Running

Treadmills are a really popular piece of kit for anybody who likes to “keep on running . . . ” It kind of takes away all of the excuses doesn’t it? It’s too cold, I don’t like to run in the dark, it’s raining, I can’t possibly go out in public wearing lycra! If you have a treadmill you can run whenever and for as long as you like, without finding yourself miles from home and needing to catch a bus to get home.

Treadmills are a popular piece of equipment found in thousands of gyms around the world, but these days there are more and more people who have their own private gyms . . . and their own treadmills.  But what considerations should you make before taking the plunge and buying a treadmill of your very own?

Hmmm, weren’t expecting that were you? Treadmills are used in evolutionary science and robotics too to discover how different species walk. Anyway, it’s good fun so I don’t care!

How about this then . . .

. . . well that’s got one part of the “going for a walk” business sorted out, but what about the other little things they’re supposed to do while they’re out and about?

 Wow, what a workout, I’m impressed!

Right, back to the people stuff . . .

Ten Things To Think About Before Buying a Treadmill

1. Treadmills are big (well, people sized ones are anyway), and they do take up a lot of space. You might be surprised at just how heavy they are too, so once they’re in position they’re darned difficult to shift. Check the size of the treadmill footprint before you try to squeeze it in to your 6′ x 6′ conservatory! Folding treadmills are a good idea but they still take up a lot of space even when they’re folded up . . . you can’t fit a treadmill into a small box, no matter which way you fold it!
2. Treadmills have motors, in fact, the ones which incline often have two motors, so pay consideration to the type and size of motor in the treadmill you’re thinking of paying your hard earned cash for. Once the motors gone kapput it’s, well, kapput . . . .  The size of horsepower needed for your treadmill motor really depends on what you’re going to be doing with it, and for how long. If you’re going to be mostly walking on your treadmill then 1 – 1.5 horsepower should be plenty, if, however, you’re going to be running (now be honest, you’re only fooling yourself you know) then you’ll need at least 1.5 – 2 horsepower.
3. Treadmills are relatively expensive pieces of equipment, so pay particular attention to any manufacturers warranty . . . the longer the better. Some warranties will include parts only for a set number of years, some may include parts and labor. Make sure that any labor costs are covered for at least a year.
4. Treadmills have cushioning systems (the higher quality ones do anyway) which is important, especially if you have suffered from any joint problems in the past. If you suffer from bad knees, bad ankles or a bad back make sure that the treadmill you choose has a great cushioning system.
5. Treadmills have adjustable speed, just like people. This means the speed in which the belt moves. Most people walk at speeds of around 3 – 6 mph, and run at speeds of around 6 – 10 mph. The majority of treadmills do have the capacity to go at up to 10 mph, but only the superfit ever get to that speed safely and on purpose.
6. Treadmills do need a certain amount of maintenance, some more than others. You might just need to keep everything clean and lube the belt from time to time . . . anyway, it’s another question which needs to be asked before you make your final treadmill choice.
7. Inclining Treadmills have become more popular in recent years. Sometimes the incline of the treadmill can be adjusted electrically, sometimes it may need to be adjusted manually, some treadmills incline to around 15%, others only have inclines of a maximum of 10%. If this is important to you . . . ask the question!
8. Treadmill Belt Length is another consideration you should take into account. Taller people with a longer stride may need a belt length of 50 or 60 inches, shorter people with a shorter stride may need a belt length of only 45 to 50 inches. I bet you didn’t realize that there was so much to consider when you first started thinking about buying your own treadmill did you?
9. Treadmills also have a maximum weight capacity, did you realize that? You should make sure that anybody who will be using the treadmill weighs less than the maximum weight allowed.
10. Treadmill Display Panels are a vital piece of the kit. They’re generally either LED or LCD and some of them do provide much more information than others do. You should be able to monitor the speed, distance, incline, time, amount of calories usedand maybe even your heart rate. Bear in mind that if you have a tall display panel, the shorter users might not be able to see it.

So there you have it. I bet you’re surprised at all of the things you need to think about, but I’ll say it again, treadmills are relatively expensive pieces of equipment, so it’s important that you spend your money wisely and get the best treadmill to suit your needs.

I hope that the people who bought all of these treadmills followed by advice! I’m sure that they did. Anyway, what do you think of this . . .

Do not try this at home . . . well, it would be pretty difficult with only one treadmill anyway. But, the point is, this can be dangerous and takes lots of practice, they might look like a bunch of nerds but they’re a well practiced bunch of nerds . . . okay!