TheDailyRunner.com

Treadmill Running Tip: Focus on Your Hamstrings

This article is from FitSugar.com

The cold, wet, snowy Winter months can definitely make running on a treadmill much more appealing than the great outdoors. There are advantages to both running locations, but one disadvantage of using a treadmill is the belt. The backward motion of the belt assists you by pulling your feet back underneath your body, which means you are exerting less energy to move your feet and legs than when running outdoors on a surface that doesn't provide any momentum. However, you can work your legs more by imagining that you are pulling the belt back with your hamstrings. This idea helps me feel like I am digging in my foot and accessing the power of my hamstrings, which really work to push the body forward when running. The treadmill can get pretty boring, but with this little trick, you have something else to focus on besides watching the clock, and you're building hamstring strength. I call that a win-win situation.

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It's hot out there....

Blog:  I'm REALLY hot natured.  Plus, I live in Oklahoma.  In August, it's usually really hot outside.  There's no way that I can run long distances in the heat.  So I do quite a bit of treadmill running to stay cool. 

Here's a video from Runner's World with some treadmill training tips.

A Little More on the Treadmill vs. Running Outside Debate

Blog:  I posted an article the other day regarding which is better -- running outside or on a treadmill.  Here's another article about it.

Click here to read it


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The Claim: Running Outdoors Burns More Calories

Blog:  Some runners love treadmills.  Most, however, prefer to run outside.  The question is, "Which is better?" 

Here's a short article that addresses this question.

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Runners enforce their own type of hierarchy

Blog:  Here's an article about getting in shape, falling out of shape, and getting back into shape.  The author gives some good tips about pace and running on treadmills.

Here's the link

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Treadmill -- Tempo Pyramid Workout

Blog:  Forced to run on a treadmill today?  Try the "treadmill tempo pyramid" workout.

The Treadmill Desk -- Burn Calories While You Work

Blog:  Here is the invention of the day.  It is called the "TreadDesk".  It's a desk with a treadmill underneath it.  You can walk while you work at your computer, talk on the phone or do paperwork.  The owner says that users could lose up to 50 lbs per year by using the TreadDesk daily.

The starting price is $1,500. 

What do you think?

Here's the link to more information

Here's an NBC News Video about the TreadDesk

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An open letter to treadmill makers

Blog:  This a story written by a person who is tired of treadmills going into cool down mode after 60 minutes.  I agree that it gets frustrating and wish mine didn't do it.

It's worth reading.

Click here

OK Go -- The Treadmill Video

Blog:  This isn't new.  But I thought I'd post it just in case some of you haven't seen it.  For those of us who have seen it, we just can't get enough.  These guys did their music video on treadmills.  Very cool stuff.

If you've ever run on a treadmill, I personally guarantee that you'll get a kick out of this.

Band:  OK Go

Song:  Here it goes again

Enjoy the video!

Treadmill training tough but vital element

Blog:  Here's an interesting story from Jason Warick.  He is one of Canada's top marathon runners. He has taken a one-year leave from his job as a reporter at The StarPhoenix to try and qualify for this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

He talks about how working on a treadmill has really benefited him.  While his situation is different than most of ours (he has coaches and trainers), I think that using a treadmill is good for all of us.  Especially if we use the treadmill to push ourselves harder.

Here's the article