do treadmills do any good, other than to work up a sweat. does it help your endurance?

Since treadmills are cushioned and are already spinning, running on a treadmill is easier. It will help your endurance, but i wouldnt rely on it as your primary means of endurance. Get outside and run and you'll feel the difference.

I actually like using treadmills 2-3 times a week. I mix up my running with treadmills, the track, and a few hills. What I like about using a treadmill is that it makes me keep a constant pace and I always wear a heart rate monitor so I can see the pace I'm running and compare it to my heart rate. That way I can work on my heart rate and see that my pace increases over my workout program as my heart rate decreases...make sense?

For the most part, I haven't noticed any significant difference with my times on a treadmill compared to a normal track. Sometimes I run faster on a treadmill....sometimes I run faster off of it.

Anyway...just my two cents.

Treadmills are cool because you can watch TV at the same time, and not even concentrate on the fact that you're working hard- before you know it you've run 30 minutes.

DS,

Based on my experience with treadmills and REAL running, I would recommend you run on a track and not on a treadmill if you have a choice. Treadmills are good if the weaher outside is not condusive (sp) to a good workout. For example when I was in Iceland the wind there was unbelievable and as a result it sucked trying to run in it, so I'd jump on a treadmill in the gym. But let me tell you there IS a difference between a treadmill and running outside. Treadmills (for me) didn't develope my leg strength at all, you just end up putting one foot in front of the other. As opposed to regular running where you have to actually propel yourself forward. Another 2 cents of mine. I'll be broke pretty soon if I keep putting in my 2 cents.

Thanks guys. i appreciate the input

As far as aerobic benefit, a treadmill on a 1% grade is equivalent to REAL running on a flat surface. This is based on studies in Exercise Science. The study I read didn't show a statistical difference between the two. They measured gains in aerobic performance (heart rate, kcal used (oxygen consumption)). I don't remember all the details, but that is the meat of it. Of course, this doesn't speak to funkyfly's leg strength concern. Of course I don't see anyone making huge gains in leg strength while running on a flat surface, at constant speed, for either treadmill or REAL running. Personally, I also feel there is no substitute to REAL running. Yes, you can watch a TV while treadmill running and it seems like 30 minutes passes quickly, or is it that when you run outside it just seems like 30 minutes passes more slowly. Either way, it doesn't make REAL running any easier. Therefore, unless you are training for a treadmill race (sounds exciting huh), or just trying to benefit aerobically, REAL running should help you more.

I have used treadmills successfully in the past, when I had a layoff from running for awhile. It helped me to get my normal pace back up to where it was previously. I did this by setting the speed as fast as I could handle without killing myself in the first half mile, and then paying attention to how everything felt. This transferred over to when I started running outside again, my pace was higher than if I had just started running outside.

Now that I have more experience running(and taking layoffs <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /> )I no longer do this. In fact, I hate running on treadmills now, cause the scenery never changes. BORING! I now achieve the same goal by running on a track and watching my lap times, to keep up a constant speed.

My advice, if you can't run outside due to weather, then use an indoor track. If you don't have access to an indoor track then use a treadmill. If you don't have access to a treadmill, then your screwed.