Marion Freijsen A blog about Sports, Fitness & Health

You’re only as good as…. your equipment

As regular readers know by now, I am all for exercising outdoors. I run outside, bike outside, ski, skate, do my weight sessions and stretches outside whenever I can. Part of my love of sports, is that I CAN do all these things outdoors, get some much needed oxygen into my system and feel that sense that I call “love of the universe” as a result.

But at times you are forced to go indoors – either because of (extreme) weather, or because you are travelling or you live inner-city where the much needed oxygen may be lightly dusted with carbon monoxide. Not great for you either. I’m definitely not a gym junkie, but if I do go indoors one thing I do want is great equipment!

Treadmills are the most common things you will find in a fitness centre – so let’s look at those. Don’t just start running on anything – you could do some serious damage such as shin splints, or heel spurs if you run on treadmills that aren’t really made for long runs. Be critical of the equipment, check how it feels and then decide what kind of session you want to do.

You don’t HAVE to pound the thing for a full hour at the same pace to get a work-out. If the treadmill board is too hard, and you find yourself banging along – you are better off mixing up your pace, going for some high-paced walking interspersed with 5 min. fast paced runs then sticking to a solid run.

Treadmills I like are the ones that have a light bounce to them, because they are sprung – thus absorbing the impact. But they should not be too sprung or soft or it will cost you a lot of energy to even move forward. Good examples for me are the Life Fitness treadmills, in particular the 97TI which is just right in bounce. But you may have your own favourites ofcourse.

Using sites that compare treadmills can help you judge the treadmills you come across in your fitness centres – but make sure you use an independent one like: http://www.just-treadmill-reviews.com/ instead of one that is focused on selling you a particular brand!