Whether you love running inside while watching your favorite TV show or refer to your exercise equipment as the “dreadmill,” treadmills are a fact of life for many runners. Maybe you live somewhere with treacherous ice, or you work on a ship, or your schedule allows no daylight hours for running. These are all cases where a treadmill can make the difference between training for your next racing event or skipping so many sessions that race day is disappointing.
If you’re looking for the best treadmill for marathon training, look no further. We asked a few experts for their treadmill training tips and to get their top picks in treadmills.
Treadmill training tips
One of the biggest drawbacks to treadmill training is monotony. “To avoid treadmill burnout, I’m diligent about programming speed intervals, hill repeats, tempo runs – anything to mix it up,” says Alanna Kate Derrick, running coach and personal trainer. “Upbeat playlists and streaming races help pass the time, too.”
Remember, running on a treadmill in your basement is only sort of like running a marathon. Derrick tries to make the conditions as similar as possible.
“On long run days, I’ll gear up with the same shoes, socks, fuel belt, and hydration pack I plan to use come race day,” she said. “The more I can replicate race conditions, the less anxiety I feel. At the end of the day, pounding pavement still brings me the most joy. But the convenience of a treadmill can’t be overstated. Having the ability to fit in miles regardless of my schedule or thunderstorms gives me confidence I’ll make it to the start line healthy and prepared.”