Comments on: Are You Really Running on That Treadmill?

By: Al Kavadlo

Al Kavadlo — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:25:00 +0000

Hey Amanda, glad you’re enjoying my blog – thanks for stopping by! Treadmills can be helpful as a supplement to outdoor running, but they can never replace the real deal. Keep training hard and good luck with your push-ups!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:43:00 +0000

Just found your site today while searching for ways to work up to doing a pull up and I’m loving it, very inspiring. I’m excited to try Australian pull ups during my workout tomorrow! Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents on treadmills…I love the outdoors and I agree that is the best place to run. I try to train on a treadmill once a week to work on building speed. I also walk fast at maximum incline as a warm up on my strength training days, it gets my heart rate up and strengthens my legs. I have noticed an improvement on my outdoor runs since I have been training this way on the treadmill. Thanks for all the great information. I will be starting week 5 of a pushup program at hundredpushups.com tomorrow. I’m female and am working hard at gaining upper body strength, the program works…I could only do 15 consecutive pushups when I started and I can now do 30! It will take me longer than 6 weeks to make it to 100 consecutive…but that is the goal and I will get there!

By: Specificity in Fitness | Mark's Daily Apple Health and Fitness Forum page

Specificity in Fitness | Mark's Daily Apple Health and Fitness Forum page — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:21:41 +0000

[...] is, well, when you're on an elliptical trainer. There is no substitute for running. Not even treadmills. "If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." "You can have anything you want, [...]

By: Al Kavadlo – We're Working Out! » Client Spotlight: Mike Lieberman

Al Kavadlo – We're Working Out! » Client Spotlight: Mike Lieberman — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 01:56:36 +0000

[...] workouts is his own. We’ll never use electrically powered equipment during our training (treadmills, [...]

By: Al Kavadlo

Al Kavadlo — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:31:00 +0000

Hey Nyall, my issue with stationary bikes is the same as my problem with treadmills – they are not a very accurate simulation of the real thing. Like you said, pushing through resistance provided by a clamp is not the same as overcoming gravity. Plus, you don’t have to deal with balance, wind, etc. on a stationary bike. In my opinion, it is not adequate preparation for an actual ride (or as much fun!).

Stationary bikes can be a nice way to supplement actual riding, they can never replace the real thing.

By: nyall

nyall — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:01:00 +0000

This article starts out mentioning both treadmills and stationary bikes are mixed blessings. And you give a good explanation about what is wrong with treadmills: that you really aren’t projecting yourself forward.

But what is wrong with stationary bikes? Even on a real bike there is an indirect linkage between pushing pedals and you going forward. Sure you won’t ever have to pedal up hill and overcome gravity but the exercise bikes provide resistance with clamps that pinch the wheel.

-Nyall

p.s. I hope I get a reply, I know I’m replying to an 11 month old blog post

By: Al Kavadlo

Al Kavadlo — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:34:29 +0000

That's a good motto!

By: 979roadrunner

979roadrunner — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:34:34 +0000

plus the heart rate monitors are wacky, and no one at my gym tightens the belts.

By: 979roadrunner

979roadrunner — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:31:47 +0000

Must agree on the treadmill. One of the best trainers I know told me you have to put a 1.5 incline on a treadmill to approximate a flat, level track, and that sounds about right…but it still isn't the same.

Same with nuatilus/ cybex etc. vs real weights, just not the same. My moto, train real to be real.

By: Al Kavadlo – We're Working Out! » Exercise Vs. Skill

Al Kavadlo – We're Working Out! » Exercise Vs. Skill — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:27:39 +0000

[...] Bob hasn’t been exercising but wants to lose twenty pounds of fat. Bob decides that he will start running to lose weight. However, Bob knows that he is unlikely to stay on track with his running, so he [...]