Treadmill advice

I am shopping around for a threadmill. I was in Elverys today who had 300 euro off their 3 models..horizon and proform. Has anybody any experience re same and recommended horsepower/ running experience/durability etc.?

Re: Threadmill advice

Have you considered getting out into the open air and enjoying the fresh, crisp weather? You'll feel ten times better than stuck indoors.

Re: Threadmill advice

practitioner said:

I am shopping around for a threadmill. I was in Elverys today who had 300 euro off their 3 models..horizon and proform. Has anybody any experience re same and recommended horsepower/ running experience/durability etc.?

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There is a sports equipment shop in Coolmine Industrial Estate, Dublin 15 that has a better selection of treadmills then Elverys.

Have a look at Buy and Sell and you may find a bargain there. There are plenty of treadmills gathering dust in many a house. Exercise bikes are even being used for clothes stands

If you are thinking of a particular brand it might be a good idea to hire one out for a month and see how you get on. No point in spending a lot of money and then find that its not up to expectations.

well sueellan thats a great point

I have a Weslo Candence 1000 motorised treadmill which I love (and use *s) I bought it in Argos some years ago but can't see them there now. Sorry I can't put my hand on the spec at the moment. I am still searching.

VJ's in Coolmine Business has a good stock of treadmills. VJ's is there for some years now and you can try some out whilst there.

Some people do buy them and seldom use them. I believe it's important to have the treadmill in it's permanent location. Leave it open, because having to move it around or "make" space for it will put you off using it.
I know these are side issues but a television with an extension lead to your ear phones is dead useful. The sound from the tv won't then complete with the treadmill. Sure, treadmill activity can be a novelty initially, but it can get tedious *s* that's when a distraction is helpful.

I find the treadmill saves me the bother of wondering what the weather will be like, I can break up the exercise time if I want to, I can walk or jog safely at night (indoors) and no "posing" required. *s*.

Do I know people who bought treadmills and don't use them? Yes. Would I buy one again? Yes.

do you work out much?

i find the gym a lot better as there are 3 or 4 machines i use. we have a tread mill at home and i havent used it for years

if, like myself, you havent exercised in years you may find the gym a better, more "addictive" option. i joined in january and still go.

it is good cos the instructors set out a course for you, but if you try to start on the tread mill like i did at home, you'll get bored of it and feel dreadful having done too much on it

As one with an attic full of fitness equipment bought in haste and repented at leisure, i'd totally agree with the suggestion to either join a gym or try running outdoors. At least that way you can decide if it's something you really want to stick with prior to buying the equipment - a treadmill is bulky so you'd want to be sure this is something you definitely want to install in your home.

I bought a proform 585tl about 5 years ago, its an old model now. Generally use it three times a week when I'm in a decent routine. It was 900 punts at the time. One of the bearings is just on the way out but I was able to order a replacement roller for about 40 euros.

When deciding to buy an expensive peice of training equipment you need to figure if you are the type of person to keep a routine going. I work from hoome so I can take an hour most times of day to go for a quick run as it suits. Fitting in a gym visit can be difficult with a busy schedule and other home demands. I'd suggest seeing if you can get into a routine of general exercise before you buy and see if it suits you, say book a one hour slot 3 times a week in your diary to do some press-ups, squats, short run or whatever you like and see if you can stick to it.

For me the 900 punts was well spent considering the extra time saved in travel and annual gym memberships fees required over the same amount period of five years.

Also, most gyms will offer a free (multi)session pass which you use to test their services out.

If you decide to buy a running machine, take your runners along to the shop and test drive the ones you are thinking of buying. If you have neihbours or might put it up stairs, think about the noise each one makes, some are noiser than others. DC motors tend to be a bit quieter for some reason. Avoid any gimmicky add ons. Check the size of he machine for fit in your space, most fold but can still be quite bulky.

To keep youself motivated you can get a heart rate monitor (like those at ) to track your fitness level either in spreadsheet or some specialised fitness tracking software. I use mysporttraining for windows at http://www.vidaone.com/products.htm. This helps you see your gains over time which can be harder to see in other ways.

hth

Can I just advise that you be very very careful with treadmills.
While running is a great way to get fit and stay healthy it can be very counter productive.
I was running on a treadmill and outdoors 3-4 times a week and as a result I have a chronic injury called "Runners Knee". There is a far more elaborate medical term, but I am not going to attempt to spell it here. Basically from the impact on my knees, my cartilage has been worn away. I am 27 and have been told that I might as well have the knees of a 70 year old woman. My knees are constantly sore, there is a grating and grinding noise every time I walk and I find stairs very challenging.
I have been considering taking action against the manufacturers as these machines come with no warnings at all. (I'm not going to, but I do think that people should be aware of the risks).
Before you embark on running of any kind, you must have proper runners. Stay away from brands like Nike, Reebok, Addidas. Stick to Asics or Brooks. These are the brands worn by professional long distance runners. Make sure you get proper advice on your stride, that's critical because if you are right footed you may run more heavily on that side of your body and cause all sorts of muscular, tendon and bone problems. I have been laid up for over a year and will never run again. I have spent a fortune on physios and mri. I would strongly advise against buying a treadmill and if you are serious about running, just know all of the risks before hand.(ALWAYS warm up and strech after)
Swimming is the way forward.. low impact and improves fitness.

Good luck!

You have been unfortunate Dingo. I do not recommend treadmills either, as I find you have to concentrate all the time in case you miss a step. However, most injuries are either bad luck ar genetically based, and running is probably the safest way to exercise generally. Ive ran nearly 100,000 miles in training in the last 25 years without injury and my knees and joints are still perfect even training every day.I do try and run exclusively on grass and use Asics runners, always top of the range shoes preferably. Outdoors is far easier and better and more relaxing and the irish weather temperature and humidity etc generally is very conducive to running.
Just dont want other people to get discouraged by your injury hard luck.....

It is hard luck and it's not something that happens to everyone. It is far more likely to occur in women than men, or so I have been told.
I just think people need to be aware of the possible risks associated with treadmills.
I did a lot of outdoor running as well and like you tried to stick to the softer surface.
Running is a fantastic way to keep fit and it is so good for the mind. I absolutely loved it and I am devestated that I will never run again, but there are worse things and I am still active, so life is beautiful..
None the less.. "Tread" carefully with those machines !!!