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Interesting review of the use of incline on a treadmill

RobertTRobertT
in General Training Discussions

 

A pretty even handed review of the used of incline for treadmill training with and provides references to some studie by people like Martin & Coe

http://mysite.verizon.net/jim2wr/id110.html

I like his final comment, which suggests to use the incline with the speed to get the most realistic feel of running outside, but don't try to over reason it and say you using the incline to mimic the wind resistance you have outside.

Comments

  • cwalz66cwalz66

    Thanks for posting this.  I've been setting the treadmill incline at 1.5% for over a year now just because I read an article somewhere that it best simulates outdoor running.  However, I've continually had a lot of diffculty holding my outdoor FT pace during treadmill workouts.  Of course I was never bright enough to try a couple of workouts at 0% incline to compare the difference.  I will definitely try 0% on my next treadmill workout to compare. 

    Love the knowledge you get in the Haus.

  • cwhytecwhyte
    What's funny about these myth articles is that as soon as they're written most everyone starts to believe them. These articles often introduce equally bogus if not worse data into the equation.

    I can only speak for my own research but I've read some pretty good articles showing data that justifies the use of a 1 - 2% incline when running on a treadmill. Most importantly, running on a slight incline better enforces a proper foot strike.

    Comparing indoor running to outdoor running is about as applicable as comparing indoor cycling to outdoor cycling. They're different environments with different variables so the exercise in comparing the two doesn't really yield anything constructive, imho. You just have to learn to accept the differences between the two environments and potentially adjust intensity accordingly.

    Thanks, Chris
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai

    This article actually explains the lack of drop in my VDOT. I cut my hair when I cut back on running. Speed wasn't affected. Apparently that pony tail was slowing me down.

  • Dominic MalleoDominic Malleo

    I recalled a similar discussion from October that adressed incline, wind resistance simulation, personal preferences on the treadmill, etc. that is a good tie to your discussion.  I recall the bottom line was that we don't run fast enough to see any benefit from increasing treadmill platform incline to simulate wind resistance.  Thought it was an interesting tie back so wanted to point it out. See below:

    http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...ll+incline

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