When it gets cold outside, running on a treadmill is a great way to get your cardio in. However, chances are you’ve been running on the treadmill incorrectly. So, how should you run on the treadmill to get the most effective workout?
NASM-certified trainer at Fhitting Room and Running Mechanics Performance Coach L2, Ben Lauder-Dykes, posted his tips for how to run on the treadmill and one of them is something many of us have been doing wrong for years.
It turns out that you shouldn’t run too close to the front of the treadmill and that you should be able to see your feet when you look down—they shouldn’t be hidden by the console.
“Imagine you were running outside and then someone stepped in front of you,” he told POPSUGAR. “If you just tried to stop your feet, you would probably still fall into that person because you have some forward momentum, so it wouldn’t work. To safely decelerate and stop, you would have to shorten your stride to take smaller steps and lower your hips to be able to slow down.”
In addition to not having enough room to take full strides, you’re increasing the impact on your body, which can lead to injuries.
Other suggestions Lauder-Dykes mentions are warming up, letting yourself fall back a bit on the tread and then speeding up to move forwards, and adding an incline.
Are you ready to implement these tips for a better treadmill workout? We certainly are!
