MACHINE LEARNING

The treadmill is a great winter training option. Here's how to get the most from it.

FOR SOME RUNNERS, the treadmill is the epitome of monotony. You’ve almost certainly heard (or thought) one or more of the following: there’s nothing interesting to see, it saps all the joy out of running, real runners train outdoors, and so on.

But the treadmill has its fans and its uses. It’s precisely its predictability that makes treadmill training a valuable resource, as it allows you to precisely control your pace.

Just think about running on a cold, dark winter evening, on uneven or slippery terrain; and then think about running in a comfortable temperature, on a reliable rolling surface, in a well-lit gym or room. You can include inclines, and the treadmill’s softer running surface is easier on your joints and tendons.

Suddenly, the treadmill doesn’t seem quite so bad.

You can keep things interesting with some experimentation – here are a few fun and effective treadmill workouts.

01 Race simulation