Exercise Equipment | Complete Runner

Cold Weather Solutions to Keep You Fit!

December 14, 2016 By Complete Runner

The temperature has definitely taken a plunge from only a month ago. For walkers and runners, it’s time to spend more time on exercise equipment in the comfort of their own home. There are a few things that you want to consider when buying your first piece of equipment or when looking for an upgrade to what you already have.

What do I need?

There are so many different equipment types available today that it’s a good idea to understand what you want to get out of the machine. For walkers and runners, a treadmill is the natural choice. A good treadmill can give you years of service with little to no maintenance. Most new machines have programs to target your activity goals.

If you are looking for non-impact, an Elliptical is a great choice. You want to look for an Elliptical that mimics Good Form Running instead of a cross country ski or shuffle motion. Another non-impact option would be a recumbent bike. Recumbent bikes are great for someone who is rehabbing a leg injury as it lets you sit comfortably while achieving aerobic exercise and working the muscle groups in your legs.

Features

Some versions of a machine will have more or less options; so identify what fits your needs the best. Here are some great features to consider.

Heart rate- this feature can be used to target the aerobic level of your activity.
Programs- pre-set programs can help you attain your fitness goals with options such as hill workouts, intervals, heart rate based, and fat burn.
Display- Large LCD displays can make viewing workout data much easier while in motion.
Motor- good quality treadmills will have a minimum of 3HP commercial motors. This helps keep the belt running smooth regardless of speed or incline you are running or walking at.
Quick speed and incline keys- for treadmills, these keys allow you to pick a specific speed or incline instantly.
Brakes- hand brakes allow for quick stopping on ellipticals and recumbent bikes.
Cooling- integrated fans can be a great option during workouts.
Media- a good sound system is key when working out. A media input will allow you to play music from a phone, tablet or music device through exterior speakers.

Quality

Not all equipment is created equally. Professional-grade machines are built specifically to take years of use with little or no maintenance. The frame is very important as it’s the foundation the machine is built on and will determine the stability of it. A commercial grade structural steel frame with powder-coat paint will be sturdy and durable. Be sure to look at the weight rating of the machine. The higher the rating the more stable the machine will be under heavy use and the bigger the person it can accommodate. Since this is a long term investment, a good warranty will help protect that investment. Look for a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, 5-10 years on parts and 1 year on labor.

Having a good piece of exercise equipment in your home can be a convenient way to stay active during the winter months or to keep that training program on schedule. Complete Runner has a wide variety of professional-grade treadmills, ellipticals and recumbent bikes in the store for you to try out. You won’t find our equipment at your local department store, since our exercise equipment is specifically built for serious runners and athletes. Come in and let us show you how to keep you going the distance this winter.

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Has the Rough Winter Impacted Your Training?

February 22, 2014 By Complete Runner

snow and winter

This winter has been plagued with record high snow fall and record low temperatures. Our fear is that your training may be behind or non-existent due to this crazy winter, and we want to give you some motivation so you’ll be ready for the upcoming running and walking season when the weather does decide to break.

If you are waiting for the cold and snow to go away before you get started training this year, who knows how long you may have to wait. The cold temps and icy roads are good excuses to push off our training for another day, but when that day comes we don’t want you to get discouraged that you didn’t start sooner. The longer that you push it off, the longer it will take you to get in shape.

Sometimes we just need is a friend to come along side us and tell us how it is, so being your friend here are some obvious things you can do right now to get going on your training:

Suck it up and Run Outside

Listen to Nike and “Just Do It.” Wear the right cold weather running tech clothes and some ice joggers to keep from slipping, and go outside and get it done. It is easier said than done, but most of the time the solution is quite simple, it just involves us taking the first step to make it happen.

Suck it up and Run Inside

If you can’t or won’t run outside, there is no reason that you can’t take it indoors. Find a local gym where you can run on a track or treadmill, or buy yourself a treadmill or elliptical that you can always use. This may not be your first choice, but you may be surprised on the quality of workouts you can do inside until the weather warms up.

Make a Commitment

Don’t only make a commitment right away to start running outside or inside, but commit to an upcoming race. Find an upcoming race on our race calendar, like the Pot O’ Gold on March 17, and sign up for it today. Registering and paying for a race today will motivate you to do what you need to do from now until the race to get ready, because who wants to make a fool out of yourself by not being prepared?

Whatever you need to do to get to the fitness you desire, go ahead and do it. Don’t let the weather be a distraction to your running goals in 2014.

If you want to make a commitment to an upcoming race to hold yourself accountable to a training plan, feel free to share in the comments below.

Photo by Flickr user dickuhne

3 Benefits of Owning Your Own Exercise Equipment

November 23, 2013 By Complete Runner

If you have decided to run inside this winter, or at least for part of the time, you really have two choices to make. Buy equipment and work out in your house, or get a membership to the gym. Either option is good because you are accomplishing your goals either way, but we are going to take a look at some of the benefits of owning your exercise equipment.

1 – It’s convenient.

It is really simple to wake up and go downstairs or in the spare room each morning and run on the treadmill or ride a bike. Not only do you not need to drive to the gym, sometimes in bad weather, but you don’t need to wait for equipment and you can use your own shower, saving you valuable time. You can also work out at whatever time you like.

2 – It’s personalized.

Although there are many choices at the gym, most people only use a few things on a consistent basis. Creating your own in-home gym allows you to invest in some good quality equipment that is catered to your tastes and fitness goals, and equipment can always be added as budget, space, and preferences change over time.

3 – It’s a long term-investment.

Gym’s make money on people signing up and not showing up, and once you pay your dues that money is gone forever no matter if you take advantage of the services or not. On the flip side, an investment in exercise equipment for your home is a significant long-term investment in yourself, motivating you to stick with it since you are more invested in equipment than a membership at the gym. And, after you pay for the equipment you get to continue reaping the rewards for no additional fees, unlike monthly gym dues.

If you are considering investing in your own exercise equipment, check out some related articles on various types of equipment that are good for runners.

The Runners Guide to Buying a Treadmill

Bike le Tour de France in Your Basement

E-Glide Elliptical Offers Great Winter Running Workouts

Exercise Equipment to Improve Your Core