According to the groundhog we will have to endure six more weeks of winter!  However, we really haven’t had much of a winter yet so who knows what the next few weeks will have in store for us and our running.  We may luck out and continue with abnormally high temperatures or we could get dumped on with a foot of snow.  Remember, we live in Michigan.

Regardless of what the weather does or doesn’t do, it is likely we will have opportunity for several more treadmill or elliptical workouts before the weather finally breaks for good.  If you’ve been training on the treadmill all along you may start to get a little antsy this time of year as spring is in sight but not yet close enough to grasp.  We need to change things up a little and get motivated!

Getting Motivated

Did you know that some people come off from the winter in better shape than ever due to their treadmill training? The good treadmills have a built in coach to keep you motivated and on track, as well as heart monitors to keep you in your target zone.  It is really easy to control your conditions on a treadmill by simply adding inclines or increasing the speed for a harder workout, or set it up for interval training with five hard minutes followed by a minute walk.  Runner’s World recently posted a few videos of different workouts by Jeff Galloway that you could add in your training rotation to keep things fresh and new in your workouts.

Virtual Running

Something cool to really change it up and get you motivated on the treadmill is Web Racing, which allows you to “turn your fitness equipment into a fitness experience.”  Just connect a sensor to your treadmill or bike and watch yourself on a TV screen compete against other athletes around the world.  Move over Wii, this is the real deal and can really help to keep your workouts fun, interesting, and different when cooped up inside!  Check out the video below to see Web Racing in action.

Whether you are trying to determine a new workout or interested in Web Racing to spice things up, Complete Runner is always here to help.  We can show you how to get the most out of your treadmill to make your workouts the most effective they can be.  Stop by today to get motivated and get through the unpredictable Michigan winter!