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Dreadmill Benefits...

Friday, 27 February 2015 00:10

Coach Brett Sutton calls the treadmill the number one improvement tool for weak runners and shares a staple workout to try.

By Brett Sutton (triathlon.competitor.com)

When it comes to treadmill training it seems that people are split into two camps with no grey area in between. You either love it or you hate it. I have trained people from both sides of the fence.

So while the treadmill was used sparingly for an athlete like Chrissie Wellington, I have used it intensively for nearly every Olympic-distance triathlete’s preparation since 1997: Siri Lindley, Jackie Gallagher, Emma Snowsill and Loretta Harrop are all names that spring to mind, with Loretta doing almost all of her work exclusively on the treadmill.

This week I put the current Olympic champion, Nicola Spirig, through her paces on the treadmill using the exact same set that I used with the men’s bronze medalist, Jan Rehula, at the Sydney Olympics 15 years ago....

So I thought I would pass on my thoughts on the treadmill to pro and age-group athletes as I have found it to be the number one improvement tool for weak runners.

Here I must acknowledge Jan for not only stimulating my use of the treadmill, but for being a willing partner in testing and developing theories of treadmill use that I still use to this day. His early feedback has proved critical for many a future athlete’s career...READ MORE