Want to learn how to start training on a treadmill? Whether you need beginner treadmill workouts or a sustainable treadmill workout plan (that won’t make you go crazy), we’ve got you covered.
If you don’t like running outdoors or you don’t live in a climate where running outside is appealing, that’s no reason to stay on the couch. Invest in a treadmill or join a gym where you can train inside—it’s one of our favorite cross-training activities that can keep you on track with your training program.
However, it’s not intuitive how to start running on a treadmill. OK—it’s pretty easy to learn how not to fall off, but it’s not as simple to pick up a beginner treadmill workout that’ll help you see long-term progress.
No worries—we’ve got your back.
Below, we’ll walk you through tips on how to start running on a treadmill. We’ll show you a beginner treadmill workout and sustainable treadmill workout plans that’ll help you learn the technique and progress your indoor running.
Here’s everything we’ll cover:
Even if you do like running outdoors or enjoy trail running, it’s hard to do in the winter months, and it can feel hard to stay motivated. If you’re a beginner runner who is just starting out, here are some things to keep in mind.
It’s not easy to find the right treadmill speed for beginners. It all depends on your balance and comfort level.
Beginning runners should start with a walk/run approach. Warm up for a few minutes, then jog for one minute and walk for one minute on the treadmill.
Repeat about 10 times–more if you are feeling good and fewer times if you’re gasping for air after five repeats. Everyone has a different starting level. As a rule of thumb, don’t increase your mileage by more than 10 percent each week to avoid burning out and to reduce your risk of injury.
When you’re a new runner trying to get in shape running on the roads or trails naturally involves uphills and downhills. If you want to get stronger and promote weight loss, your treadmill training plan should involve a slight incline. Start out with a 10-15% incline and play with different levels of incline for short periods of time as you feel comfortable.
I don’t know about you, but running one mile on the treadmill can feel like running three outside. Don’t be afraid to mix things up in your training program by running for a few minutes, then jumping off the treadmill (not literally!) to do a little strength training. Try 10 push-ups, sit-ups, bodyweight planks, or any other core activity for about a minute. This helps your mind press the reset button and brings your heart rate down just a bit before you get back on the treadmill and keep going.
Pro Training Tip: Another great way to keep your mind engaged is to run to music or watch one of your favorite TV shows. It can definitely help pass the time!
Now that we’ve got a few tips down, let’s lace up our running shoes and follow along with Coach Holly during this awesome treadmill workout for beginners.
This 30-minute easy treadmill workout will take just over 40 minutes total (with the cooldown tacked on), but it’s broken up into four sections to keep your mind engaged and break it up mentally. So you aren’t trying to run for 40 minutes straight–—it will go by more quickly than you imagine!
We will do a warm-up, a drill cadence, some interval speed sets, and finally, a cool-down. If you feel like this easy treadmill workout is too easy, don’t be afraid to bump up any of the intensities or durations—that’s all part of progression.
Let’s get your heart rate up, blood flowing and body moving by starting with an easy three-minute jog. Focus on a conversational pace where you can breathe easily.
From here, we will run for three minutes just a little faster–think about a minute per mile faster. You should still be able to talk, but not quite as easily as during the warm-up. Start pumping your arms a bit more to help propel your stride.
A cadence drill focuses on how many times your feet hit the ground during your running stride and getting some turnover going. So, set a timer for five minutes. At the top of each minute, spend 30 seconds counting how many times one of your feet hits the ground–no need to count for the next 30 seconds.
Take that number you get (say you got 45) and during the next minute when you count for 30 seconds again, increase that step number by one. So, during the next round, you’d try to get 46 steps for 30 seconds.
Repeat for five rounds of one minute each, increasing your cadence by about one step each time you count for 30 seconds. The idea isn’t actually to speed up, but to shorten your stride, improve your running form, and increase your running efficiency.
We’ve made it to the last section before the cool-down, so make it count!
For part two of the interval section, we are going to speed it up but focus on shorter intervals. Don’t worry, this will be fun!
On to the final section of intervals–you’re almost there! This time, we’ll go even faster, but for an even shorter amount of time.
After all that hard work, you want to spend at least three to five minutes of easy walking to cool down and bring your heart rate back to normal. Then, hop off the treadmill and do some of your favorite mobility stretches. Check out our beginner runners’ guide to stretching and mobility:
Any treadmill workout plan should closely resemble your outdoor running training plan. It’s all about progression and not pushing things too hard too early. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when training on a treadmill:
Not sure if you should be training on a treadmill or outside? It’s a good question, and it all depends on you personally. Here are a few pros and cons of training on a treadmill to consider:
Most coaches, therapists, and runners (in general) treat running treadmills as a tool rather than an end goal. Some people fall in love with indoor running and want that to be the end destination—and that’s perfectly fine.
Running doesn’t have to take place outside. You can find your happy place on the treadmill and embrace it, day in and day out. While the beginner treadmill workout above will get old pretty quick, don’t hesitate to look for other easy treadmill workouts or even develop your own.
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