Treadmill Features

[tripod]

We are currently shoppong for a treadmill and would be interested in knowing which features other find most important or useful. Some have a number of preprogrammed routines. Do you find these useful? Others are ifit.com compatible to allow the running of a number of routines from ifit.com. Some basic ones are free, others you pay for. Does anyone have experience with these? What features do oyu have that you couldn't do without? Which ones do you wish you had?

My wife and I are lower to mid forties, in need of a bit of firming up, not particularly overweight, and feel a treadmill may be the way to go. There is a concern that we may use it for a month and then it will sit in the corner and gather dust. We are commited to ensure this doesn't happen but want to make sure we make the right choice when buying one. We are currently considering one of the NordikTrac ones from Sears.

Appreciate your advice.

Barry

 

[Johnny]

What is your price range? Better to get a sturdy one that can take a little beating. Best is for you to buy a Polar heart rate monitor and find a treadmill compatible with the transmitter so you don't have to hold on to the HR bars during a run. That can break your stride easily and it's also not safe at faster speeds. A good treadmill has a wide lane so you have some room to drift a bit. As far as pre programmed runs, that all depends on what level you are as a runner and mostly preference. I personally NEVER use the set up because the darn treadmill doesn't know my goals or needs. I do everything manually. Don't let a salesman talk you into something you don't need. Buy a running book instead.
Best running book ever and it's cheap….Running programs from walking to ultra marathon.