Treadmill - good idea or just another dust gatherer!!

[time4chocolate]

Ok so I have just had a mad idea that I would quite like a treadmill/running machine . I have never been able to run distances until a few years ago (I am an all or nothing type of gal who used to prefer sprints at school where I would shoot off for 200 metres and then collapse on the finish line) i did a distance running course over 6 weeks when I was made redundant and by the end I could run about 3k which I didn't really enjoy that much (a lot to do with it being winter time!) but wanted to prove to myself I could do it. 3 years later and haven't run since but am having an urge to take it up again. I am now back working and juggling family so thought treadmill as I could fit in a session as and when (I don't do gyms). Does anyone have one and do you still use it regularly and If so do you have any recommendations? It would need to be foldawayable and easy to set up otherwise it is more likely to go the way of one or two of my kitchen gadgets and gather dust tucked away somewhere or used as an extra clothes airer which was the fate of my exercise bike of 15 years ago.

[DramaAlpaca]

We've had a treadmill for about five years. It lives in the sun room & gets used fairly regularly by all five of us in the house (me, DH & three teenage boys). It's great for running when the weather is too bad to go outside, and means we don't have the hassle of going to a gym. The only downside is that it's a bit boring looking at the same view all the time.

If you're thinking of getting one do your research as some are better than others. We are all tall, so we went for a treadmill with a long running surface to suit our long strides. It has several speed and gradient settings. We went for a fairly sturdy one as we knew it would get lots of use. It is quite large but the running surface can be folded up if necessary. It does take up a lot of room, though, and that's why we have it in the sun room so we can leave it permanently set up. It's a Horizon, which we got from a large sports shop, but I can't remember what we paid for it. AFAIK they are reasonable quality machines suitable for home use. We have only had one minor problem with ours & it was easily fixed by a call to Horizon's customer support.

I would definitely recommend.

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

Everyone i know who has bought a treadmill has ended up using it as a clothes horse.

If you know you will use it then get one, I imagine it would have to be an expensive one to be any good though.

However, the fate of your exercise bike should give you a clue that maybe the treadmill will go the same way. Maybe just go jogging outside - so much nicer and you do get a better burn working out outside.

[EauRouge]

I hate treadmill running and go outside in all weathers (apart from gales), but have a rowing machine for when DH is away and I can't get childcare, and I can use it in between running days because it's low impact. It was only £11 on ebay! Don't buy brand new, loads of people buy exercise equipment and then never use it. Try freecycle too.

[Lily311]

I have one and I use it regularly. I'm a lone parent so it saves me to get a babysitter. Although would prefer running outside but this is a lifesaver if you have no gym close by. I watch telly while running and it lives in my sitting room. Just make sure you get some mats underneath , it becomes less noisy. I have a hammer walk runner rpx.