The best treadmills for marathon training: Sole, Bowflex and more
Sole
When training for a marathon, most runners prefer to be outdoors. But many of us live in places that don’t have optimal running weather all year round. Whether it gets too hot, too cold, too wet, or too windy to do your marathon training outdoors, it helps to have a treadmill on deck that can pick up the slack.
Treadmills can also be a great supplement for runners who don’t have access to a trail that mimics the marathon route they’ll be running. Maybe you’re training for an ultra, but you live in Kansas where the steepest hill within running distance is that anthill you’ve been battling on your lawn.
Maybe you just want a few more features to customize each training session to target specific performance goals — like a quick 5k run that’s dedicated entirely to downhill training or a tempo run with a little more resistance than your usual route so you can build muscle and get more explosive power in your next race.
These are precisely the scenarios where a great treadmill can help you. A good treadmill will ensure your training never gets interrupted by the weather and give you more control over exactly which elements of your performance you want to work on.
Best overall treadmill for marathon training: Sole ST90
Amazon
A truly dependable treadmill for marathon training needs to be able to withstand high speeds, long mileage and rigorous daily training. That’s the Sole ST90. It packs an AC motor which, while louder than the DC motor that’s now standard in many treadmills, is also a lot more powerful and better equipped to handle heavy usage.
It boasts a slat belt rather than the conventional continuous belt. This also adds to its suitability for heavy usage, while giving you better traction and improved impact reduction.
You also have a surprising amount of versatility in how you use the Sole ST90. With a max speed of 12.5 mph and 15 levels of incline, you can use this machine for both tempo runs and hill training.
And if you’re looking for conditioning or core strength, switch to “Free Mode” which disengages the motor and turns this into a manual treadmill, allowing you to propel the belt yourself and use eight of the 15 incline levels. Crank up the incline in Free Mode for the ultimate strength-building run or drop it to flat and build up as much speed as you can for optimal cardio conditioning.
What we like about the Sole ST90:
- The slat belt offers better traction and a lower impact workout for your joints.
- 12.5 mph max speed makes this a bit faster than most standard home gym treadmills.
- 15 levels of incline prepare you for scaling steep ascents during your marathon.
- The powerful AC motor can handle even the most intense training schedules.
- “Free Mode” lets you use this as a manual treadmill.
Best treadmill for distance or hill training: Bowflex T22
Amazon
One of the hardest things to train on a treadmill is distance, not because it’s more challenging but because logging hours on a machine that stays in one place can get monotonous for a runner who’s used to exploring the trails or their neighborhood.
With an optionial JRNY fitness membership, you can use built-in streaming entertainment apps like Netflix, Hulu and Disney+. Subscribers can also choose from over 200 virtual courses that transport you to white sand beaches or the streets of Rome while you run. (JRNY costs $149 per year, but the T22 comes with a 2-month free trial.)
Aside from keeping you entertained on your indoor runs, the Bowflex T22 is also a versatile training machine. With adjustable incline ranging from -5% to 20%, you can use this to work on both your uphill and downhill performance. Work on strength and cardio conditioning by upping the incline or improve your stability and control by dropping it into a decline position.
Right now, you can get the Bowflex T22 for just $2,799 (reduced from $2,999).
What we like about the Bowflex T22:
- The wider-than-usual range of incline settings lets runners decline to -5% for downhill training or crank it up to 20% for serious uphill and resistance training.
- The Comfort Tech deck cushioning reduces impact and protects your joints.
- An entertainment-packed HD touchscreen lets you stream shows, follow immersive run videos and more to keep you entertained on longer runs, but the best features require an additional membership.
- A roomy 22-inch wide running belt and 350-pound weight capacity make this a good choice for taller or heavier runners.
Best treadmill for strength and conditioning: AssaultRunner Pro
Amazon
The AssaultRunner Pro is one of the best curved treadmills on the market. It’s non-motorized so 100% of the momentum you build in your run is coming from you. That makes for a more intense cardio session that studies show increases your VO2 max as well as your gait, balance and cadence better than either a standard motorized treadmill or road running.
That’s because each footfall isn’t just landing on top of flat ground to hold you up. It’s also pressing further into the slat belt to grip and pull it behind you. So you’re really strengthening those stabilizer muscles while working your quads even harder to make you a faster, more efficient runner.
So, unlike other treadmills where the risk is that your treadmill runs will be easier than the actual marathon (leaving you less prepared for the demands of road running), this curved treadmill will actually require more effort than road running. Come race day, running on a road that you don’t actively have to pull will feel like a breeze in comparison.
What we like about the AssaultRunner Pro:
- The curved manual treadmill is great for improving your running form and efficiency.
- The digital display comes pre-loaded with training programs to help you achieve specific performance goals.
- The display looks low-tech, but it can connect via Bluetooth to your preferred running app, including Apple Fitness and Zwift.
- No motor means no power cord so you can put this treadmill wherever you want (even outside).
Shop more top-rated treadmills for marathon training on Amazon:
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