Kenyan distance runner Geoffrey Kamworor (© Getty Images)
Three-time world half marathon champion and two-time world cross country gold medallist Geoffrey Kamworor is among the finest endurance runners of his generation. During lockdown the Kenyan star began using a treadmill at home and has continued to do so as part of his rehabilitation from a recent injury he suffered after a motorbike knocked him to the ground during an early morning run in June.
Here the two-time New York Marathon winner offers his seven top treadmill training tips.
Take time to practise
Kamworor urges novice treadmill runners to be patient in order to become accustomed to running on the machine before engaging in any intense sessions.
“It takes take time for people to adjust and learn how to run on a treadmill,” he explains. “I learned pretty quickly how to do so, but for others it can take a little longer.”
Warm up properly
When jumping on the treadmill it should be treated no differently to running outside in that it requires a thorough warm up.
“Run slowly at first,” he says. “The good thing with a treadmill you can easily set the pace. Maybe start at a walking pace, then slowly increasing the speed to running pace.”
Embrace its versatility
Kamworor believes the treadmill can be used for many different types of sessions, from tempo runs to fartlek and even speed sessions. A favourite fartlek session of his is three minutes of fast running at a speed of between 20-22kmph followed by one minute of jogging at 10kmph, then repeated.
“I set the calculations into the machine so 10 seconds before I’m scheduled to run at full speed again this allows the machine to gradually adjust to full speed.”
Speed sessions
While acknowledging it is a little trickier to replicate track speed sessions on the treadmill he insists it is far from impossible.
“It is not something easy because it requires a lot of calculations but this is something you can learn over time, and, for me, it works perfectly. Normally, I would train on the track in a group but the treadmill allows me to do the speed session alone if necessary.”
Flat gradient
Some treadmill users emphasise the importance of always running at a slight gradient but as many of Kamworor’s quicker sessions are run on the flat he prefers to replicate this with a 0.0 % gradient during many of his treadmill sessions.
“The option is there, though, to run on a slight incline or decline if you want to,” he adds.
Visualise a route
Kamworor personally prefers not to listen to music when treadmill running, because he likes to stay fully concentrated.
He does, however, suggest to any treadmill runners to visualise a running route when on the treadmill.
“Whether you are on a speed session or tempo run it is importance to visualise, even if you are visualising a competition. It is important to think positively about running.”
Cool down
Like on any run, Geoffrey says it is important not to neglect the cool down on the treadmill.
“It is important to reduce the speed to 10kmph or less,” he says. “Twenty minutes is a nice cool down time.”
Steve Landells for Be Active
