Question for the treadmil gurus

Due to job constraints, it looks like I'll be doing a lot of weekday runs on the treadmill for a while (unless I want to run very early or very late in the dark).

I'm curious, since the mill is so cushioned, can you get away with using shoes that already have high mileage on them?

I think you can get a few more miles out of shoes if mostly on the TM. However, the bad thing about TMs is their total consistency of surface. THis means that every footfall is pretty much identical, stressing those areas more than running outside. I find that two things help here - vary the speed and incline regularly on a TM run, and if possible, rotate among multiple pair of shoes.

I end up using an older pair when I run on the TM. If I know I'll be going longer then I'll wear my current ones. I don't know if that's okay or not though to wear older ones.

What I was told to do by the guy who installed my treadmil at home was to NEVER run on it with shoes I used outdoors. He said that would shorten the life of the mill considerably as small dirt and pebbles you pick up on your shoes wil work their way into the motor. I stuck with the plan for a week or so and kept shoes down there by the treadmill but then I got lazy and now just use any regular training shoe on there, including my outdoor ones. Still it was probably good advice and makes sense for a treadmill you have at home.

Actually, that's exactly what I do. I have 4 older pairs of shoes in my gym locker than I use for treadmill runs.

My shoe life progression: Races --> long runs --> easy runs --> treadmill duty --> recycled

Dave-O wrote:Actually, that's exactly what I do. I have 4 older pairs of shoes in my gym locker than I use for treadmill runs.

My shoe life progression: Races --> long runs --> easy runs --> treadmill duty --> recycled

Exactly what I expected to hear. Thanks.