Elliptical Traininer

JAMES MORIN said:

Group,

I am a 1200 mile a year runner, 48, male, run 12 races a year ( a mix of 5, 10 and 12k's). Been
running seriuosly for two years now. My question is:

I just got a Reebox Elliptical Cross Trainer and want to know how to best use it. I want to lower
my race times and would like to get more 45 min 10K's, 20 min 5K's and improve myself in general
without building muscles/mass I dont need for running.

i can't believe you bought an elliptical with the goal of improving your running. for your cross-
training or easy days, it'll be fine. not for running. and don't worry about building muscle/mass.
cardio activity won't do that. probably the opposite. ...thehick

Not to pile on but to run fast you have to train fast. I do triathlons but I train with runners,
cycle with cyclists and swim with swimmers. I trained with the local college x-country team this
fall and winter and it paid off big time. I was a 17:00 5K'r, 35:0010K'r now I run 16:30's and 34-
34:10's. I got my ass kicked in practice by 19-21 year old sub 15:30 guys but it taught me to run
fast. How may Kenyans are using Elliptical Cross Trainers ?

"frank-in-toronto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

JAMES MORIN said:

Group,

I am a 1200 mile a year runner, 48, male, run 12 races a year ( a mix of

5,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

10 and 12k's). Been running seriuosly for two years now. My question is:

I just got a Reebox Elliptical Cross Trainer and want to know how to best use it. I want to lower
my race times and would like to get more 45 min 10K's, 20 min 5K's and improve myself in general
without building muscles/mass I dont need for running.

i can't believe you bought an elliptical with the goal of improving your running. for your cross-
training or easy days, it'll be fine. not for running. and don't worry about building muscle/mass.
cardio activity won't do that. probably the opposite. ...thehick

"JAMES MORIN" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Group,

I am a 1200 mile a year runner, 48, male, run 12 races a year ( a mix of

5,

Quoted message said:

10 and 12k's). Been running seriuosly for two years now. My question is:

I just got a Reebox Elliptical Cross Trainer and want to know how to best use it. I want to lower
my race times and would like to get more 45 min 10K's, 20 min 5K's and improve myself in general
without building muscles/mass I dont need for running.

I've noticed a few things already about using this machine in 45 minutes,

5

Quoted message said:

mph, 3 mile workouts.

1) It does not do much for cardio vascular inprovement (will be using my heart monitor soon to
findout what pace it gets me to)
2) It works the area below the hips very well
3) It works muscle groups that normal running does not
4) It works the lower back and rear end well
5) I can listen to music and relax more then running outside and I find

that

Quoted message said:

fun
6) I get hotter because its indoor and there is no wind, duh
7) I think of my workouts more mathematically (Speed, pace, calories)
8) The machine pretty much forces you to run with your feet apart and parallel, which takes
getting use to.
9) It also forces you to run more on your toes.

Please help me get better use from this elliptical trainer.

Jim

just be careful about your lower back - you may think you are 'working' it but in fact you may be
stressing it caused by the 'twisting' movement. also there is more impact on the knees than with
normal running. Treadmills give a more natural movement.

Sorry Jim, you bought a piece of [censored]. You should've gone with the NordicTrac 910 or better. These
machines offer far more settings to challenge your cardio fitness. Live N' learn.

"JAMES MORIN" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Group,

I am a 1200 mile a year runner, 48, male, run 12 races a year ( a mix of 5, 10 and 12k's). Been
running seriuosly for two years now. My question is:

I just got a Reebox Elliptical Cross Trainer and want to know how to best use it. I want to lower
my race times and would like to get more 45 min 10K's, 20 min 5K's and improve myself in general
without building muscles/mass I dont need for running.

I've noticed a few things already about using this machine in 45 minutes, 5 mph, 3 mile workouts.

1) It does not do much for cardio vascular inprovement (will be using my heart monitor soon to
findout what pace it gets me to)
2) It works the area below the hips very well
3) It works muscle groups that normal running does not
4) It works the lower back and rear end well
5) I can listen to music and relax more then running outside and I find that fun
6) I get hotter because its indoor and there is no wind, duh
7) I think of my workouts more mathematically (Speed, pace, calories)
8) The machine pretty much forces you to run with your feet apart and parallel, which takes
getting use to.
9) It also forces you to run more on your toes.

Please help me get better use from this elliptical trainer.

Jim

Thanks for the information. This is what I needed to know. The machine was a gift so I didnt get to
research it.

Jim

"JAMES MORIN" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Group,

I am a 1200 mile a year runner, 48, male, run 12 races a year ( a mix of

5,

Quoted message said:

10 and 12k's). Been running seriuosly for two years now. My question is:

I just got a Reebox Elliptical Cross Trainer and want to know how to best use it. I want to lower
my race times and would like to get more 45 min 10K's, 20 min 5K's and improve myself in general
without building muscles/mass I dont need for running.

I've noticed a few things already about using this machine in 45 minutes,

5

Quoted message said:

mph, 3 mile workouts.

1) It does not do much for cardio vascular inprovement (will be using my heart monitor soon to
findout what pace it gets me to)
2) It works the area below the hips very well
3) It works muscle groups that normal running does not
4) It works the lower back and rear end well
5) I can listen to music and relax more then running outside and I find

that

Quoted message said:

fun
6) I get hotter because its indoor and there is no wind, duh
7) I think of my workouts more mathematically (Speed, pace, calories)
8) The machine pretty much forces you to run with your feet apart and parallel, which takes
getting use to.
9) It also forces you to run more on your toes.

Please help me get better use from this elliptical trainer.

Jim

On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 08:15:40 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

just be careful about your lower back - you may think you are 'working' it but in fact you may be
stressing it caused by the 'twisting' movement. also there is more impact on the knees than with
normal running. Treadmills give a more natural movement.

An excellent point worth repeating. I have found that these machines put stress on the back too.
Indoor bike is still my preferred cross training exercise, after the treadmill.

Steven

"Steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

David said:

just be careful about your lower back - you may think you are 'working'

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but in fact you may be stressing it caused by the 'twisting' movement. also there is more impact
on the knees than with normal running.

Treadmills

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

give a more natural movement.

An excellent point worth repeating. I have found that these machines put stress on the back too.
Indoor bike is still my preferred cross training exercise, after the treadmill.

Steven

yes Steve, IMO the only pieces of indoor cardio equipment worth anything are treadmills and cycles -
particularly recumbents as your arms are free to do upper body work dumbell routine etc