Boston Treadmill

As you all know, I'm a treadmill guy.

Until the weather around here starts to get around the teens, (50+ Fahrenheit or so) I prefer to do my early morning runs at the gym. There's probably a million reasons why I should be running outside all the time instead, but I just can't stand running in the cold. (How Triple T did her winter training is unimaginable to me.)

That being said, I just saw the most awesome fucking treadmill ever. It is a thing of beauty. It's like the Rolls Royce of treadmills. Fuck that - it's like the Ferrari of treadmills - clean lines, minimalistic look, and loaded with extras.

It's the ProForm Boston Marathon Treadmill.

Is that sexy, or what?

Not only does it look incredible, but it's loaded with training stuff:

• HD video of the actual Boston race route, with the platform inclining and declining to match what's shown on the screen.
• Want to run your favorite route, but it's a screaming blizzard? (Or you live in Chicago) You can plot it on Google Maps and the treadmill will let you run the route, adjusting for hills and such. (You can even see the route with Google Street View.) I could practice running the streets of London, the roads of Paris, or the trails of Campbell River.*
• There's a ton of speedwork and tempo programs loaded on there as well, to help get you ready to run the big race.

Now let me put it right out there - I would rather run Boston, London, Paris, or even good 'ol Campbell River than have this treadmill. There is no substitution for being there in person.

However, this treadmill combines the geeky tech-stuff that I like with my running obsession, and that's not a bad thing at all. Would I use it to do race-route specific training? You bet your ass. Wouldn't it be cool to be able to plug in the Goodlife Victoria Marathon route for some of my Long Runs? It would be like writing your S.A.T's with the answer sheet beside you.

The scary part is there's no price on it yet....

Well, there's always the Lottery - or maybe I can persuade my gym to get one.

Maybe I should add it to my Birthday Wish List - practically everything I want involves running to some degree, so would the appearance of a treadmill really surprise anybody?

I didn't think so.

I'm just going to go check that site out again, and drool a little bit more.






Later.


*Guess which of those three I'd pick last.