What do treadmills measure speed in

Each time the tape passes counts as one revolution of the belt. Start the stopwatch and count the number of revolutions in 60 seconds. Let's say that the length of the treadmill belt is 2.

We can now carry out a simple equation to determine the actual belt speed:. In this example, we can see that over an hour of walking with the treadmill set at 4kph we would cover almost exactly 4km.

The extra 2 meters would be within an acceptable margin of error. You can now repeat this test at different speeds to see how well your treadmill adjusts to changes of pace. If your average run speed is around 10kph then you should carry out the test at this speed. Having measured the true speed of the treadmill belt, we can more accurately determine the distance and speed we are running.

In the example above the treadmill display and the true speed of the belt are closely matched. However, your treadmill may show a speed which differs somewhat from the measured belt speed. In this case, you can alter the treadmill speed to account for the separation.

To confuse matters, the true speed of your treadmill belt is not necessarily your true running speed. If your treadmill is set to English miles, a 10 on the speed screen represents 10 mph, which is If your treadmill is set to metric kilometers, a 10 in the speed screen represents 10 kph, which is 6. Treadmills usually allow you to adjust the speed in 0.

Speed is only one intensity setting on a treadmill. Most treadmills also offer an incline ramp that increases the difficulty of your workout. Depending on the model, treadmills typically have an incline range of 0 to 10, or 10 or 15 percent. The higher you incline the ramp, the more difficult it will be for you to run at any given speed. Check not only the speed setting, but also the incline setting, to gauge the intensity of your workout.

Nonfolding treadmills are the ones to consider because they accommodate higher speeds and steeper inclines than treadmills that can fold up. They also have a more robust deck and longer running surface. Give it a push and then manually increase your speed and incline levels to make your workout more challenging.

Start by pressing the button and entering your workout time and weight. Then, enter your low speed. Then, hit enter or begin. Feeling fluent? Get the most out of cardio machines either at home or in the gym with this guide to maximum calorie burn. The way you breathe can make or break your run. Here's how to get your oxygen intake under control. Welcome to the guidebook to your healthiest life. Aaptiv delivers the highest quality fitness and health information from personal trainers and industry experts.

Subscribe now for a weekly dose of inspiration and education. How Accurate Are Treadmills on Distance? How distance is measured Most treadmills measure distance by calculating the number of revolutions that the belt completes during a workout. Overall accuracy So how accurate are treadmills on distance? Important note As we stated, many treadmills also calculate other metrics, including speed, incline, and calories burned. July 27, By Brynne Boyke Share:.

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