Just the other day I was scrolling through the internet when I came across something about world-renowned Norwegian distance runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen. It was a post about his winter training and how he incorporates treadmill running into his fitness regime. In it, he talked about how a treadmill allows you to control so many variables. When training outside, our bodies are subjected to a lot of different conditions. From the weather to the terrain, there are all sorts of things that can have an effect on your workout. By using the treadmill, Ingebrigtsen is able to control a lot of these sorts of variables, allowing him to have a more focused workout.
If you peruse the internet a bit more, you can easily find more examples of athletes utilizing controlled training environments. For example, you might come across David Roche grinding away on an indoor bike trainer, Jack Kuenzle’s makeshift heat chamber, or any number of Nordic skiers on a fancy roller ski treadmill. The world of endurance sports (and the internet) is by no means lacking examples.
The author in his natural training environment. All photos courtesy of Zach Miller.
Although such training methods have been in use for a while now, their prevalence and seemingly growing popularity seems to me to mark a shift in training trends. Years ago, it was the triathletes who were the indoor workout enthusiasts. Sure, many of them probably still trained outdoors quite a bit, but they seemed notorious for spending time on the bike trainer and treadmill (I assume much of the swimming was done inside as well.) Nowadays, it seems as if more and more athletes are turning indoors for safety, shelter from the elements, and perhaps more than anything, the ability to control very specific training variables (pace, grade, temperature, etc.)
This trend is not necessarily a bad thing. In some ways it makes a lot of sense. There are a lot of performance gains to be made by training in such controlled environments. However, for me it would be a real shame if treadmills, bike trainers, and heat/sauna chambers were to completely dominate the training landscape. I say this not because I think they actually will, but rather to acknowledge the value of that great, big, wonderful natural world that helped draw me to the world of endurance sport in the first place.
The author’s view from an indoor bike in the gym. Far less inspiring than his usual mountain views on his training runs.
There are a lot of things that I love about endurance sports. I like working at something and seeing myself get better at it. I love the rhythm and the feel of a training session when things are “clicking” just right. I enjoy feeling the strength of my legs as they power through a climb in a controlled and capable manner. But perhaps most of all, I love moving through time and space.
Indoor training sessions have a lot of these elements: the pounding of the heart, the rhythm, the power, and the elapse of time. All of these things can be found inside. The movement through space, however — well, that one is a bit different.
A few weeks ago I had a small procedure done on my knee and it landed me on the indoor row machine and bike trainer for a few days. When I got back to training outdoors, I realized something. I really enjoy moving through time and space. No matter if it is in the mountains of Colorado/Oregon or the rolling farmland of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where I grew up, I simply love going outside and having a little (or big) adventure.
Zach recovering from a procedure on his knee.
As I progress through my career in endurance sports, this regular dose of adventure is something I never want to lose. Sure, there will more than likely be days when I log my training indoors. From injury, to focusing on specific training stimuli and conditions, indoor training more than has its place. But, as the world of endurance sports progresses and becomes more and more dialed in and performance focused, I hope that we retain a love and dedication to what I imagine drew so many of us to it in the first place: a love for moving through the world outside our front door.
Call for Comments
Do you train indoors sometimes? If so, why?
