A little rant about iTreads

F

Fitnessfreak366

Cathlete
First I have to say that these are excellent workouts. But I do have a few gripes about them.

What jogger jogs at a speed of 6.5 - 7.0??? Unless my treadmill is out of the ordinary, I consider 6.5 and espeically 7.0 a run. My legs usually can't keep up when I'm at a speed of 7. I use that speed when I do one minute level 4 sprints from Cardio Coach workouts. Grace starts joggers out at this speed and I just don't get it.

She never uses an increment of 5-5.9 speeds with any of the workouts, or at least not with the ones I have. This is what I consider "jogging" so that is what I use with these workouts.

Another gripe is her time counts. I did a 40 minute workout this morning that was suppose to have 2 minute intervals. There were about 5 or 6 intervals and only 2 of them were two minutes. The others were around 1 minute and one of them was under 1 minute. What gives? She'll say 20 seconds left and it will be 10 seconds. Stop watch, baby. Works wonders!

Grace's "Let's GO!" drives me crazy. And so does "Rhythm.... Roll...."

Also, these workouts need more rest periods. Maybe I'm just a pansy when it comes to running, but geez!

I'm certainly spoiled with Cardio Coach! LOL!

Anyone feel this way? Or is it just me?
 
I could've written your post word for word!

The one thing that completely irks me about iTreads is how she defines the speeds. Also, I HATE when people differentiate between running and jogging on the basis of speed. Hey, I may be slow, but I assure you, I am still RUNNING. Do NOT call me a "jogger" - it implies that I'm not trying very hard and it's insulting. I can't keep up with Grace's "jogger" speeds either - I fall somewhere between the walker and jogger speeds (and I certainly cannot WALK at her walker speeds).

I also get annoyed with Grace's weird chatter. She is just not as motivating as Coach Sean. I find myself thinking "WTH is she talking about?" ;)

I am totally spoiled by Cardio Coach. Nothing compares to him, IMO.
 
I usually fall between the jogger and runner. On a good day, I can do runner the whole way. I personally like the iTreads. They have helped me a lot in pushing myself harder. I have never done a cardio coach. They don't give speeds do they?
LD
http://pic40.picturetrail.com/VOL395/10721112/19111645/307955868.jpg[/IMG]
 
Emily, I'm right there with you. When I "jog" (which is my semi-run) at a speed of 5.5 my HR tells me I'm running. Geez. And how can anyone walk at a pace of 4.0-4.5? THAT is my warmup jog. Maybe she's 8' 5" or something and her legs are just too long for her to figure out true settings?
 
I've never done iTreads because I don't have treadmill and I don't run, but I love Cardio Coach. Coach Sean sent me a prerelease version of volume 8 along with a checklist of items to review. One of those items was timing. He wanted me/us to time the intervals and report any mistakes. That man had every single interval timed perfectly, so when he says 2 minutes, it's 2 minutes exactly!
 
>I've never done iTreads because I don't have treadmill and I
>don't run, but I love Cardio Coach. Coach Sean sent me a
>prerelease version of volume 8 along with a checklist of items
>to review. One of those items was timing. He wanted me/us to
>time the intervals and report any mistakes. That man had every
>single interval timed perfectly, so when he says 2 minutes,
>it's 2 minutes exactly!

That is awesome, Michele! Coach Sean is da bomb!
 
Debbie,

Grace says her speed settings are just guidelines.

I have 24 iTread workouts (between Set 1 to Set 26)

In the ones I have, Grace usually starts joggers off at 5.5 to 5.6 usually and runners at 6.4 to 6.6. The peak speed for a runner is usually 7.0 (which are for short spurts) and for runners is 8.0. The joggers seem to stay below 6.5 for most of time.

When I started iTread, I used jogger settings as far as posible and switched to walker when it got too tough before picking up pace again. After a while I could jog all the way through and do some spurts at runner. Now I can do runner settings, but it took me over a year of working with CC and iTread every week, to slowly work up. If I take a break from running, when I get back I have to work my way up again, but it comes back faster.

Another thing I have noticed is that people who are shorter or have shorter legs find keeping up treadmill speeds more tough. Tall people tend to run at a slower BPM for the same speed as those shorter - if that makes sense - because their stride is longer.

~* Vrinda *~
 
Thanks for posting the walking, jogging and running estimates. I read somewhere the other day someone was walking at 5.0 or so and I thought "wow that is really fast, how can they possibly do that?" I walk at 3.5 (good pace) - 4.0 (fast) and anything higher I go into a jog and then run. Now I feel like those are normal speeds and I am on track. Thanks again!!
 
>I usually fall between the jogger and runner. On a good day,
>I can do runner the whole way. I personally like the iTreads.
>They have helped me a lot in pushing myself harder. I have
>never done a cardio coach. They don't give speeds do they?
>LD

I find that the people who like iTreads the most are the people who are naturally faster runners, like LD, because they can keep up with the prescribed speeds.

Cardio Coach does not give speeds. He goes by heart rate or perceived exertion. It allows people of all abilities to feel equally motivated in his workouts, IMO. There is no segregation of "tough guys" and "wussies". ;) Some people like being told what speed to run at, but I do NOT, and that's one reason I love CC so much. I push myself VERY hard with CC - I am always trying to outdo myself. There are no limits - lower or upper - with CC, and that really appeals to me.
 
Thank god you guys! I thought I was the only one, I am with you Emily. I am a walker, and let me tell you, its tough walking 4.5 period, long legs or not--I am 5'7' and have shorter legs, so I feel like a spaz walking that fast, and there is no way I can walk faster than that...anything above that to me is a jog, which I am not supposed to do because of my joints and stuff.

That is why I prefer hills, you can still walk but keep your heartrate up. I too find Grace's banter really annoying and she doesn't keep track during the workouts very well, but I love the fact there are guideline numbers, it does literally keep me on my toes.:)
 
>Another things I have noticed is that people who are shorter
>or have shorter legs find keeping up treadmill speeds more
>tough. Tall people tend to run at a slower BPM for the same
>speed as those shorter - if that makes sense - because their
>stride is longer.

This is very true. I am short and have very short legs (even for my short height), so I am just naturally slow. Grace's speeds are TOUGH for me. And I'm no wimp - I've run a marathon for crying out loud!

I know that her speeds are just "guidelines" but if you don't fall within her prescribed ranges, it takes quite a bit of mental effort to figure out what speeds you should be using. It's just too much work for me. I don't want to have to do math while I'm on the treadmill! :7 With CC, when he says "Level 3 Sprint", I know exactly what speed I need to use to get my heart rate to the right place. And over time, that speed increases ever-so-slightly. But I'm still slow and I always will be. ;)
 
I much prefer iTreads because Grace gives speeds to go by. I can't go by PE or zones--I'm not that good at listening to my body. ;) I have gotten so much faster since I started using iTreads. I can now comfortably run at a 7.5-8.0 speed whereas when I started with Grace I could barely run at a 6.5. It's amazing. My walking pace is around 4.2-4.5.
5.2 is the fastest I can walk without breaking into a jog.

I'm so glad that we have both CC and iTreads to choose from and mix and match. I use them both a lot but tend to use iTreads more since I love having certain speeds recommended to me.


Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90
 
>Cardio Coach does not give speeds. He goes by heart rate or
>perceived exertion. It allows people of all abilities to feel
>equally motivated in his workouts, IMO. There is no
>segregation of "tough guys" and "wussies". ;) Some people
>like being told what speed to run at, but I do NOT, and that's
>one reason I love CC so much. I push myself VERY hard with CC
>- I am always trying to outdo myself. There are no limits -
>lower or upper - with CC, and that really appeals to me.

ITA Evily!
 
>I much prefer iTreads because Grace gives speeds to go by. I
>can't go by PE or zones--I'm not that good at listening to my
>body. ;) I have gotten so much faster since I started using
>iTreads. I can now comfortably run at a 7.5-8.0 speed whereas
>when I started with Grace I could barely run at a 6.5. It's
>amazing. My walking pace is around 4.2-4.5.
> 5.2 is the fastest I can walk without breaking into a jog.
>
> I'm so glad that we have both CC and iTreads to choose from
>and mix and match. I use them both a lot but tend to use
>iTreads more since I love having certain speeds recommended to
>me.

More evidence to support my theory that faster runners are more likely to like iTreads better. ;) I cannot even imagine being able to sprint 8.0 mph, let alone run comfortably at that pace. These short little legs just ain't doin' it. :p
 
LD,

You MUST try CC.

Sean does not give speeds, he defines four levels of exertion from 1 to 4 (very precisely defined based on how you must feel / heart rate - whichever you prefer) and you can use the settings you want to achieve that level of exertion.

There are hills (slow on speed, high on incline), sprints (flat, speed), and treks (mix of incline and speed) with recovery and steady state thrown in.

They are beautifully coached and the production values are excellent.

I love iTread, including the one coached by Nick, but CC is a must for any Cardio lovers collection.

The beauty of CC is that the same workout can be used on any cardio machine (for an elliptical or cycle you use resistance instead of incline).

I hope I did not make it seem complicated - it is not - it is very simple and truly exhilarating. You get a countdown 10-9-8-7----1 before every high intensity push and a countdown whne it is finsihing and that makes you feel like such a star (or a rocket taking off!).

~* Vrinda *~
 
Yep, I'm done with itreads. I am sticking with CC or iclimbs for my TM workouts. I agree with everything the OP said, plus I have to add that when Grace adds in one of her howls I almost fall off my TM because she scares the cr@p out of me. Also, I know that these are just recommended speeds that she gives, but I can't help sort of feeling like a little bit of a loser when I can't go the speeds she tells me to go.
 
Wow!!! Some of you can really walk and run fast. I have not been using the treadmill that long and I guess if I continue to push myself, I will get faster.
 
Karin, me too!!! I was feeling like such a wimp doing these workouts. I keep up with Sean no problem, but Grace... No way. Those numbers are just too unrealistic for me.

Glad to know I'm not alone!
 
Ok, I have a little confession to make....

I don't use an iTread if I'm not feeling really good that day. I can't let myself go below the runner's numbers anymore. I just can't. Now that I know I can run that fast (usually comfortably) I feel like such a failure if I can't keep up with Grace's highest numbers.

If I don't feel close to 100% the day I'm scheduled to run, I either do a completely different workout (a Cathe cardio) or I'll use a CC. I don't feel bad going a little lower in speed (or even walking) with CC's. There's no number to keep up with.

Ok, phew. That cat's outta the bag. ;) Having said that, though, I still prefer Grace, her music, cueing/coaching, and specific speed guidelines over CC.

Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90
 
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