A little rant about iTreads

I prefer Cardio Coach. I tried an iTread before I ever tried a CC. I was out on vacation and I went jogging two days in a row. The first day I took an iTread. I had another one, but the second day I just jogged with my music. Couldn't face listening to an iTread. I've tried other ones since and I just don't look forward to running with an iTread.

But, Sean and Cardio Coach? Love those. I use a HR monitor and I follow his % of HRR (heart rate reserve; diff than max hr) recommendations for the levels. Works very well for me. I've sprinted faster with him than I ever thought possible. I'm pretty short and I've sprinted at 8+ mph.

I did a steady state jog on my own watching tv a week or so ago. I decided I'd just jog at 4.5 mph until I felt I needed a walking break. I ended up doing 4 cycles of jogging for 11 minutes followed by 3 minutes of walking. I felt like I could keep going and going. 4.5 mph isn't fast, but it is jogging. ;) Contrast this with a year ago, I couldn't jog (at 4 mph) for longer than 45 seconds without keeling over. :+ Progress!

I just don't click with Grace, so I stick with Coach Sean.

April
 
I love iTread and iClimb. Most of the time Grace doesn't bother me, EXCEPT when you're in a sprint and she counts it down. She'll say you can do anything for 60 seconds, that somehow turns into 90 seconds to 2 minutes. She does that a lot!!!

The only other thing I can think of is one of her iTreads (I can't remember which set) she goes on about glow sticks, that makes me feel like there's some kind of inside joke I should know about.

I haven't tried CC yet, because the samples I've listened to just don't have music that I find motivating. iTrain has certainly made me enjoy using machines again. Takes the boredom out for sure!

--Sharon
 
ITA that Grace's count is off lots of times but it only bothers me when I'm exhausted and want to slow down. :p

As far as her jogger speeds being high, perhaps they are but a "jog" could be different for everyone so I am sure they did the best that they could trying to find a range that seemed suitable. I will simply adjust my speed in either direction if her numbers are too high or too low for me.

As for rest periods, I appreciate them when they are given but am glad that she does not offer too many. If I wanted more I would just pause the work out and take my own or walk through a small portion of the work out and pick back up with it when I am ready.

JMHO! :)
 
I have to say I enjoy both of them equally. I like the variety that iTread offers but enjoy Sean’s music and coaching more. I use the jogger cues for iTread (on a good day I can go a little higher between jogger and runner). With CC I use my heart rate monitor to gauge exertion.

I’ve just fallen completely in love with CCV8! I’m using the warmup, third challenge, and cool down as a quick interval workout after weights. I’m also doing the entire workout once a week for hill training. I hate hills….dread hills….but for some reason I’m enjoying them with this workout, lol!

Kathy
 
Many of you know I personally LOVE the iTread workouts. And I still do. I warmup at the jogger numbers for the first 5 minutes or so, then I begin using the runner numbers. I'm average height, btw, at 5'5" and am NOT built for speed, rather endurance. BUT...my speed has increased tremendously using iTreads. I can sprint at 9.3 for about 90 seconds to top out at my max.

Like Allison, I don't listen to my body all that well. If it were up to ME? I'd be way OVER where I'm supposed to be, so for that reason, mainly, is why the iTreads work for me.

I agree with the timing concern. When she says 2 minutes, I WANT 2 MINUTES! And I AM tired of her cat-calls and howls! LOL Also, I'd like more variety of music. There are quite a few iTread workouts where the same song is being used, and I don't like that all that much. LAST complaint is that the most recent releases have left me disappointed only in that they don't hit me as their target audience (the last 2, if I remember correctly, was a Mommy Boot Camp one with strollers and an outdoor one).

I'm on the fence about the CC workouts, and am just waiting for a little bit of extra cash so I can buy CCV8.

Gayle

p.s. suggestion...have any of you ever emailed the company with yoru complaints???
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

Question:

I have never tried iTrain or CC as I don't own a treadmill. Now that it is nice outside, I'd really like to incorporate running into my current step, kickbox, step, kickbox cardio regimen.

My question is this:

Can you use iTrains and/or CCs outside, or are they treadmill-only workouts?

TIA for any and all advice!
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

There are specific outdoor iTreads (just look for "outdoor" in the title). There's one in this month's set that's pretty good. Grace uses a perceived exertion scale instead of speed recommendations.

Cardio Coach uses only perceived exertion so you can use it on any piece of equipment or outside. I like using them while I run outside, it makes time fly. HTH.

Kathy
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

iTreads have specific workouts for outdoor use (not many, but there are a few). The others you COULD use outdoors but it wouldn't be very effective as you're told when to make a hill bigger or smaller and you can't really do that outside. (Unless you plan very, very, very carefully ;)).

I have never used a CC outdoors but I think you can. Again, you're told when to increase resistance or incline on your machine so it would be hard (or near impossible) to do that outdoors but you could still use them for the coaching, motivation and speed work.

Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

A lot of people use CC outdoors. They usually convert hills to sprints from what I have read since they tend to run on flat ground. Some use the rebounder, and they do stuff like walking lunges for the hills, which you can do outdoors too.

iTread has a few outdoor running workouts by Grace (under Cardio) and by Natalie (under iTrain Gold).

~* Vrinda *~
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

You could use the ITreads intervals work out outdoors in conjunction with a Garmin. I did it that way and it worked out pretty well. I also did it once w/o a garmin and just ran my tushy off during the high intervals and slowed down to a comfortable pace for the low ones. :) I have a few of the outdoor itreads but haven't had the chance to use them yet.
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

>iTread has a few outdoor running workouts by Grace (under
>Cardio) and by Natalie (under iTrain Gold).

I know this thread is getting a little off the OP's topic and I hate to add to that, but could someone just humor me and tell me what the difference is between regular iTrains and iTrain Gold....?


Allison

http://www.picturetrail.com/allisonj90
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

I've never tried Gold. They charge a premium for Gold routines because they are coached by a star athlete who uses techniques from her own training as a peak perormance athlete, from what I can gather.

The feedback at VF on iSwim (from the Gold collection) from someone who tried it was that she found it better than expectations. She never realized coaching at swimming could make such a difference and she says she got a much better workout than when she just does laps on her own (paraphrasing).

~* Vrinda *~
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

I’ve downloaded the iSwim and listened to it but not done it (need to work on the swimming, lol!) I liked that one and Natalie was definitely in her element. I just downloaded her iTread Gold and it wasn’t very good. Her coaching was wooden and monotone (or maybe I’m just used to Grace yelling in my ear…ha!) It ended short 25-27 minutes, I think and it didn’t have a cooldown….she just said “cool down now.” I was disappointed and glad I only paid $4.49 for it (resolution or monthly members get iTrain Gold for half price).

HTH. I haven’t heard much about the iTrain Gold circuit workout. Anyone tried that?

Kathy
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

most of you know i am an itread addict. i do have all the cc workouts with the exception of volume 8, but i find the itreads much easier for me on the treadmill. btw, i also have a ton of iclimbs, istrengths, etc.

i am not tooting my horn or anything, but when i started using itreads, i thought grace was positively NUTS when she gave the runners speeds and i never considered myself to be a fast runner. i am also fairly short (5'3 and DON'T have a runner's body-tall and thin-or long legs). anyway, after about a month, i found i was easily following her running speeds. after that, i found i consistently go at least .2-.5 higher than her running speeds and have no problem. please understand, i am not saying that anyone should aspire to run faster and if they can't too bad. on the contrary, everyone should aspire to run smarter. i am just saying, that in my experience, grace has pushed me to a level of running i never thought possible. even when i don't use an itread and run outside or do steady state on the treadmill, i am running much, much faster than i ever thought i would (and this comes from someone who has been running for 20 years!).

i just came back from an ac joint tear in my shoulder that didn't allow me to run for over a month. even after that, my first steady state run was 4 miles done at approximately 8:40 per mile. i promised myself i would take it easy, didn't look at my speed while running (covered it up and just went higher as i felt necessary), and did not push myself at all. i really think it is the itreads that helped me to become a more effective runner.

that said, i do like cardio coach for the elliptical and i have done it on the treadmill, but like some others said, the perceived exertion thing doesn't work well FOR ME.

i prefer the itreads for the treadmill and i don't really sweat exact times because i know grace will push me as hard as i let her in the end or i will forgo her speeds and go as fast as i want (or slow down if i feel the need).

good thing there is something out there for all of us because none of us are the same and our bodies all respond to different modes of training. what if there was only ONE flavor of ice cream *gasps!*? i am sure we wouldn't be very happy. each of us has different tastes and different preferences. :) that's what makes us all so interesting.
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

Lorie,

You are inspirational. I know that was not your intention, but I cant help feeling "Wow!". Sporty cheetah really is the right tag for you.

~* Vrinda *~
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

I am so glad that you started this thread. I am nearing my purchase of either/both itreads or CC's.

On my TM at home I have attempted a few longer and faster runs after some steady state jogging since last November. My walks are about 4 but I can do a fast walk for a few minutes at 4.5. Jogging used to be at a 5, then went to 5.5 and can actually maintain 6 for about 5 miles now. Some HIIT programs have definitely helped with the speed.

I had to laugh 'cuz I attempted a sprint at 8 for only a minute (after seeing what JAFitMama did) and my HR went up to 170 - though I was gonna die ! Then I see all these ladies running an 8 minute 5K or 10K? Definitely not in my repertoire (sp?). Maybe someday - what a great goal, huh?

All in all, this thread has helped me see where I fit in with all of you using the two different programs.

As usual, thanks for sharing all your information. It is once again invaluable in helping me make more informed choices.:7
 
RE: ? for you guys and gals...

awwwwww, vrinda! you're making me blush!

you don't realize how insirational you are in all your posts. i look forward to each and every one and it always makes me smile when you get the shout out on ccpp!
 
My run speed is only 5.0 and not likely to be any faster for quite awhile. I'm getting Cardio Coach and your post makes me glad I never bothered with iTreads. 6.5 is a "jog?" Oh please. What is this? The Olympics?
 
This thread has lifted my spirits. I'd been thinking that I was just out of shape and slow. Now I think I may just be close to the norm of this group. I go between the jog and walker speed for the iTreads, and yes, my brain has problems figuring out the math while I'm huffing a puffing...probably because it isn't getting enough oxygen. :p
 
Dig this: I used to walk at a park, after work, when I had a day job. Back then I walked really fast, naturally. I was KNOWN for it. Anyway, one day I could sense this woman walking behind me and she was MOVING. Call it competitive nature, but her speed made me want to speed up - so I did. I was moving so fast my shins were killing me as she passed, walking at a speed I found impossible. Once she passed, I slowed down a bit and just kept watching her as the distance between us became greater and greater. I got bored watching her and went back to being lost in my thoughts for awhile and when I looked for her again, among the walkers and runners, she was waaaaaaaay up ahead on the path, a tiny figure in the distance, still hoofing-it like a bat out of Hades. That's when I realized, like in all things, some people are just naturally gifted walkers and runners. Evidently, the folks at iTreads fall into this category. There was a line from Chariots of Fire: "You can't put in what God's left out." Amen.
 
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