Programs-some treadmills come with built in exercise programs. These programs are a cool feature on several levels. One reason you might be interested in using a treadmill with built in programs is that they are good workouts. If you are new to the world of exercise, you might think that all workouts are about the same. This actually couldn't be farther from the truth. Exercise physiologists spend a lot of time figuring out how to structure a workout to benefits different body systems. Certain workouts are good for building power, others are good for building speed, and yet others are good for endurance. When the average Joe steps on a treadmill and jogs for a half an hour, he is not doing much more than boosting his metabolic rate. If you want to use your treadmill to enhance your athletic performance, look into a treadmill with plenty of preset programs. Besides giving you a proper and effective workout, the built in programs will make the time go faster by breaking up the monotony of the exercise.

Heart-rate monitors-built in heart rate monitors are another feature that might not seem necessary to the novice user. However, heart rate is the greatest indicator of what your workout is doing for your body. Scientists have worked out formulas that you can use to calculate optimal target heart rates for fitness. If you get one of the better treadmills, you won't have to figure out your target heart rates, you just type in your age and weight and the computer calculates it for you. The very best machines use your heart rate in conjunction with the preset programs to create a workout just for you. Instead of going a certain speed to simulate sprints, the treadmill will select a speed to take you to the target heart rate. Using a combination of a heart rate monitor with the preset programs will result in the most efficient workout you can get.

Incline-if you are a competitive runner, the only thing you could add to make the experience the perfect workout would be hills. Treadmills without incline use resistance to simulate hills. This does for your heart and lungs what hills do but it doesn't do it for your legs. The only way to train your muscles in your legs for running hills is to actually run hills. Using a treadmill that has incline allows you to do this. The funny thing about incline is that some machines that feature an incline only have a positive incline, this means you can go from level to uphill. This is not good training if you plan to run real hills. In life, what goes up must come down. This means that if you climb a hill in a race, you will eventually come down from that hill. If you use treadmill that only trains your body to climb the hill, you will be unprepared for the decent. Runners often lament that the downhills, while easier on the cardio vascular system, are murder on their legs. If you are going to be running downhill, it