The marathon is one of the ultimate challenges in running, second only to the Ironman triathlon in terms of distance and intensity. It can take months of training just to complete this arduous race, and years to run it within a good time. In this article, we look at five treadmills to find out which is the best treadmill for marathon training.
We will talk about what features are important in a treadmill when it comes to marathon racing, and what makes a treadmill good or bad when it comes to this distance. We will then help you find the ideal treadmill for your needs.
Best Treadmill for Marathon Training
As you can probably guess, marathon training requires a lot of long distance runs, that is kind of the whole point. So, you are going to want a treadmill that has a lot of cushioning, and a decent motor.
Depending on how good a runner you are, you may also need to run at a fast pace, this type of running can really help improve times. Shorter distance fast paced runs will require a treadmill with a decent motor and a top speed of at least 10 mph. First time marathon runners probably won’t have to worry too much about that though.
Having an incline setting is not absolutely necessary, and there may be one or two treadmills on our list without them, but they can be really useful. Particularly if the marathon that you are training for has a lot of hills, or one big one such as Heartbreak Hill in the Boston marathon.
Because of this, what we will be looking for is durability, cushioning, power, and we will also look at value for money, which is always important when looking for a treadmill to buy. Each factor will be scored out of five and the total will be out of twenty.
| Best Treadmill for Marathon Training | Durability | Cushioning | Power | Value | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLE F63 Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| Schwinn 810 Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 17/20 | Check Price |
| Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16/20 | Check Price |
| NordicTrack Commercial 2950 Treadmill | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 19/20 | Check Price |
As you can see, we’ve got one treadmill that stands out from the others, the NordicTrack Commercial 2950 treadmill. But it is also the most expensive and may not fit most people’s budgets. Which is why we’ve filled the rest of the table with much more affordable (yet still high quality) options.
Now we are going to look at each treadmill in turn, going into details and explaining why each has made our list of the best treadmill for marathon training.
Best Treadmill for Marathon Training #1: SOLE F63 Treadmill
The first treadmill on our list is the SOLE F63 treadmill, a great treadmill that suits a lower budget. Sure, it may not be the most powerful treadmill on this list but considering the price it is an excellent piece of kit.
The treadmill uses a 2.5 HP motor, which is pretty decent for home treadmills, but can cause a bit of strain when being run at top speeds.
Speaking of which, the top speed of this treadmill is 10 mph, which is good enough to serve its purpose. You won’t often require speeds anywhere near this fast while training for a marathon. But as we mentioned earlier, sometimes high-speed runs can be very effective for experienced marathon runners.
The cushioning is very good though, and the treadmill gets a solid four out of five from us because of this. You are unlikely to feel much discomfort during your run here. The elevation is excellent too, with a 15% top setting.
Well priced, very durable, with a decent top speed and excellent incline settings, the SOLE F63 treadmill is a great marathon ready treadmill and well worth consideration.
Best Treadmill for Marathon Training #2: Schwinn 810 Treadmill
The Schwinn 810 treadmill is an excellent all round treadmill, which is similar to the SOLE F63 in terms of price range and quality. This is another treadmill that suits people with a lower budget who still want an excellent machine.
The motor is 2.6 HP which is a little more powerful than the SOLE one, but the difference is minimal. The treadmill has a top speed of 10 mph, and also offers an incline of 10%. It may handle top speeds a little better than the SOLE but doesn’t offer quite as good of an incline setting. Saying that though, most treadmills only go up to 10%.
It may not look it, but the Schwinn 810 treadmill is very durable, and the cushioning is superb. You’ll be able to run for long distances without feeling any undue pain in your joints or in your feet. Thanks to its reasonable pricing, the Schwinn 810 scores well in terms of value for money, and other than a slight lack of power, this is an excellent product.
If you are relatively new to marathon training, and just require something that you can run long distances on at a low to medium speed, then you’ll be more than happy with it.
Best Treadmill for Marathon Training #3: NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill
The NordicTrack T 6.5 Si treadmill is the first of two NordicTrack treadmills on this list, and it is by far the more affordable. As with the other two treadmills we’ve looked at so far, the NordicTrack T 6.5 Si treadmill has a relatively low motor, which reflects its price and the intention to use it at home.
The motor is a 2.6 CHP commercial plus motor, which will allow you to run at decent speeds for a long period of time without too much strain. With a top speed of 10 mph and an incline setting of 10%, this treadmill should be perfect for beginner marathon runners. Even more experienced runners can get a lot out of its use, provided they can do their faster pace training outdoors.
The cushioning is (unsurprisingly for a NordicTrack treadmill) flawless, using FlexSelect adjustable cushioning to provide the right type of running surface depending on what your needs are. Harder surfaces for fast sprinting, softer surfaces for lower intensity long distance runs.
While not exactly inexpensive, the value for money of this treadmill is amazing, considering how durable it is, how well it performs, and how comfortable it can be, the price is excellent. This is a treadmill that will last you years, making the initial investment very wise.
Best Treadmill for Marathon Training #4: Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness are a well known and established treadmill manufacturer, with a reputation for inexpensive and effective models that often surpass customers’ expectations. This treadmill is no exception, offering superior quality at affordable prices.
The treadmill has a 3 HP motor, which allows you to run at a top speed of 11 mph and can handle all but the most intense of running workouts. Whatever form of training your marathon schedule requires, the Sunny Health & Fitness treadmill can handle it.
The running deck is really impressive, with a max user capacity of 285 lbs and some very good shock absorption technology which can help reduce stress on your joints and reduce the risk of injury. The treadmill provides 15 levels of incline, which will be very effective for recreating hilly terrain, or for increasing intensity while keeping your running pace the same.
Overall, this is a really good treadmill, that may be a bit more expensive than some of the others on this list, but seriously impresses with its durability and performance. Excellent for the more experienced marathon runner who needs a better motor to handle the intensity of their running and wants excellent incline settings too.
Best Treadmill for Marathon Training #5: NordicTrack Commercial 2950 Treadmill
To be honest, when it comes to quality and durability, this treadmill has no equal on this list. The NordicTrack Commercial 2950 treadmill is a step above the competition. Providing a 4 CHP motor, a top speed of 12 mph, and both incline and decline settings, this treadmill is a marathon runner’s dream come to life.
The cushioning is impressive, in fact, the cushioning is the best of all the treadmills on this list. Helping to protect your knees and other joints from even the most arduous of runs. Yet auto-adjusting to harden when you require a bouncy, springy surface (for sprints and hill runs).
The incline and decline settings are amazing, and really help to recreate the variable terrain that you may encounter while running a marathon. Combine this with the amazing 22 inch HD display and the free year’s membership to iFit (which can provide virtual reality race settings) and you could easily create almost life-like running conditions.
Sure, the price is towards the top of the price range, but due to its amazing durability, the incredible performance it offers, and all the extra bells and whistles, we think you will agree that the NordicTrack Commercial 2950 is well worth the cost.
