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The Loop

Something new? Try unplugging the treadmill

January 07, 2015

As I've said many times, if you want to keep your New Year's fitness resolution and still be committed to working out beyond March, you've got to find ways to eliminate the word "routine" from your workout routine. In other words, mix it up. If you go to the gym four times a week, jog on the treadmill for 30 minutes, and then go home, you've got the recipe for boredom. That will eventually lead to you giving up on your fitness goals.

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Having gone back to this in my own workout sessions, I can assure you it's much more of a challenge than just running at a steady state on a motor-driven belt or doing intervals. Even better, it can help you gain power in your golf game. In order to push the belt with your own power, you have to assume a bent-over, driving position with your body. Picture a football player moving one of those blocking sleds or what you'd look like if your friend asked you to help push his stalled car down the block. That's the driving position you need to be in to move the belt and this leads to greater lower-body strength as well as some upper-body conditioning.

For your tread session, I suggest you start easy. Do five 30-60 second reps where you either walk or slowly jog on the belt using your own muscles for power. Then rest for 30 seconds in between each run/walk interval. Just a hunch, but I bet by the end of this session you'll be gasping for air.

Ron Kaspriske is the fitness editor of Golf Digest.

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