SAN FRANCISCO, Ca., September 4 — Okay, so the weather’s not perfect where you live. And your joints don’t exactly love it when you grind them into powder on the pavement. And even if you live in an ideal climate with no pavement — we’ll call it "Fantasia" — you might not be the best at challenging your pace or fitness level with different workouts. Might as well ditch running and try something else, right? Wrong.
Mercantila Does Treadmills!
How did 19th-century sheep and horses help you train like a gazelle? In the Beginning. Boy, today’s livestock have it easy. Their ancestors had to work for their supper in the late 19th century, after the first treadmill was invented in 1875 to enable animal-powered farm machinery. (Sheep and dogs walked on small "Level Power Treadmills" to operate butter churns; horses walked on larger ones to power threshing machines.) Three-quarters of a century later, the Industrial Revolution had faded, desk jobs and white-collar sensibilities had exploded, and we humans had become, well, in need of a little exercise.
Innovations
Enter cardiologist Robert Bruce and colleague Wayne Quinton, who recognized a medical need for physical activity and addressed it in 1952 by developing the first treadmill for humans. The invention made all-season training available to runners in any climate — and brought Quinton, who sold his interest to Stairmaster, quite a little windfall — and put the power of automated training behind everyone from beginners to Olympic athletes. (For the 2000 women’s Olympic marathon, the U.S. qualified one athlete: Dr. Christine Clark, an Alaska resident who did the lion’s share of her winter training on a home treadmill.)
What’s In It For You?
Peak fitness. Any one of our machines is perfect for walking. That said, nothing burns quite like a good run — and nothing burns quite so many calories, either. Hills, intervals, speed training, tempo work, endurance work, heart conditioning... we’re feeling fitter just typing this.
Programming. You live in the Great Plains and want a hill workout? Fine. You hear interval training is all the rage but have no idea how to structure a workout? No problem. Tons of these machines have programming options that customize to your fitness level — no matter how good it gets as you train.
Padded protection. Yeah, we know asphalt’s no fun. And trail running’s great, but loose pebbles and jutting tree roots have turned many an ankle. Need a compromise? How about cushioned decks and frames designed to lessen impact? (And we’re not calling you clumsy or anything, but they all come with side rails, too. Just throwing that out there.)
Pleasantries. Spend a lot, get a lot. We’ve got machines with fans, TVs, tons of horsepower, rehab capabilities... you’ll be so distracted, it’ll be like someone snuck in and stole all those calories when you weren’t looking.
Meet your match:
Just want to walk without so much as a glance at the weather report? Training for a 5K P.R.? Looking to put a gym-caliber machine in your house? Need to catch up on your soaps as you exercise? You’ve found the right market (all of you).
| Top gun: Schwinn 820p; $1,299.00 |  This 2005 Best Buy packs a whole lotta price-range punch: speeds up to 10 mph, incline up to 15 percent, Strike Zone cushioning for firm take-off and soft landing, nine programs, a one-inch thick deck, and a frame of two-inch welded steel. Plus it’s that whole Schwinn reliability thing going for it, which is nice. | | Top saver: Stamina Manual Treadmill; $149.00 |  Sturdy steel construction, a frame that folds for storage and elevates up to a 21-percent grade, and a console that displays time, distance, and calories burned. Yes, you have to provide the power. Sheesh. (You might as well save on the electricity bill, too.) | | | Save & Share |  10% off on $2,000!
Take 10% off any treadmill over $2,000. Enter coupon code TRDML at check out. Coupon valid through 9/14/2006 at | | |
| Clearance |  Get the Edge.
Walk in the comfort of your own home with the Edge 500 Manual Treadmill. Ideal for all fitness levels, it gives you plenty of room to walk or run. It is foldable, portable and storable; and only $169.99!
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Tell us why you're so curious -- give us a good enough story, and we'll give you the inside scoop. (Nobody wants pennies these days anyway.) Send your reply to readers@mercantila.com | | |
