Woodway Curve: Powerful and power-free treadmill training

One of the gyms where I do my training has a new member; a Woodway Curve. It caught my eye today after I completed my 10k run on the elevated running track, otherwise I would have taken it for a spin right away. However, I am going to be testing it out personally tomorrow. Before today I had not seen a curve yet, so it peaked my interest.

The Woodway Curve addresses the common concern treadmill runners have about the treadmill doing half the work. Essentially, with the band being moved for you, instead of moving yourself forward on pavement, you are losing out on some of the benefits of running on the road. The curve is not powered by electricity, but instead by the user itself, allowing for the runner to accelerate and decelerate at his or her own pace. Avoiding a treadmill because it is doing half the work is then also no longer necessary. Basically the Woodway Curve is being marketed as a performance treadmill, that can be used by advanced athletes to meet their endurance goals. 

The shape of the curve did, at first glance, make me think of a hamster wheel. I am curious to see how comfortable the run on the Woodway Curve is, but undoubtedly the curving shape of the treadmill makes it possible to run without the band being powered by anything but the runner. The curve shape also forces the runner to use proper posture and technique. For any beginning runner, using the Curve should be (if this is true) a mandatory exercise; kind of like using training wheels. Developing good posture and good running technique is paramount to performance, and to avoiding injuries. I'm very curious to see how the Woodway Curve stacks up once I get to try it. 

Tomorrow, a quick review of the Woodway Curve will follow, after I get a chance to take it for a spin at the gym!