When you think about jogging at a local fitness center, there's a good chance that you picture doing so on a treadmill. This is a popular option, but many fitness centers also have indoor running tracks that their members can use. While you might enjoy using a treadmill, it can be nice to change up your workout from time to time and use the indoor track. If you're looking at a few fitness centers in your area with the goal of choosing one at which to become a member, you'll want to carefully assess each center's indoor track. Here are some points to consider.
Number Of Lanes
You'll find that the number of lanes at indoor tracks can vary between fitness centers. Larger centers often have tracks with several lanes, while smaller centers may have just a few lanes on their tracks. In general, it's ideal to choose a track that has as many lanes as possible. The more lanes a track has, the less congested it will be. When you run as part of your workout, you want to be able to run at a pace that suits you and without worrying about too much congestion around you. A track with several lanes will do a better job of meeting these criteria.
Track Markings
Some indoor tracks have many different markings on the running surface, while others simply have markings to denote the lanes. You may find that a track that has multiple different markings is a better fit for you. For example, while you might enjoy running laps at a moderate pace, you might also enjoy adding some short sprints to your runs. When you use a track that has markings, you'll be able to use one marking as your sprint start line and another as your sprint finish line. If you're having a friend time your sprints, having a consistent distance to use each time will show you if you're getting faster.
View
Don't overlook the importance of assessing the view that you have while using the indoor track. The view can vary significantly from one center to another, and you're apt to find that a favorable view increases the appeal of using the track. For example, it's common for the track to be on the gym's upper level. If there are windows around it, you'll be able to enjoy looking outside while you jog. Conversely, a track that is surrounded by solid walls won't offer this visual stimulation. Visit some fitness centers' websites to learn about their indoor tracks.
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