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The Best Treadmills for Marathon Training

Published by Coach Chris Knighton on

Find the perfect treadmill for your at-home workouts
By Coach Chris Knighton
Photo of a Treadmill located in a home gym.

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. When you buy through links on our site, I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Introduction to Marathon Training Treadmills

What if you never had to miss a run due to bad weather or time constraints ever again? If you owned one of the best treadmills for marathon training, would you be able to eliminate this excuse?

Having a treadmill at home is a great way to stay consistent with your marathon training. All passionate athletes know that sticking to their training plan day in and day out without interruption will lead to tremendous success. But often it can be difficult to fit in a run outside.

Extreme winter weather can make it dangerous to run outside. Excessive heat can make it difficult to perform faster workouts. Limited daylight can pose an issue too for athletes who need to run first thing in the morning or late in the evening. For all these reasons and more, having a treadmill at home can be a wonderful tool for marathon training.

Athletes frequently ask me for treadmill recommendations, so I polled the Knighton Runs community for their recommendations of the best treadmills for marathon training. This article contains their recommendations and some of the reasons why they love the treadmill they bought.

The Best Treadmills for Marathon Training

Assault Runner Pro Treadmill


Why we love it

Josh wrote, “I have an assault runner pro. Hands down the best decision I have ever made fitness-wise. The treadmill has no motor, so you control the pace. It takes about 30% more energy to use than running on the road, and the treadmill promotes good running form.

We have a treadmill at my work that I run on every now and then and I hate it. I find that the Assault Runner Pro Treadmill is much easier on my joints and I can actually focus on pacing and form rather than chasing a belt.

The Assault Runner Pro Treadmill hooks up to Zwift via Apple TV so you can visually do track workouts or runs through their virtual world. You don’t have to hook it up to a TV or an app. It will run standalone. It has a simple screen that shows you pace, distance, and all the stuff you want to know. You can also program workouts into it. It is great for interval training.”


Click Here to Buy an Assault Runner Pro Treadmill on Amazon.com

Sole F63 Treadmill


Why we love it

Dori wrote, “I have a Sole treadmill and it’s a great option that is more affordable than some other treadmills. I have the Sole F63 Model and my brother has the Sole F80 Model and really likes it. The only difference between those two models is the running surface size.”

The Sole F63 Treadmill has built-in speakers and an integrated tablet holder which lets you watch videos while you run or follow your workout routines that play on your phone or tablet.


Click Here to Buy a Sole F63 Treadmill on Amazon.com

Horizon Fitness T101 Folding Treadmill


Why we love it

Erica wrote, “I love the Horizon Fitness T101 Folding Treadmill! One feature I really like is that has adjustable dials to quickly increase and decrease speed, as well as quick-jump buttons to change the programming on the treadmill. You can also plug intervals into the treadmill.”

The Horizon Fitness T101 Foldable Treadmill also has Bluetooth connectivity, built-in speakers, an optimized device holder for your tablet or phone, and a USB charger built-in.


Click Here to Buy a Horizon Fitness T101 Folding Treadmill on Amazon.com

Peloton Tread (Peloton’s Treadmill)

Photo of Woman Marathon Training on Peloton Treadmill.


Why we love it

Kim wrote, “I was already loyal to Peloton content so it made sense for me to get a Peloton Tread to go with the Peloton Bike that I already own. The Peloton Tread is better than any gym treadmill I’ve ever run on!

An All-Access Peloton Membership gives you access to all Peloton content across all Peltoon equipment. If you already have a bike, your membership will also work on the tread – you don’t have to pay twice for membership. However, if you don’t have Peloton equipment you can get an app-based membership that is more limited, less expensive, and does not integrate with the bike or tread.”


Click Here to Buy from Peloton Directly


Try This Fun Challenge with Your New Treadmill!


How long can you run Eliud Kipchoge’s world-record marathon pace? At the 2018 Chicago Marathon expo, runners at the chance to attempt Kipchoge’s 2:01:39 marathon speed for 200 meters on a treadmill. Even highly skilled runners struggle to hold this insane pace for even a minute. How long can you hold world-record marathon pace?

Our Conclusion on Treadmills for Marathon Training

The list above is our top picks for the best treadmills for marathon training.

These treadmills come highly recommended by members of The Knighton Runs community, so you can’t go wrong with any of these models.

I hope these recommendations for at-home treadmills help you become a more consistent and stronger runner, no matter the weather or time of day you need to run!

Categories: Gear

Coach Chris Knighton

Chris Knighton helps passionate athletes run faster marathons. He is the founder and head coach of Knighton Runs Marathon Coaching and has been featured in Runner's World and Women's Running. His first book, "Run Faster Marathons: The Proven Path to PR" is available now on Amazon. Chris lives in Providence, Rhode Island with his family.



Recommended Running Products

Running Shoes - Brooks Launch Running Shoes - I have been wearing these running shoes for years. I've easily worn through over a dozen pairs. They are light, fast, well-cushioned, and very affordable. They are perfect for easy days, long runs, and marathon-training workouts.

GPS Running Watch - Garmin Forerunner 45 - I love Garmin watches. If you do not yet own a GPS running watch, buy one now. This model is small and lightweight, making it perfect for running fast and racing. GPS watches are one of the best tools you have to monitor and improve your running. Getting my first Garmin helped get me hooked on this sport.

Identification Safety Bracelet - Road ID Silicone Wristband - I never leave home without my Road ID. It's engraved with My Name, Year of Birth, Allergies, City of Residence, and Emergency Contact Info for my wife and dad. Wearing my Road ID allows me to leave my driver's license at home when I run and have peace of mind.

Energy Gels - GU Energy "Tastefully Nude" Flavor - GU Energy Gels are my go-to fuel for marathon training. I suggest taking one every 30 to 45 minutes during long runs, half marathons, and marathons. The "tastefully nude" flavor is easy to get down and has a mild sweet taste.

Protein Powder - Momentous Essential Plant-Based Protein Powder - It's critically important to refuel after a workout or long run within 30-minutes of completion. Making a smoothie or shake with Momentous Protein Powder is an easy and healthy way to jump start your recovery process. Their chocolate flavor is delicious even when mixed with just water.

Anti-Chafe Balm - Body Glide Original Balm - Better safe than sorry! I rub Body Glide balm all over my feet and "sensitive" areas before any important race, workout, or long run. Save yourself from nasty blisters, chafing, or bleeding with a little lubricant.

Recovery Tool - ProStretch Calf Stretcher - This one is a curve ball! My wife introduced me to this tool after I developed tight calves from running. The ProStrech Calf Stretcher can help you get a deeper and more effective stretch than conventional methods. This improved flexibility and range of motion may help relieve, rehab and alleviate plantar fasciitis, shin splints, tight calves and achilles tendonitis, as well as enhance overall performance.

The links above are affiliate links, meaning if you click through on a link and buy a product I may earn a small commission. This has not influenced the products I listed here at all, but buying through these links is a nice small way for you to support what I do.




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