Elliptical machine ‘outsmarts injuries’

U.S. elite runner Lauren Fleshman has added outdoor elliptical training to her routine in an effort to prevent injuries – and it seems to be working.

Fleshman is a two-time U.S. National Champion in the 5,000m, but in 2010, recurring injuries almost forced her out of competitive running. She added workouts on an outdoor elliptical trainer called the ElliptiGO to replace two to three hours of running a week and went on to match the American record at the IAAF championships.

“After college I broke my left foot four times during training. I realized that I had to get smart and do something different or I would never compete again,” Fleshman said in a press release from ElliptiGO.

“I had to face the fact that I had limitations and that I couldn’t train like everyone else with high-mileage weeks.”

What the heck is the ElliptiGO? It’s essentially a cross between a bicycle and an elliptical trainer to be used outdoors.

According to its manufacturer, it is an outdoor, low-impact, fitness device specifically designed to emulate the running motion. It is designed to minimize the impact of running, aiming to give users the outdoor running experience without the usual pounding on their bodies.

Fleshman’s training strategy was to use the machine out on the roads, trying to mimic the same heart-rate zones she would have done in the runs she replaced.