More than 40,000 people will run the ING New York City Marathon this Sunday. Among them will be working mothers chosen to represent all five of New York City's boroughs in the 2009 Foot Locker Five Borough Challenge Team. The women, some running the marathon for the first time, all have unique stories, but share the bonds of being fit, working mothers balancing all the demands that come with those roles. The team of five was also joined recently by another woman, Beth Segaloff, who recently lost her fiancé, Captain Ben Sklarver, just three weeks ago when he was deployed in Afghanistan. The women will run together for the first 13 miles, and then anyone can break away for the second half. The woman with the best time will win a trophy, and bragging rights. But none of these women are part of this team to brag. Instead, they find peace, motivation and solace in their commitment to running. That's Fit recently met the team, along with mom and marathon Olympian, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, to find out how, and why, they have made running such a critical part of their lives.

I'm going to go out on a limb and bet that you know how to walk. Chances are, you even know how to walk on a treadmill. So why on earth would you need a fitness DVD devoted to walking?

Well, as the temperatures dip toward freezing, plenty of folks take their outdoor workouts indoors, and that includes those long, nightly walks that helped you stay so slim. But let's face it -- spending an hour walking on your home treadmill (or the one at the gym) isn't exactly the most exciting way to spend your time.

Fit By Tracey Walking Strong is designed to break up the monotony, bump up your heart rate and help you achieve a full-body workout, all on the treadmill. But, if you don't have a treadmill at home (like me), there's someone showing you how to do the workout on the floor, too.

By now it's almost a farce. Contestants on "The Biggest Loser" are pushed to run mind-numbing sprints on the treadmill. The contestants hesitate, saying, "I can't do it!" The trainer gets in their faces, calls them on their fears, and screams until they get back on the treadmill. Pushed to completion, the nearly-collapsed contestants develop looks of awe on their faces and praise the trainer and the show for helping them face and conquer their fears. You have just experienced treadmill sprinting, "Biggest Loser" style. And this season, it appears to be happening every episode.

So how do we mere mortals pull off this exercise without a TV crew? Is it even worth it to do treadmill sprints?

Sure, and here's an easy way to start:

• Practice jumping onto the metal runners on either side of the treadmill. Use your arms to support your weight as you open your legs to each side of the moving belt. Be sure you can do this quickly and easily, in case you need to perform this movement during the sprint.
• Increase your speed by 25 percent of your normal pace, so if you usually walk at 4 mph, jump it up to 5. If you normally run a 10-minute mile (6 mph), try running at an eight-minute mile pace (7.5 mph). Try to stay on the treadmill for 20 seconds. If you feel like you're going to fall, or if you feel dizzy, stop immediately.
• If you're successful at the increased speed, try to keep it up for 30 seconds the next time. Do two or three of these sprints during your first 30-minute treadmill workout. Over the course of the next month, attempt to increase the amount of time you continuously sprint to two minutes.
• Once you are regularly sprinting for two minutes at a time, do three or four sprints per workout.

Sprint training can be done once or twice per week. It increases your cardiovascular endurance, your anaerobic threshold and will give a little goose to your calorie burn during the workout. The sprints allow you to burn about 20 to 30 more calories a session, about the same as a Hershey's kiss!

If you're just getting started, try this beginner running plan.

Photo: Michael Frank, Woodway

Burning excess calories while generating electricity sounds too good to be true, but that's what Woodway's latest fitness machine is all about. The EcoMill is a manually-powered treadmill that uses zero electricity. The self-sustained machine works by converting your own energy into precious watts, thereby saving a few watts from the grid. The EcoMill's drive system allows you to stay fit without increasing your carbon footprint. I tried it at a recent fitness trade show and found myself powering a generator, which converted the energy into electricity to power the display and the elevation system. Extra energy is stored in the treadmill's battery when it isn't in use.

Clunky? No! It looks sleek, curvy and Jetson-like, but I also expected a non-electric treadmill to feel rough and, well, manual, under my sneakers, but not one bit. In fact, Woodway's patented design incorporates shock-absorbing rubberized slats and smooth-rolling ball bearings to create a less-stressful workout for the lower-body. (These old tired hips thank you, Woodway engineers!)

Loud? No! I thought a manually-powered exercise machine would make crazy-loud noises, but again, the result is an amazingly-quiet treadmill scientifically proven to provide the ideal "softness" to eliminate the harmful shock to connective tissue and muscles. When I questioned Eric Weber, Woodway's sales and marketing director, he explained that the sophisticated curved design is the culmination of years of non-motorized development, but the key ingredient is the near-frictionless drive system, which allows the running belt to move freely.

For a woman who once refused to go to the gym because she couldn't bear to wear flat shoes, Victoria Beckham has certainly had a change of heart.

The former Spice Girl is now making the gym a priority, getting herself there six days a week for two hours and clocking eight miles a day on the treadmill. Additionally, she's taken advantage of the Pilates and spinning classes. Now, I don't care who you are -- that's a major commitment!

She's even getting props from fellow gym rats (if they can even be considered gym "rats" when they belong to the exclusive, $2200 per year Sports Club/LA). "Posh is always low-key when she comes here. She wears normal gym gear and is always happy to hang out and have a juice and a chat afterwards," a fellow gym member told the Daily Mail. They also mention that she looks better without all of the makeup, or "war paint," on her mug.

Sources say that Beckham, who has been a famously light eater (there are plenty of reports of her eating little more than water and a couple of pieces of lettuce when at a restaurant), is eating more now because her metabolism is so fired up, and she told the Daily Mail, "I feel energized and healthy."

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our Thats Fit fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Fitz. My husband and I are ready to purchase a cardio machine for our home, but can't decide which to buy. He wants to get an elliptical machine, but I want a stepper so I can burn more calories. Which machine should we get to help us lose weight the fastest? Angie

A. Hello, Miss Angie. What an exciting purchase to make! I'm thrilled that you two are investing in your health, which is vital for ensuring a long and happy life together. Cardiovascular training is beneficial for your heart, lungs and weight-loss efforts. I'm happy to help you choose the machine that is right for you.

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Now that spring has officially sprung, maybe it's time you spring yourself free from air-conditioned gyms. The best gym on Earth -- also known as the great outdoors -- awaits with lots of fresh air and fresh terrain -- the stuff working out on the treadmill can't give you.

But if you're thinking about taking your runs outdoors, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Running outside is more difficult than running on the treadmill -- it's not just in your head! So take it slow and work up your pace gradually.
• Please your knees. Running on pavement is not great for your joints, so consider heading to an outdoor track or on a grassy area. If possible, head out of the city and take on some trails.
  
• Don't wear yourself out -- you'll be more prone to injury.
  
• Be wary of the elements -- always wear sunscreen and bring something breathable but waterproof -- you never know what kind of weather could pop up!
• Stretch. Before and after. And as always, drink lots of water!
  

Want more great tips? Head over to "Fitsugar".

Treadmills are boring. I know. I have one at my house and while I sometimes have a good amount of motivation for the thing, there are times when I just can't imagine staring at that little blinking circle on the panel that tracks my laps.

The FitSugar folks can relate. That's why they offer six tricks for busting through the boredom. If you like books, movies and a little interval training too, you'll want to read this.

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That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader! We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind.

Name: Lucciana Costa

Age: 20

Occupation: Student and musician.

How often do you exercise? Five to six days a week.

What type of exercise do you do? I switch between interval and endurance training on the treadmill (I absurdly love the treadmill), the elliptical, and then weight train every day alternating muscle groups.

What gets you to work out, even when you're feeling lazy? I like to do one crunch or one squat when I'm unmotivated. When I feel how strong my muscles are now, I realize that they only got that way from consistently exercising. These single reps almost always inspire me to go to the gym.

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Took my kids to see a movie called Nim's Island a while back. Not entirely memorable, but there is one scene that sometimes crosses my mind. It's the one with Jodie Foster working away on her laptop while walking on a treadmill. Now that takes coordination, I remember thinking while sitting all cozy in my theater chair. There is just no way I could ever do that.

Walking while working may not be that far off, and it seems the practice could really pay off. Researchers in one study developed a workstation with a treadmill so employees could exercise while working. Obese volunteers took this scenario for a ride and walked for one hour at one mile per hour while typing a document. They burned 191 calories. Those who did the same work seated at a desk burned 72.

Not a bad idea, this treadmill office set-up -- if you can manage it. I just don't think I can. How about you?

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Too busy to shower after your workout? Why not take a bath while you're on the treadmill? Okay, okay ... I jest. But the Hydro Physio does bear a striking resemblance to a treadmill at the bottom of a bathtub.

Though it may look odd, the concept is a good one. Water creates a natural resistance, which can improve the quality of your workout. In addition, when you work out in water, your buoyancy makes the movement less stressful on joints.

The Hydro Physio is currently used primarily for rehabilitation and athletes. But if you want to get the benefit of a water workout, consider water aerobics. You can also just ramp up your traditional treadmill workout.

[via Ruby Room]

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Last Sunday, I went over to my parents' house during the Super Bowl. I watched for a while, but my interest waned. (Sorry, I'm just not a football fan.) My son and dad kept their eyes glued on the screen, but my mom and I disappeared upstairs. While my mom worked on a craft, I hopped on her treadmill for a while.

I maintained good form. But, I was chatting with my mother the whole time, so it wasn't exactly a strenuous workout. Next time, I'm going to put a little more gusto into it. You can ramp up your workout with these treadmill techniques:

• Let go. When you've got your balance, let go of the rails. Let your arms swing naturally if you're walking and pump arms forward and back while running.
• Keep eyes level. Resist the urge to stare up at the gym's ceiling-hung TV. Keep your head and eyes level.
• Add an incline. A slight incline -- even as small as one percent -- can really increase the intensity.
• Try intervals. Vary speed and incline for a more advanced workout.

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Are you an outdoor exercise enthusiast? Do you reject the idea of running anywhere without trees and scenery? It must drive you crazy that the chilly temperatures and shorter days are sending you into the gym. Good news: Active.com has several suggestions to help you out.

In addition to listing the Cardio Top Five, Active has pointers on how to get a better indoor cardio workout on whatever equipment you choose to use. Remember, if you keep it interesting, you'll work harder. Check out the gallery for a few of the pointers I'll be taking to heart!

How often have you been walking somewhere and thought, "Boy, I could really get a workout if only I were on a treadmill, but a treadmill just won't get me where I need to go!"? Never? Yeah, me too. Which is why I'm having a hard time understanding who's going to be interested in this Fit Gadget -- the SpeedFit.

Basically, it's a treadmill that can be used for outdoor transportation, so you get your treadmill workout, but with the benefit of fresh air. Because, you know, who wants to just run on the pavement, right? The founders of SpeedFit want to take the emphasis off of distance running and put the focus on running a shorter distance, but faster.

In fact, the brains behind SpeedFit actually aim to change the way fitness is defined, using only speed, time, and distance rather than things like age, weight, height, calories burned, BMI, heart rate, or anything else. By doing this, they hope to gauge fitness based on personal potential rather than on how well someone else can run.

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That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader! We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind. Besides showing you off, we want to reward you for all of your hard work! Everlast and Everlast Woman are giving gorgeous workout T-shirts to each featured member! To join, please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Monique Riveire

Age: 28

Occupation: Paralegal

How often do you exercise? Three times a week.

What type of exercise do you do? Cardio Kickboxing, Zumba, Bootcamp, and Wii Fit

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? Group support, and the fun music in the classes.

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