Let me start by saying I am categorically opposed to training with a treadmill. The whole point of hiking is to get off the treadmills/ellipticals/weight machines and out into the world. The best way to train for an activity is to do the activity. Having said all this, I must concede the high-incline training machines mentioned in this article would be better than nothing for those who want a workout but don’t want to don all their gear and drive to a trailhead.

The article is pegged to the idea that people who don’t have a lot of time to exercise can do something really, really hard for, say, 20-30 minutes, rather than something mildy hard for an hour. Again, better than nothing, but endurance is just as big a deal as physical strength, and the only way I know of to build endurance is keep doing something for a long time.

Best thing to do is skip that episode of “Desperate Housewives” and do something that works up a sweat. And then you can tell the folks around the watercooler, “oh, I don’t watch TV,” and they’ll be forced to make some sheepish, lame excuse for the 14 shows they know they shouldn’t watch but do anyway because they’re beer-gutted couch potatoes.