Wow, what a winter! When Dallas, Texas gets a foot of snow, you know it has been a wacky winter.

So what do you do when you just can’t get out and get in some road miles? Blow off the training schedule? Do some yoga? Hit the gym?

Those are all viable options, though you can’t blow off the training schedule all winter. Sometimes you really need some the cardio fitness, and being snowed in means no chance to hit the gym.

What about buying a treadmill for the house?

The folks at Runners World recently completed reviews of several treadmill models and have made their recommendations of the best. You can see the reviews here: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-240-322--13037-0,00.html

If you already have a treadmill or access to one, here are some helpful hints, again from the folks at Runners World.

Go Fast: A good rule of thumb for setting the pace and length of speedwork programs: Aim to run your longer intervals (three to eight minutes) just shy of your 10–K pace, and your shorter efforts (one to three minutes) closer to your 5–K pace. Indoor running means wind drag doesn't slow you down as it would outside, so your treadmill times will probably be faster.

Climb Higher: Most runners use less oxygen and have a lower heart rate when training on a treadmill than when they run on the roads, so consider tackling a steeper incline (and even going at a faster pace) during your indoor hill workouts. Don't go overboard though: Climbing a steep incline of 11 to 15 percent is more of a strength-training workout than a running one.

Target Heart Rate: Heart–rate zone programs are ideal for recovery runs because they force you to maintain a steady effort level by automatically speeding up or slowing down the belt when your heart rate gets too low or high.