Systems and applications, e.g., software applications running on mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, and the like, are described that provide for terrain-based simulation of particular desired or selected running/walking courses, e.g. a race course or a non-race jogging/training route, on a treadmill. The terrain-based simulation can include providing instructions for the user for making adjustments and/or settings of the treadmill to simulate changes that a runner/jogger/walking person would encounter on the actual selected course due to the actual changes of terrain on that course. The terrain-based adjustments and/or settings can include the incline/decline of the treadmill surface, e.g., along the long axis or parallel to the moving surface, and/or effort required to move the treadmill surface. Other adjustments and/or settings can be used in addition to or instead of any of the previously described ones to further simulate conditions of a selected course.