Is running on a treadmill acceptable for a long run? (Read 1406 times)

Yes please! Can I have some of that 20%? Wait a minute, how are you calculating 20%? Wouldn't that mean that if I run at 185 bpm then you could get me down to 148 in a few hours? Sorry but I don't think that is possible. At 148 I could run for atleast 4 hours. No way I could hold a 6 flat pace for 4 hours no matter what I did. I would be shocked if you could get me to go from 185 to 170 at the same speed without doubling my number of miles.

from the link: [i]Interestingly, they apply this trick only when they are carrying things on their heads. When they walk unloaded, Dr. Heglund found, they waste as much energy as all other walkers. It is only as they begin to balance heavy loads on their heads that they change their steps. It's a tiny difference that is almost invisible to the naked eye, and "even the women don't know how they do it," Dr. Heglund said. But with a sophisticated training program, he went on, "you could train other people to do the same thing."[/i] so until you enter a marathon that requires participants to carry 50+ pounds on their heads it seems this 20% would not apply to you.

Doug B The women of Kenya utilize a different perspective of balance than you do. Its physics... Understand the physics, and in any clinical watched, videod environment, the 20% decrease in heart rate is easy to do...

Ok, then a truce....... I use this example; On a treadmill, at peak running speed I can outrun a 12PMH Treadmill, through complete relaxation of my legs and letting them fly. I surely can't do that on the street (Damn.....)

If you're following the forefoot running theories such as the Pose Method, "Letting gravity pull you forward" and such, then you're following a running myth. Forefoot running is a more comfortable way to run, but not a faster way to run. Sprinters run on their toes, however the most efficient distance runners are heelstrike runners. Its a much more efficient way to run.

Ok, then a truce....... I use this example; On a treadmill, at peak running speed I can outrun a 12PMH Treadmill, through complete relaxation of my legs and letting them fly. I surely can't do that on the street (Damn.....)

Well, here I'm afraid we're back to my earlier arguments; I think you're imagining the difference. If your example is true, then it would have to be a function of your perception of stationarity vs. motion, not an actual difference. Either that, or the treadmill is not accurately indicating pace. Try this experiment on the road: imagine that the road is moving under you, and you are standing still; all you have to do is move your legs to keep the ground from pulling you backwards. It can be a useful trick sometimes to make yourself think you aren't working as hard. But be careful, it's easy to trip up this way if there are obstacles.

No thanks. I have to go run a few miles at ultramarathon pace.

Dude, I was in a meeting or I would have responded sooner. I brought up ultra marathon pace because I thought you were basing your statements on an “ultra marathon” pace since that is what I thought you ran. I took a closer look at your many achievements and although you ran some ultras it looks like most of your insane number of races are marathons. I brought up ultra marathon pace because I believe that pace to be vastly different than even marathon pace. In the ultra marathons I have followed(I have never run one but would love to) a good pace is typically just under 10 minute miles. Unlike, sport jester I don’t believe walking or slow jogging paces are similar to running(~7:00) paces. I have trouble maintaining a 10 minute pace because it totally changes my stride. Every time I have trained at a 9-10 minute pace I have come up injured because that pace uses different muscles or uses them in different ways. That is part of the reason why I train a little faster than what is recommended and why I have never run an Ultra. 7:00 is just my natural pace. It just feels right to me. Each person is different. Hey wait a minute, didn’t I read this quote from you a few pages back? “ I restated a position up above. I probably shouldn't have come back in to do that and I will leave it alone.” All in jest man. I think even a spirited conversation is healthy. I appreciate your opinion since you have probably run more long distance races than anyone else I know. I could only dream of running 3 in 3!

I do, most of the time. I went through about 6 months of chemotherapy and the meds I was given accounted for some nerve damage in my feet. For all practical purposes, my feet are numb, or nearly so, on the bottom.

ooo. HUGE tangent <tangent> How long ago was this? I lost some feeling too as well as my sense of taste. The taste came back quickly... the feeling returned after about 2 years. Though I suspect that I didn't lose as much as you are describing. Sorry. I empath you.</tangent>