Do you run faster on a TM or the road? (Read 1007 times)

I'm interested in this thread because I always read/hear that the TM is easier to maintain paces, run fast, etc. because of the controlled environment. I too would have to side with the road crew as well... this has been confirmed to me after reading this thread... I used to think that my Garmin was off! I don't know if there's any merit to this, but my theory of outdoor running was that one could go faster/longer because its not the same repetetive motions as a treadmill. One's muscles get breaks and variety as speeds and inclines change. Merit to that statement... any of you science, uber-athlete, or just plain opinionated people?

I am at least a minute per mile faster on the road. It is VERY discouraging and causes the Dreadmill runs to last even longer!

I can't explain why but I tend to run faster on the road.

It depends on two things: --The outdoor weather. It's almost always about 70 degrees and low-to-moderate humidity indoors where treadmills are usually located. However, the temp, wind and humidity can vary widely outdoors. All other things being equal, running outdoors on a hot, humid, windless summer day will be more difficult than indoors on a treadmill in air conditioning and easier than a treadmill on cool, crisp fall day. --The calibration of the treadmill. Treadmills can be and often are miscalibrated. I owned a treadmill that was about 30 sec/mile more difficult at zero percent incline than running outdoors under similar temp, wind and humidity conditions. I have run of treadmills at my fitness center that, at zero percent incline, were comparable to running outdoors under simialr temp, wind and humidity conditions. And I currently have a treadmill in my home that is comparable at 1% incline to running outdoors under similar temp, wind and humidity conditions. For more detailed comments concerning the relative "difficulty" of treadmill and outdoor running, see http://mysite.verizon.net/jim2wr/id110.html.

I'm definitely faster on the road. My TM feels very tough compared to running outside. Most of it is probably mental... I just can't stand the boredom of running inside even with a TV/DVD or music playing.

I joke about this, but it's really true -- it's bad news when you break wind on a treadmill. Way worse than outside, because instead of running away from the bio-hazard zone, you are stuck in the middle of it, enveloped by the stench. So there's a big advantage of outdoors. Even the slowest runner can outrun their own farts.

You obviously have not seen me run.

I run faster on the treadmill. I'll hold a 8:05 minute mile on the treadmill, but when I am on the roads I usually hold a 8:35. I think I run faster on the treadmill because I hate it, so I run faster to get the miles over with. Gwin

I feel like I'm running the same pace on the TM, as outside. BUT, the TM says it I run a 13 minute mile, as my outside time is 10 mins/mile. In order to do a 10 minute mile on the TM, I have to run FLATOUT. Which is crazy. I run my normal pace, but just have to do an extra 10 or 15 minutes on the TM. Like I always say, I just don't believe my treadmill. It lies!!!!!!!!!