Treadmill v outside (Read 1999 times)

Many People think that because the belt is moving, running on a treadmill is easier so they should be able to run faster but anyone that has done some AB tests for time will find that you can run faster outside (if it is a reasonable temp and you don't have to content with hills and wind). The biggest reason for this is inertia. Once you are moving in relation to the ground your body builds a momentum that actually decreases the amount of energy needed to continue forward. (if you don't believe me try running at top speed and then stop moving your legs!) On the treadmill since you never build momentum, there is no inertia moving you forward so every step requires more effort so that you don't get shot off the back. This is the reason that you can just jump off the mill at anytime without any problems. If you find yourself a nice flat running area on a day that is 65 degrees with no wind, test it out. You will have better time onthe ground. Remember, left foot, right foot GL

Personally, I can't stand the treadmill. I can go outside and drop 5mi without terrible difficulty, but even 2 on a Dreadmill can make me exhausted and, frankly, a little insane. I just can't take it. Something about the fact that they run at a consistent pace and the human body isn't really designed to do that. I make too many minute changes for something like that when I run. They work for some people though. My coach in college really loved to get on the treadmill once in a while. "I love doing the occasional workout on one, you can really hammer on those things and get a good sense of where you're at." Really hammer? Ok so that might be true, it's just not really for me.

I've run on my 'mill a few times lately and noticed that I felt like I was running much faster than it was saying -- treadmill at 9:00/mi felt like about 8:15/mi to me. At first, I thought it might be a calibration issue. However, my heart rate was actually consistent with the 9:00 pace. So a lot of the differences in perceived effort can be an illusion, which I intend to counter by parking a TV in front of my treadmill and distracting myself from the running.

It's 7 degrees Ferenheit here in Central Canada. In this weather, I really only have 3 options. Treadmill, Track, or not running in the Winter. I'm not willing to give up running in the winter. I will tolerate a Treadmill. I also run on the track an my local pool. The best way to eliminate boredom on the Treadmill is to play a game while running. I listen to my MP3 Player while I run, and increase the speed every 3rd song. My challenge is to see how much speed I can handle.

HTFU! Personally, I can deal with cold (tomorrow is supposed to be windchills in the negatives and I am still planning to get out for at least 3-4 miles...today it's windchill of ~9) and heat better than I can deal with boredom...but I also have an ADHD kid and share a lot of his traits (he has a favorite shirt that says "I tried to be good, but I got bored" ), so that's probably got a lot to do with it. I can understand the not running in the dark thing better than the cold thing. I fear creeps and inattentive drivers FAR more than I fear frostbite. That's what balaclavas and layers are for.

Yesterday it was raining and 36 degrees out. I made it 1 minute 28 seconds on the TM. Then I went out side to run. I made it 31 minuets once on my tread mill..... Mentally I just can't take it.

Yep, me too (my fear is stray dogs, not people). I've been too scared since then to go back out in the dark (not sure why it bothers me less in the daylight, I guess the security of more people being around or driving by or something makes me feel safer) so I am back to doing my weekday early AM runs at the gym.

Reminds me about a night, I went out for a run with my 3 children, age, 21, 20 and 18. We run trails along a river which winds through the city. Well most of the trail is heavily wooded and you are at least five hundred of yards away from any houses or streets for most of the trail. The trees are so thick in parts that you can't even see the sky. I suggested to the kids that it is pretty dangerous down here for a number of reasons, like not be able to see 10 feet and that we should just cut the run short and go back. They scoffed and made fun of my fears, even trying to psyche me out by running ahead and then jumping out from behind the trees as I'd pass. Needless to say we didn't see anyone for the hour we were down there. We did make it back without any problem. The next day my son and I are running the same trai, this time in the afternoon. We hear a loud pow, startled I said to my son "what was that?" His reply "I don't know but don't you wish it was dark right now?" I said "Yes" he replies "Exactly it is safer down here at night, nobody comes down here."............HMMMMMMM

Wow, glad to see I'm not the only one who has issues with the treadmill! I really feel as though I am running a greater distance than what the treadmill mileage is telling me, it drives me crazy. Everything I have researched so far about this states the opposite and that it is easier to run on a treadmill, etc. I did 7.5 miles yesterday at the gym and was soooo bored, ugh, but I didn't want to run in 7 degree weather. Day off from training today but plan on getting back outside for my run tomorrow!