is running on treadmill only for pussies (Read 1749 times)

You might take a look at the elites that have trained at least partly on tm, including the lone US woman marathoner in the Sydney Olympics. There are others, but can't remember who off the top of my head. For many people it's a time management issue with taking care of kids, working, other family responsibilities, personal safety, etc. I believe the local university track team has used tm in the past, but they have access to an indoor 400-m track now. (yes, that's not a typo - 400-m indoor) But they did much better this year, the first one with the indoor track. TM do provide good traction in icy conditions. They make sure you hold a pace / effort for particular workouts (if the goal is for certain pace/efforts, rather than learning how to maintain such). They can provide topography that local terrain may not have - whether it's flat or long gradual uphills. However, TM don't have the variable footing of trails. They don't have even moderate downhills (most have at most 3% unless jack up the rear) and uphills are usually no more than 15%. (some special models may be steeper in each direction) There's some trail-related stuff that you just can't do on a tm. And they're miserably hot. But a tm can be a useful tool for certain types of workouts. I'm an outdoor person, but do participate in a xt class about 8-10 sessions during winter, and during and after those sessions is about the only time I use a tm (maybe 5 hr/yr). I'm a fun runner. If I were more serious, I'd probably spend more time on tm when the footing outside is terrible. I keep threatening to do that every winter, but it never gets quite that bad. I've got running snowshoes and various traction devices that I'll use. I may or may not get a quality workout in, but I'm outside - away from gyms, tv's, music, etc..

No it is not only for "pussies". I have used the dreadmill, and continue to do so, as the reduced impact has allowed me to recover successfully from severe shin splints without stopping running. I don't regard it as easier than running on roads. I tend to add some gradient (1 - 2% to my treadmill runs). On occassion I have run 10 milers on the 'mill. I reckon that 50% of my running is on a treadmill. By the way.... If I am a pussy for running on a 'mill, that's fine with me. As long as you can kick my ass on a hard 20 miler in the hills I accept your premise.

Running 8-10 miles on my treadmill feels a lot harder than doing it outside on all but the hottest days. The boredom if nothing else. It's also there so I can still run when I have to watch a young child and would otherwise get no run in. For both reasons I don't think someone is a pussy just for using a treadmill. Now is that an appropriate name to call someone who creates troll threads like this when they could be out running? That's another debate.

Yawn. 2/10. Lacks originality.

You're too generous. 1.5 out of 10 at best. This newest wave of trolls is so lame. I wish they'd send the varsity.

TROOOOOOOOLLLLLLL in the dungeon. I thought you should know. On a side note, spend 3 hours running hard on one and see if that shifts your opinion.

If your long run is 5.3 miles, does that not make you a pussy? What if it's a hard 5.3 miles?

Ouch.

If your long run is 5.3 miles, does that not make you a pussy? What if it's a hard 5.3 miles?

Hmmm... let's not become trolls ourselves. My guess is that although this comment is aimed at bone_china, you are creating a lot of collateral damage. I know a few people who are doing the C25K and are pretty darn tough, and their long run is 3 miles. In light of that, I think that it's best we just ignore trolls, rather than try to insult them.