Over spring break, I was on a caribbean cruise and since my Xbox 360 nor my Dance Dance Revolution mats were near by, I tried to go running on the treadmills. It went better than I though! I ran about 4 miles over 40 minutes each time. Not great, but better than most. However, I tried going running here back in Oklahoma and it was much harder for me. I wonder if there's just that much more oxygen at sea level than at 1174 feet above sea level, or maybe if I'm doing something wrong. Any ideas?
Is elevation THAT big of a deal?
- Thread starter Xab
- Start date
Hi
I think that running on a treadmill and running outdoors are two completely different exercises in the same way that walking and running are different.
If you can cope with the boredom of a treadmill then it is an easy, monotonous effort, whereas outdoors the surface is variable the slopes and hills are all unique and there is the weather to contend with.
I much prefer 'real' running outdoors over any surface and believe that this gives a better work out than the treadmill.
Alex
I think that running on a treadmill and running outdoors are two completely different exercises in the same way that walking and running are different.
If you can cope with the boredom of a treadmill then it is an easy, monotonous effort, whereas outdoors the surface is variable the slopes and hills are all unique and there is the weather to contend with.
I much prefer 'real' running outdoors over any surface and believe that this gives a better work out than the treadmill.
Alex
i believe that running on a treadmill, the elevation acts like a "difficulty" just as a video game, easy medium hard. && of course in outdoor running, there are no "0 elevation. 1 elevations" they are all randomized determined by the terrain 
what i am saying is. if you increase the elevation to 1.0 , you will be increasing the work needed to run up, slightly. The more you increase the elevation, the more calories you will burn in my opinion and it will feel like you are running up a hill. && of course that is good for your stamina as well.
If i were you, i'd experiment with the elevation settings, because, once you reach a certain level of athleticism on the treadmill, running on a certain set speed all the time, you might want to increase the difficulty by increasing the elevation.
hope this helps
what i am saying is. if you increase the elevation to 1.0 , you will be increasing the work needed to run up, slightly. The more you increase the elevation, the more calories you will burn in my opinion and it will feel like you are running up a hill. && of course that is good for your stamina as well.
If i were you, i'd experiment with the elevation settings, because, once you reach a certain level of athleticism on the treadmill, running on a certain set speed all the time, you might want to increase the difficulty by increasing the elevation.
hope this helps
Heh thanks, someone that finally ready my post. =P
That's the thing... I didn't think that 1000 or so feet above sea level would really make that much of a differance... Guess I just need to keep running.