treadmill vs street
- Thread starter rickster
- Start date
That depends on what you mean by "street shape". Treadmills have a forgiving platform, streets do not. When you move from a treadmill to the street, you're going to notice a difference. You will probably be about 30 seconds per mile slower, obviously it will feel harder, and your muscles will feel a bit more worked than usual come the next day. It doesn't take long for the conversion but if you're training for an event, I would suggest trying to put in some time outside as well.
Just curious---is everyone faster on a treadmill? I've always been slower on a treadmill. I think I just find running outdoors to be a lot more motivating, given that I can actually see and feel myself going somewhere, and it's just easier to open up my stride when I am not confined to a few feet of moving rubber.
Rickster, getting faster on a treadmill will definitely make you faster running on the street or a trail. The treadmill will build up your cardiovascular capability and tone your legs, and that improvement will carry over even when you run elsewhere.
Rickster, getting faster on a treadmill will definitely make you faster running on the street or a trail. The treadmill will build up your cardiovascular capability and tone your legs, and that improvement will carry over even when you run elsewhere.
When you run outside, you use your muscles to pull your legs back, giving you forward movement. The treadmil spins by itself and will drag your legs back for you. You will get a good cardio workout and the treadmil is an ok option if it is too hot to run outdoors, but run outdoors when you can!.
I totally agree with you. I'm much faster outside than on the treadmill. I think it's because of 2 reasons:
1) I see a tangible goal. If I'm doing some trail running, I'll know that I'm at a certain point, so I'll go faster.
2) The treadmill speed holds me back. Often I'll stick to one speed and just zone out, but when running outside I'm much more focused and trying much harder to get to that next checkpoint.
Not to mention, the variety of running surfaces definitely provide a more complete workout (IMO).
But man, that heat is something! Ran yesterday evening at around 95degrees and could only make it about 25 minutes before I felt like an egg in the frying pan.
Outside > Treadmill.
I say this because when I ran on a treadmill I got heaps of injuries. I think that running outside is much better because of the varying terrain and helps you develop strength in little muscles from running on different surfaces. You dont get that off a treadmill.
I say this because when I ran on a treadmill I got heaps of injuries. I think that running outside is much better because of the varying terrain and helps you develop strength in little muscles from running on different surfaces. You dont get that off a treadmill.
I'm the exact opposite, the treadmill speed makes me go faster. When I am able to increase my pace with the simple push of a pad, I often find I set a higher pace and force myself to run at a higher speed. Setting a higher pace outside is sometimes much harder for me. On a treadmill, I average 3 miles between 20:15 and 21:00, outside, I am closer to 22 or 23 I think.
That being said, I enjoy running outside MUCH more, and find it much more of a total body workout compared to scampering my feet at 8.8 mph on a treadmill.
I just did 3.5 outside in Grant Park in Chicago (these muggy Chicago summer days are dreadful) and it was rough, but worth it
I suppose one reason some people find treadmills faster is that you don't have air resistance to work against when you are standing in one spot with the ground moving under you. Outside, the faster you run, the more air resistance you have to work against. And of course, if you are running into a strong headwind, that will really work against you. Tailwinds can help push you along, but if you're doing a round-trip (i.e., going north or east the same distance as one goes south or west) and the winds don't change, winds will only hurt your time. (Of course, winds can also help keep you cool, but presumably treadmills are in a nice conditioned space.)
That being said, I've never liked treadmills. I like being able to see a goal, and I like being able to look back at where I've come. And hills are even more motivating. It's great to charge up a hill and stand up at the top of it.
Treadmills would be more fun, I think, if they could be more like video games and have self-adjusting speeds (i.e., they'd go faster if you move forward and slower if you're moving toward the end of the treadmill). If you could have such a treadmill with 360 degree virtual reality screens to simulate the olympics or, better yet, a cop or military scenario, then I'd probably enjoy running on a treadmill more than outside. Until I can get something like that, I prefer the streets and trails of my neighborhood.
That being said, I've never liked treadmills. I like being able to see a goal, and I like being able to look back at where I've come. And hills are even more motivating. It's great to charge up a hill and stand up at the top of it.
Treadmills would be more fun, I think, if they could be more like video games and have self-adjusting speeds (i.e., they'd go faster if you move forward and slower if you're moving toward the end of the treadmill). If you could have such a treadmill with 360 degree virtual reality screens to simulate the olympics or, better yet, a cop or military scenario, then I'd probably enjoy running on a treadmill more than outside. Until I can get something like that, I prefer the streets and trails of my neighborhood.
Last week it was 112 degrees here last week...
When it's this ugly, the treadmill looks better and better. I like it because I can vary my workouts a lot. One day I'll do an interval run (6.8 for a lap and 9.4 for a lap). Another day I'll start at 7.0 and move up to 7.1, then 7.2 during one lap until I reach around 8.5. It seems to be a lot less daunting if you gradually work your way up.
When it's this ugly, the treadmill looks better and better. I like it because I can vary my workouts a lot. One day I'll do an interval run (6.8 for a lap and 9.4 for a lap). Another day I'll start at 7.0 and move up to 7.1, then 7.2 during one lap until I reach around 8.5. It seems to be a lot less daunting if you gradually work your way up.