for any of you out there that run frequently i am curious to know your thoughts on treadmills vs running outside. i find that i can easily run 3 miles on a treadmill and come off and i am sweating but i am not really winded. i can run about 1 mile and a half outside before i am so winded that i feel like i am going to pass out. my theory is that bc the treadmill keeps you at a steady pace or if you increase speed it does so gradually that i am able to exert less energy. when i run outside i think i am slowing down and speeding up more frequently and sporadically. so a) do any of you have similar experiences with treadmills and outside running? and b) in your opinion does it mean i am getting a better workout from running outside bc its harder work or am i getting better work out from the treadmill bc i can do it longer and thus get my heart rate up for a longer period of time? as always any feedback is appreciated.
~Steve
I was doing quite a bit of treadmill training a while back and had the same problem.Like you say,perhaps its the constant pace and the momentum from the machine keeping you going at a steady pace. Do you push yourself really hard on it?
I found that it was transferring to running outside at all , that i too was struggling.I gave up the gym treadmill and started doing much more running outside as I preferred the air and just generally being outside of the gym too ,I also started fell running which got me fit really quickly (although I had to quit as I got achilles tendonitis)
Im just starting to run again now, doing about 8k twice a week alongside my 3 kf training sessions.
I have spoken to other people about the treadmill thing and they said similar things too.
I was doing quite a bit of treadmill training a while back and had the same problem.Like you say,perhaps its the constant pace and the momentum from the machine keeping you going at a steady pace. Do you push yourself really hard on it?
I found that it was transferring to running outside at all , that i too was struggling.I gave up the gym treadmill and started doing much more running outside as I preferred the air and just generally being outside of the gym too ,I also started fell running which got me fit really quickly (although I had to quit as I got achilles tendonitis)
Im just starting to run again now, doing about 8k twice a week alongside my 3 kf training sessions.
I have spoken to other people about the treadmill thing and they said similar things too.
Im not sure which would give you the better work out though , have you monitored your heart rate doing both types of running?
- different terrain
- weather
- concrete vs tread
- natural shape of the terrain vs an unnatural incline/decline
I’m sure this and other factors all play a part.
[QUOTE=Su Lin;731289] Do you push yourself really hard on it?[/QUOTE]
i generally do a minute light jog to warm up then i do about a 9 minute mile, then speed it up to do an 8 minute mile, then speed it up to do a 7 minute mile, then speed it up and do a minute as fast as i can (or as fast as i feel safe on a machine that won’t stop if i do) and then a 5 minute light jog to cool down. so not too hard usually. if i do the sprint at the end i am winded but if i don’t it feels like i might has well gone for a walk in a park. breathing that is. the heart rate is always up.
[QUOTE=Su Lin;731289]Im not sure which would give you the better work out though , have you monitored your heart rate doing both types of running?[/QUOTE]
i have checked my heart rate on the treadmill but not when i run outside. i notice that my asthma is sometimes triggered when i run outside and i have to use my inhaler. so i don’t run outside that often just bc asthma sucks but i have yet to have that happen on a treadmill.
I run.
Currently, you are getting a better workout on the treadmil. And you’re exactly right as to why. You don’t have to regulate your pace at all. You have the machine do it for you. The machine keeps you on track to achieve your workout goals. But if you could regulate your pace better on your own, I feel that you would get a much better workout running outside.
Personally, I hate running on treadmils. I honestly can’t think of anything more boring.
I like running outside much more. I just find it to be more rewarding. I enjoy the outside air. I never get stuck next to a woman who has way too much perfume on to be at the gym. I’m out there on my own, in my own little world. I love it.
So, how do you regulate your pace outside?
You have to run a pre-measured route. Like a track. 1 lap around the track is about 1/4 mile. You can look at your watch and calculate your pace and adjust accourdingly. You can do this until you get a good feel for what your pace is.
I run on a trail that has 1/4 mile markers on it. I also know certain landmarks on my trail that fall at .5 miles, 1 mile and 1.5 miles. Looking at my watch, I know what my pace is. I know if I’m running too fast, right on pace or slower than usual.
Is this the only running workout you do? How often do you do it? What are your running goals?
Your current workout is what is know as an tempo run and could be done on a track very easily. You are slowly building your speed through out the workout.
Most running programs run tempo runs only once a week to build speed. Other common elements of running programs are long runs, intervals, f@rtleks and hill repeats. Long runs are designed to build your aerobic base. Intervals, tempo runs and f@rtleks are all designed to build speed. Hill repeats are for strength.
Most running programs recommend that you build a solid aerobic base, making sure you are running with proper form before working on speed.
Another reason to varry the type of running workout you do is to avoid injury.
One last thing. The treadmil is a very different running surface than you will find out side. Sidewalks are made of concrete and are very hard on your body if you don’t have good form. Asphalt is a little better. Trails are even better, so is the track and grass is the best or least harmful on your body.
A treadmil has A LOT of give and if you try to do the same workout outside on a different type of surface you could end up getting injured. Usually these injuries happen in the form of tendonitis like what Su Lin had.
So after all of that, here is my recommendation.
Let’s say that you do your running workout on the treadmil 3 times a week. I would try to replace one of those workouts with an outside run. Make this outdoor run your “long run” but at first don’t worry about mileage. Just go out and run for 30 minutes or so. Take it very slow. Almost too slow. So slow you feel like you could almost walk faster. After a few weeks of this, try to slightly increase your pace or your mileage. Meaning if you’re running 3 miles then only boost your miles to like 4 miles. Stay there for a weeks weeks and then boost it up to 5 and so on.
Depending on your goals you can keep slowly ramping up your mileage. Personally I think a solid 6 mile run is great.
So there you have it. Keep in mind that this post is chock full of my opinions and they may not be shared by everyone and honestly aren’t right for everyone either. So take all of this for what it is worth.
I think you’ll find that after you get running outside down you’ll start to dread the tread.
good luck. Let me know if you have any questions. Sorry about the long post.
Great post Chief Fox, yeah I would go with what he says Steve!
I used to be troubled by asthma ,I never ran at school because of it,but when I took it up again a couple of years ago I started out slowly,and eventually it really seemed to help me. I now barely ever use my inhaler.
Good luck with it 
thanks! thats good advice. i will begin switching one of my runs to outdoors this weekend. i think i have a track right down the street from my house so that works out nicely. right now i work out about 4 times per week. mostly running unless my knees are not doing well then i use the eliptical. i use the stationary bike a lot and do intervals on that. i also do some core weight training. and then i am averaging about 3-4 days per week at kung fu. some weeks more some less. so thats a lot of indoors exercise. maybe the outdoors will do me good. thanks again.
Well I hope it works out for you.
I reallly just love running outside. I have several trails that I regularly run. Running on single track is probably the best. Keep at it.
Fell running is awesome (fells are small mountains over here in England btw) ! The feeling when you get to the top is great,but running back down can be pretty painful too.
[SIZE=“1”](I’m not stalking you CF,honest)[/SIZE]
Have you seen Braveheart with Mel Gibson?
There’s a scene at the end of that movie were he’s running along the top of this mountain ridge. As a runner, I think it’s the coolest scene. There’s a trail that i run, while it’s not as cool as that scene, it does remind me of it.
I just read a book called Chi Running. It’s about applying the principles of Tai Chi to running and running injury free. It’s a great book. I recommend it to anyone who has an interest in running.
That’s ok SL, I’m a little guilty of stalking you. I just checked out your Myspace. I see that you also moutain bike and road ride. I do too. I have a Raleigh hard tail moutain bike and a custom titanium road bike. Oh, and how about a picture with a smile. 
Hahaha!
Sounds like an interesting book ,will have a look for it. I have a kona mtb and a lovely silver Specialized road bike (on which I am supposed to be going out on Sunday as need to do lots of pre skiing exercise )
Hmm picture with a smile ey, I wouldn’t look as moody and kick ass then though.I’ll see what I can do.
Not seen Braveheart, but I ran up a mountain near Coniston Old Man in the Lake District (Cumbria) and that was pretty cool.I know a mountain with a big ridge but I have a fear of falling off it.:o
I have an elliptical machine plopped in front of a TV. I am not bored when I get my cardio. Heh.
[QUOTE=Su Lin;731347]Hahaha!
Sounds like an interesting book ,will have a look for it. I have a kona mtb and a lovely silver Specialized road bike (on which I am supposed to be going out on Sunday as need to do lots of pre skiing exercise )
Hmm picture with a smile ey, I wouldn’t look as moody and kick ass then though.I’ll see what I can do.
Not seen Braveheart, but I ran up a mountain near Coniston Old Man in the Lake District (Cumbria) and that was pretty cool.I know a mountain with a big ridge but I have a fear of falling off it.:o[/QUOTE]
You have this look on your face that is hard to read. I’m sure that’s the way you like it. It sorta looks like the “I’m gonna kick you in the side of the head as soon as you’re done taking the picture” look. Is that what you were thinking?
You’re a skiier too? I’m a snowboarder. It’s too late for pre skiing exercise around here though. We’ve had snow for weeks. We just got a few more inches this morning and right now it’s 8° F outside.
I think I was trying for the "going to kick you in the head " look
I am a skier,well,whenever I can,which isn’t very often. Got my own lovely kit though so would like to go more.I’m off to France a week today,but the snow isn’t great at all. I fancy snowboarding but I may like it more than skiing and end up neglecting my skis,I also have a dodgy back so don’t fancy the falling over on my ass all the time.
Myspace Pic Updated.
Now I want to see some action photos of you kicking a photographer in the head!
I used to ski a lot but since I switched over to snowboarding, I haven’t looked back. You’re smart to stay on the skiis though if your back is kinda sketchy. When I was first learning, I spent plenty of time on my ass.
Are you trying to excite me by talking about your ass? 
:eek:
Nah I need to work on my technique before posting pics:o I may try boarding for a morning as we get free board hire included in the price.
Sounds like fun. Can I come?
I expect there will be plenty of drinking and carrying on.
Nah not much boozing,not for me anyway ,I’m off it for training . Well,apart from the mulled wine in the mountain cafes and the compulsory apres ski beer.
Talking of running,I was meant to be doing a 10k race on Sunday but we found out this week it full up. Need to find another to do now.