Treadmill vs outdoor run

GamecockFan14

forgive me if this is an ignorant post, but I'm trying to get Into running. I love cardio. But I've found that when I run on a treadmill it's like pure death. I get tired SO easily... But if I run outside its so much easier. What in the world??

Timorous_Beastie

I prefer running outside. The dreadmill is just so boring! Even with a tv on or music, all I can focus on is the slow progression of numbers on the display. Outside, I'm focusing on not stepping in a pothole and avoiding traffic, and I'm not paying as much attention to the actual act of running. Plus, outside, there's (usually) better airflow. And - I think this is a big one for me - it's just not natural for me to run at one steady, exact pace. It's normal to speed up and slow down a little when running, and you're being forced to keep at one pace on a treadmill.

Deena_Bean

Preference - outdoors is more visually engaging so it feels easier because you're better distracted. I like them both as long as I have a movie playing while I run. That equals a good distraction for me, too.

PAdamson

Interesting commentary. I find the inverse for myself. I have a difficult time managing my pace when I run outside, but enjoy using the pacing of a treadmill to keep me on track. I find that when I run outside, I pace based on the environment - cars, bikers, other runners. Maybe it is an environmental issue for you - sunshine elevates mood / fresh air elevates mood, but inside could be a real downer for you based on lighting or air quality. Does this happen at all gyms/locations you run on a treadmill?

aecahill30

I feel the same way! Running outside, you can watch your progress because the scenery keeps changing. With a treadmill, you feel like you've put in a ton of effort and gone nowhere.

JasmijnRF

For me it is the opposite. Outside is harder for me, but way more fun. Enjoying the scenery and the fresh air. Love the outdoors

VBMeireles

To me it's the exact opposite. Go figure.

Treadmills make it easier for me to keep the pace at a constant speed. While outdoor running I find myself often stealthily speeding up thus getting tired fasted. There is no air resistance involved while running on treadmills either.

PikaKnight

GamecockFan14 wrote: »

forgive me if this is an ignorant post, but I'm trying to get Into running. I love cardio. But I've found that when I run on a treadmill it's like pure death. I get tired SO easily... But if I run outside its so much easier. What in the world??

Could be because you may be able to pace yourself better outside rather than pushing a pace that tires you out easily on the treadmill (because it's forcing you to maintain that pace vs allowing yourself to slow if needed naturally).

But I honestly think it's probably a mental thing. You probably get bored on the treadmill vs running outside. I know when that happens to me, I'm more aware of fatigue and I end up "feeling" it a lot more (when in reality I push harder when doing something I'm not bored at).

grassette

Put your treadmill in front of a big screen tv and watch something that puts you on edge. You won't feel the time go by. Outdoors is wonderful due to the fresh air, the weather, the beauty of nature, but when weather conditions are adverse, the treadmill in front of the TV keeps you going.

mericose

Outside is much harder for me as well but definitely more enjoyable. I use the treadmill for sprint / hill work and get outside for the running

mitch16

I find the treadmill terribly boring, too. I only run inside if the temperature is above 90 degrees or below 30 degrees.

htimpaired

I find I run faster outside than on the treadmill, without even feeling like I am. It's probably the scenery. I love outdoor running, but where I live I'm not about to run in the snow, so I do treadmills during the winter. Sucks.

Watch_Me_Rise

I greatly dislike treadmills, so I'm biased but I've never heard of treadmill running being harder than outside running, I've always heard the opposite..

BrianSharpe

GamecockFan14 wrote: »

forgive me if this is an ignorant post, but I'm trying to get Into running. I love cardio. But I've found that when I run on a treadmill it's like pure death. I get tired SO easily... But if I run outside its so much easier. What in the world??

I'm with you....

For me the Dreadmill is reserved as a bad weather backup, and it has to be really bad weather - I run outside all year 'round unless there's an ice storm or thunderstorm.

It's not so much getting more tired on it , I just find it boring compared to getting outside (I should also say that I'm blessed to live very close to beautiful recreational pathways along the Ottawa River so I don't have to contend with some of the issues other urban runners may have).

Keep running & have fun!

T1DCarnivoreRunner

I have the same issues. I enjoy scenery in trail running over road running, and scenery in road running over treadmill running. On the other hand, I have difficulty managing my pace when running outside... I'll all of a sudden notice myself going way too fast and running out of steam after short distances, then walking for a ways.

The other difference is carrying stuff with me (on me) when running outside. If I'm trail running, I carry more stuff. I need to have some water, and since I am diabetic, I need to carry my glucometer and glucose tablets. I've always struggled with taking more, and sometimes take too much. But I also want to be prepared. Over time, I've minimized how much I carry. For example, if I'm only going out for 10 miles or less on a trail run, if it isn't raining when I start, I probably won't take a rain jacket. If it starts to rain, I'll try to cover my insulin pump with my shirt and hope it doesn't get too wet. But frankly, I haven't had time to do a trail run or an outdoor run for a long time. I'll run for a little while to warm up before lifting weights, but I work FT (it's a busy time right now), I'm a FT grad student (with a very busy class right now), and I'm a local political party leader (the 2016 race for President is starting to heat up).

scamp07

I've run in snow storms instead of on the treadmill. I just can't take it.

Virkati

Timorous_Beastie wrote: »

I prefer running outside. The dreadmill is just so boring! Even with a tv on or music, all I can focus on is the slow progression of numbers on the display. Outside, I'm focusing on not stepping in a pothole and avoiding traffic, and I'm not paying as much attention to the actual act of running. Plus, outside, there's (usually) better airflow. And - I think this is a big one for me - it's just not natural for me to run at one steady, exact pace. It's normal to speed up and slow down a little when running, and you're being forced to keep at one pace on a treadmill.

For me, it's this. I simply cannot maintain a steady pace on the treadmill no matter what I do. So I'm constantly adjusting it and getting frustrated because I can't find a rhythm. Drives me cray-cray.

Plus, the air flow, scenery, birds, just the whole being outside and feeling that freedom. It's a sense that I only get from being outside and exerting myself just a little beyond what I really want to or think I can do. I'm already trying to figure out how to keep doing my stuff outside when winter sets in. I want to feel the wind against my skin. I want to hate the headwind and LOVE the tailwind. I don't get that from the treadmill.

VioletRojo

Nothing can induce me to run on a treadmill. Right now I'm getting up at 4am to avoid the heat; in the winter, I'll run in the afternoons no matter how cold. In my opinion, treadmills are devices of torture.

gobonas99

grassette wrote: »

but when weather conditions are adverse, the treadmill in front of the TV keeps you going.

Or you could just properly dress for the weather conditions and continue to run outside.

I have run on a dreadmill ONCE in the past 2 years - and that was only because it was a VO2 Max test. All of my other runs have been outside - from 90*F with bright sun and 90% humidity to -10*F in the dark with snow and windchills of -20*. I've run in snow storms, bitter windchills, pouring rain, fog, and on icepack. The ONLY times I won't run is if there is lightning or an ice storm....then I just run on a different day.

sevsmom

I can run soooo much faster outside. Plus, the treadmill does weird things to my stride and I end up with hurting legs. I'm 100% for outdoor running!!!

PikaKnight

sevsmom wrote: »

I can run soooo much faster outside. Plus, the treadmill does weird things to my stride and I end up with hurting legs. I'm 100% for outdoor running!!!

I've been using the treadmill at my apartment's little gym until recently, and 90% of the time the belt jerks about. A couple times I've almost tripped right into the console. :laugh:

jerryjustice

I ran quite a bit in high school as well as when I first started college. I prefer a treadmill for two reasons:

1) I find a treadmill is more calculated. I am able to adjust and maintain a comfortable speed which allows me to run for much longer. It also makes it easier for me personally to be able to keep track of my progress and adjust my workouts as I improve. When I run outside I find that I will push myself too much and tire out quickly.

2) I have quite a bit of knee pain when running on grass or pavement. I find that, for whatever reason, a treadmill does not bother my knee nearly as much. Even when I wear my knee brace I still find that I end uncomfortable when I run outside.

cwolfman13

for most people, it's actually physically easier to run on a treadmill...like I can actually go faster and further on a treadmill than outside...but outside is more enjoyable and engaging so maybe it feels easier to you.

PikaKnight

kwbatschke wrote: »

I ran quite a bit in high school as well as when I first started college. I prefer a treadmill for two reasons:

1) I find a treadmill is more calculated. I am able to adjust and maintain a comfortable speed which allows me to run for much longer. It also makes it easier for me personally to be able to keep track of my progress and adjust my workouts as I improve. When I run outside I find that I will push myself too much and tire out quickly.

2) I have quite a bit of knee pain when running on grass or pavement. I find that, for whatever reason, a treadmill does not bother my knee nearly as much. Even when I wear my knee brace I still find that I end uncomfortable when I run outside.

I believe (for #2) it's because the treadmill has less of an impact on joints versus the pavement.

ffwang82

I enjoyed both. Indoor is more focused, and outdoor is more distracting from the pain.

AlisonH729

It's just personal preference. I'm a treadmill runner myself.

Even though my life revolved around running when I was younger, I did indoor & outdoor track, I wouldn't consider myself a runner. I never really liked it, it just happened to be something I was pretty good at.

So if I'm just doing cardio I prefer to crank out my miles on the treadmill. Turn it on, put in my earbuds, turn on my autopilot and zone out. No worries about a route. Or if I push further on the out, I still need to get back. Avoiding potholes, navigating curbs or turning my ankles in the grass. And then when I decide I'm done, I'm done.

I much prefer hiking as a method for enjoying the outdoors.

LeslieB042812

AlisonH729 wrote: »

It's just personal preference. I'm a treadmill runner myself.

Even though my life revolved around running when I was younger, I did indoor & outdoor track, I wouldn't consider myself a runner. I never really liked it, it just happened to be something I was pretty good at.

So if I'm just doing cardio I prefer to crank out my miles on the treadmill. Turn it on, put in my earbuds, turn on my autopilot and zone out. No worries about a route. Or if I push further on the out, I still need to get back. Avoiding potholes, navigating curbs or turning my ankles in the grass. And then when I decide I'm done, I'm done.

I much prefer hiking as a method for enjoying the outdoors.

Yes! I'm the same way--love outdoor hiking, but much prefer the TM for running. I think it's just a preference thing--do whichever you prefer so long as you're doing something!

RunTimer

adding my voice to the chorus:
For me, when I run Treadmill (aka, Deadmill) the monotony of the excersis prolongs the experience and hastens the exhaustion. although physically my body knows it's not really tired yet, mentally I zone out (and not in a good way)

I experience the same feeling when I run on straight flat roads...aka the 'am I there yet' feeling.

That stated, the treadmill does come in handy when i over exert (less pressure on the knees) and when mother nature (aka rain) tries to slow my stride.

vmsolko

For me I find it goes much more quickly on the treadmill. But maybe it is because the treadmill is a novelty for me, so I am always excited to use it. Nerdy, I know. I live in a tiny town without a gym and don't own a treadmill, so my only option is outdoors. And with it humid as hell right now, I would love a treadmill run in an air conditioned space! Like other posters I find that I can tune out with a set pace and get it done and over with as opposed to constantly changing pace (which I am bad about). A 5k outdoors feels like torture to me and completing it in under 30 minutes seems impossible, but when I use the treadmill, it is totally doable.

ald783

It's personal preference and I don't think one is per se better than the other. I think sometimes the treadmill gets a bad stigma but I get a solid workout with either so it really depends on my mood and the weather that day.

Personally, I hate running when it's overly hot, cold, rainy, snowy, or 15 other conditions so I am happy to default to the treadmill when the weather isn't desirable. But if you strongly prefer outdoors then even inclement weather might still be worth avoiding the treadmill.

Pie319

I find the treadmill harder because it forces me to keep pace. When I run outside I slow down as I get tired so I can keep going longer, but on the treadmill I stay at the same pace so it's a harder run. I enjoy doing a mix, some treadmill, some outdoor. My bum knee definitely likes the treadmill more.

I think the muscles used are a little different also. The treadmill - because it's moving - helps you in your stride a bit. But outside it's all you, so I think you get a big more ham/glute outside. At least that's how it feels to me.