Treadmills?
harrynich
Posts: 34 Member
Are treadmills useful in training for long distance running on real ground?
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Replies
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Any running is useful. There are many that use the treadmill as a training tool. Personally, I'd rather have a colonoscopy than run on a treadmill.0
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I train exclusively on the treadmill from November to March... Running 50-80 miles a week depending.. I KILL it when spring rolls around. I am starting to turn back to the treadmill because I miss it.
Reason I like the treadmill:
1- control speed. I will always hit my fast workout paces.no excuses. Jd on the flip side, I NEvER ran too fast on "easy" or "recovery days"
2- don't have to worry about water or bathroom stops
3- don't have to think about my pace
4- controlled enviornment temp.
This being said, if you are training for the race in the heat or fridges cold, then go outside.. Your body needs to be acclimated to the racing weather...
I'm done "racing" until the later fall when temps will be in the 60-30s, and the sun will be less intense, so I'm not concerned0 -
Hateful machines, but they can serve a purpose.
I prefer to run out in the forest though.0 -
Personally, I'd rather have a colonoscopy than run on a treadmill.
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Treadmills do have a purpose and can be useful. Is it just as good as running on the real pavement? I would say NO!
Two completely different workouts.0 -
Since I started running outside once the weather warmed up (I've only been *really* running for about 8 months), I can't even stand the thought of running on the treadmill, but I'm sure I will again when the nastiest winter weather rolls around. I have heard people say that you should set the treadmill at a 1% incline at least to better simulate road running.0
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I trained exclusively on a treadmill from January until the end of March this year due to my family life commitments and wanting to ensure that my runs were done at the "right" speed according to my plan. Great music and movies helped pass the time by. This being said, my first outdoor run this year was a 30k hilly race... it was tough, and I would definitely recommend some kind of transition to outdoor running before tackling a longer distance (I knew this before the race, too, but wasn't able to manage a transition in there). Since that race, I've done all my running exclusively outdoors, and I'm dreading having to run on the treadmill again in the coming months. Earlier nights and my family life will require it again soon enough.0
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I'd rather grind my balls off with sandpaper0
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I do the majority of my short runs on a treadmill. It is incredibly flat where I live, and I need to add hill work. Treadmills are great for that. I try to always do my long run on pavement though - it's definitely a different kind of running when you're on a road.0
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I hate the treadmill with the fire of a thousand burning suns. I love running outside in any weather (save thunderstorms), and I will move heaven and earth in order to avoid the dreadmill.0
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I love running outdoors, but on occasion, when I have no other option I will run on a treadmill. I do not enjoy it and though I run half marathons outdoors I have never got further than 7 miles inside.0
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I too avoid the dreadmill at all costs. In over 22,000 miles of running, I've done less than 10 miles on the dreadmill - and that was only because my physical therapist made when I was rehabing a strain.
Luckily the So Cal weather never stops me from pounding the pavement.
I feel sorry for those suckers at the gym who haven't discover the joys of running outside.0 -
While treadmills can be useful when the weather is bad or you can't otherwise be outdoors, it is also a completely different experience. Where my treadmill is in my house, you can't really run on it as it shakes the upstairs too much. So, its much more useful for walking rather than running. Personally, it has no chance of replacing my second favorite thing.....being dragged nude, over a cactus desert, with my mouth stuck over the exhaust of an old diesel-engined bus.0
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It's a love/hate thing with treadmills. If you are training for a longer distance race, you're best off running outside on the same terrain and in a similar climate. You just can't replace outdoor training with the treadmill. You never know what's going to come of race day.
Personally, I would rather not run on the treadmill but sometimes I have to. I live in a state where the summers are extremely hot and humid. 95% of my running is outside, but I'll break up some runs by taking it both indoors and outdoors. I couldn't do anything more than 4-6 miles on the treadmill.
If you train outside in the harshest of climate, it'll make race day seem like a breeze if you're blessed with perfect running weather.0 -
Any type of mileage will be useful. IMO, I hate treadmills for long distance mostly because I get so BORED. When I'm outside the scenery is constantly changing, and if I have a particularly pretty route planned out then it makes it even better. Plus treadmills don't really fully prepare you for the different types of terrain or climate that you'd deal with during an outdoor race (if that's what you're training for).
Treadmills are nice though because you can control your speed/pace so you know exactly where you're at if you don't have a watch to do it for you.0 -
I actually do prefer the treadmill over possible death caused by a ragweed induced asthma attack. I may need to hit the mill some in the next couple of weeks. It's a great alternative if it means you'll run vs. Not running. Just as long as you run outside frequently so you know what it's like on race day.0
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I did an 18 miler on a treadmill once because there was about 2 inches of ice outside. I DNFed that marathon. Somehow I connect the two horrific experiences in my mind.
That said...they have their uses. I wouldn't have gotten that training run in without one.0 -
So tedious running on treadmills, but with the days getting shorter it's either run in the dark and cold, or visit the gym.0
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Treadmills are a different workout, and they can't really compare to running outside. They can also be a lot more mentally challenging.
However, there may be times when running outside just isn't sensible. You can also control a lot more on a TM. And, for someone just starting out, they will have nearly as many benefits as running outside while probably seeming a lot less daunting.
Some people prefer treadmill workouts. I tend to only use them when the weather isn't safe to run in.0 -
Where I live (city of St. Louis), it isn't safe to run outside in the dark. Men don't even do it. Because of my little kids and my partners work schedule, until recently, the treadmill was the only way I could run after daylight savings time ended. For me, its a way to NEVER have an excuse not to run. Sometimes, like tonight, the only time I have is after 10pm.
I run outside 75% of the time, but love my TM for super hot days and dark nights. Netflix on the iPad FTW. The summer of 2012 I made my way through all 7 seasons on LOST.0 -
So tedious running on treadmills, but with the days getting shorter it's either run in the dark and cold, or visit the gym.
I'll take "Dark and Cold" for $500 please, Alex.0 -
once there is snow and ice then I go to the treadmill, don't like it, but I prefer that to slipping and falling on ice and hurting myself0
