Treadmill and the track?

PenguinPrincess

I run on the track regularly, but this coming week I am going on vacation and I purposely booked a hotel that has a fitness area with a treadmill. Since I am used to running on the track how different is the treadmill? Should I plan on running for a longer period of time or shorter? Or is it about the same?

sla0814

It depends on how long you're running for

Elzecat

my experience has been that the treadmill is easier because the belt kind of carries you along...and it's smoother than running outside...you will probably be able to run for longer on the treadmill I started out only doing treadmill running and am now trying to do more outside and track running because it seems to make me work harder...

Enjoy your vacation!

epj78

It's BORING! But, if the hotel has a tv in front of the treadmill it isn't too bad. The actually running part is easier since you have the motion of the tread helping you along - make sure to set the incline at about 2% to get the same workout as the track.

Do you usually run to music? If so, be sure to bring your iPod. If you don't normally, I'd still bring the iPod - something about running inside with nothing to listen to really gets to me - 1 minutes seems to take 5 minutes if I don't have something to listen to.

You are going to do great! I wouldn't worry at all about the treadmill vs. the track. But if you find you don't like it - ask at the front desk if there is somewhere nearby to run. I was completely surprised to find out that there was a great park near my hotel in the industrial district of Midway last week - so you may be surprised!

mynameiscarrie

As previously mentioned, it's a lot easier to run on the treadmill. I would bring an ipod with a good playlist to keep yourself occupied. If there's a TV then great. I like music better, personally, but that's just me

coolsmartygirl

Some treadmills will actually have a lap tracker on them. I love that feature. It has red arrows that light up around a track and show how many laps you've done.

bbush18

Idk...I think running on a treadmill is harder for me... I used to run track and cross country and even now, I'll pick running outside on the road or on a trail over a treadmill wil air conditioning. Yes, it is easy in a sense that the belt does seem to propel you forward, but unless you put the setting at a 1 or 2 incline then you're running DOWNHILL--that's what makes it feel easier. (Most people don't know that!!) I feel like it's harder because it forces me to maintain the same pace...ALL THE TIME. You know how sometimes when you're you're running outside and you just need that one or two second slow in your step to re-coop or to get your breathing under control then you pick it back up (sometimes picking up the pace to make up for those 2-3 seconds lost??) to get pack into pace? Well, unless you plan on fiddling with the controls on the panel WHILE you're maintaining a stride then you can't really give yourself those 2-3 seconds. Know what I mean??? Maybe I'm just babbling but that's how I feel about the treadmill...we have a love/hate relationship. Me and the outdoors mesh well together

sugarbeans

My trainer told me that an incline of 1 or 2 is like running out doors. Running on a track I find is harder than a treadmill but really depends on the person. Enjoy your trip!!