Treadmill or road?

MB1967

Thanks for everyone`s thoughts I really appreciate it.

I think I`ll start on the treadmill to avoid the "limping home" embarrasment and maybe switch to the road as I get stronger (weather dependant)..

Have a great day all.

UDTsunamiSurfer

If y'all c me runnin u better kick it n Hi Gear & fall n coz sumtin BAD is comin up behind me!!! Lol... Just sayin! XoXo Ursula

jenkins1103

i prefer to run on the treadmill...I do my long runs outside, because the treadmill gets boring...If you are just starting out you might want to try the treadmill first because typically when you are running on the treadmill you can't give up and walk..

msarro

Both
I have no choice but to use a treadmill during the week, but I get some road time in on weekends. I also try to switch it up and get some trail time in too. Different types of surfaces do different things to your body.

TenLaws

The treadmill is a last resort. It's great for late night exercising and the cold months when we don't have much daylight (I don't mind running in the cold, it's just not safe for me to run when it's dark).

The road is awesome. The treadmill does a little of the work for you. The road is unforgiving. It's also different every time - so many possible routes and hills! Gotta love hills! Plus you get your vitamin D...

I find I push myself more when I run on the road. With the treadmill, I can hit stop whenever I want. On the road, I can't stop until I get home, no matter how tired I am. It's also fun for me to race the sun and make it home before dark. Sprints!!!!

LilRedRooster

The road will give you a much better work out, because there's more resistance from the harder road. You have to propel yourself off the road with more force, whereas a treadmill is more forgiving, and doesn't require as much energy for propulsion. That's why most people who run on treadmills find it much harder to head on the road, which is why training that way is not recommended for marathons or races, since you're going to end up working a lot harder than you're used to on race day when you hit the pavement.

Treadmills are more forgiving on your joints, though. I am a road runner, myself, because I hate feeling like a hamster, and I hate not being able to moderate my pace without pushing buttons, but when my knees are getting a bit sore, sometimes I'll hop on a treadmill at the gym to give them a break, but more often than not, I'll just head out on dirt roads instead of pavement, and let them have a break that way. Doing that will actually be more beneficial, since all the muscles in your calves, ankles, quads, and even your core have to work harder to stabilize you on uneven surfaces.

juscallmeb

there's been numerous times where i've gone out for a run in the humidity and heat.. went too far.. and had to walk a little bit or stop a few times to walk.. please don't get discouraged if you stop when you run. you are just starting, nor should you be embarrassed.

i've never met anyone that makes fun of someone who is outside going for a walk or a jog and see's someone stop. come on.
you're body is telling you something, so you listen to it. whoopdi doo if you stop running and walk for 5 minutes.
run on the tredmill or run outside either way you are running.
good for you.

msarro

Please don't get discouraged if you stop when you run. you are just starting, nor should you be embarrassed.

i've never met anyone that makes fun of someone who is outside going for a walk or a jog and see's someone stop. come on.
you're body is telling you something, so you listen to it. whoopdi doo if you stop running and walk for 5 minutes.
run on the tredmill or run outside either way you are running.
good for you.

Just wanted to sound off on this - she's right. You'd be amazed at the number of people you see who end up walking for a minute at marathons and half marathons. Sometimes it can be a bit much. No one cares. Sometimes your body needs a moment.

juscallmeb

Please don't get discouraged if you stop when you run. you are just starting, nor should you be embarrassed.

i've never met anyone that makes fun of someone who is outside going for a walk or a jog and see's someone stop. come on.
you're body is telling you something, so you listen to it. whoopdi doo if you stop running and walk for 5 minutes.
run on the tredmill or run outside either way you are running.
good for you.

Just wanted to sound off on this - she's right. You'd be amazed at the number of people you see who end up walking for a minute at marathons and half marathons. Sometimes it can be a bit much. No one cares. Sometimes your body needs a moment.

THANK YOU!! lol
I just ran my first half marathon, personally I wanted to run the whole thing for myself, and I did. That was my goal and I accomplished it. Were there people who stopped and walked, yes, stopped and stretched, yup- stopped and went pee - yup.

You do what you can and each day you challenge yourself to go a bit futher, or run more, or run faster. You have to start somewhere and you are. We all have a starting point.. but we don't have an end.. we can go as far as we push ourselves - and with the help of others, we can go even further.

arc918

In the last 9 years, I've run over 16,000 miles. Exactly 5 of those miles were on the dreadmill and those miles were all rehab/injury related.

So my very biased opinion: GET OUTSIDE!

deanadimples

I do both. I figure it confuses the body as well as works it differently. I started on treadmill and have worked my way to adding outside as I build stamina.

Outside is definitely harder, and harder on my body (back/knees etc) so I try to split it up between the two. Pounding pavement at 50lbs extra on the frame is a little harder on the body I suppose. So as I get thinner I hope to do more and more outside as I work my way down.