Treadmill Vs. Outside Running

CoachsWife4

I am a new runner - just finished my first two 5k races the past two weekends. I am also an outside runner - I have our school's track right across the street from my house but it is starting to get chilly here in the early mornings in West Texas. I have been given a treadmill for this winter when it gets too cold here to run outside. Also, I have a friend who has started running with me but she runs solely on a treadmill. She tells me her times, which are way better than mine, but she is running with no incline. When we've run the two 5K's together, it is harder for her to set her pace outside, than it is for me. I know that outside running is more difficult than on a treadmill with no incline.

As I get ready to run on a treadmill, I want to know if anyone has figured out what incline the treadmill needs to set on to be comparable to running outside? I'd like to let my friend know, as well, so that we can start having a better comparison of our times.

Thanks for your help! Keep on running.

moushtie

I like to put the treadmill to at least 2%, just to get the feel that I have to pick my feet up. I think 4% may be closer to outside. It may sound like a small amount, but you can really feel the difference in your legs

Runnermadre

My friend who is a marathoner, suggested to me to use a 1-2% incline. :-)

sjcply

I run outside most of the time, but when I have to run on a treadmill indoors, I vary my incline from 1-2%

gdonnelly141

I like to put the treadmill to at least 2%, just to get the feel that I have to pick my feet up. I think 4% may be closer to outside. It may sound like a small amount, but you can really feel the difference in your legs

Hi! I concur. I was training for a 1/2 Marathon last year (before I got pregnant) and my trainer always made me put the incline to AT LEAST 2% You definitely feel the difference but I think it helps a lot. Also, training on a treadmill in the winter should not really affect your pace/endurance, etc. Depending on your workout variety, it may actually end up helping you - especially if you do a lot of hill work! Good luck.

susanofscottsdale

Pangea250

I started my running last spring on a treadmill and couldn't imagine that I would ever run outside. But after the first time I ran outside, I was hooked. I love it! My treadmill is my dreadmill. I'll use it, but only when I have absolutely no choice. I find it so hard to maintain motivation on a treadmill. Don't know why.

I live in NJ and it's going to have to get pretty darned cold outside before I'll use the treadmill. But when I do, I'll use it on a 2% incline.

jeffrodgers1

I am a new runner - just finished my first two 5k races the past two weekends. I am also an outside runner - I have our school's track right across the street from my house but it is starting to get chilly here in the early mornings in West Texas. I have been given a treadmill for this winter when it gets too cold here to run outside. Also, I have a friend who has started running with me but she runs solely on a treadmill. She tells me her times, which are way better than mine, but she is running with no incline. When we've run the two 5K's together, it is harder for her to set her pace outside, than it is for me. I know that outside running is more difficult than on a treadmill with no incline.

As I get ready to run on a treadmill, I want to know if anyone has figured out what incline the treadmill needs to set on to be comparable to running outside? I'd like to let my friend know, as well, so that we can start having a better comparison of our times.

Thanks for your help! Keep on running.

I've heard a variety of numbers but 1-2% is fairly consistent with running a smooth course. You of course could bump up for a hilly course... I'll leave that your discretion.

PS> I laughed so hard I spilled my coffee when you said it gets cold in the winter in West Texas. I run year round outside in temperatures as low as -40. You should try my reality to really experience cold. My range of temp's is between -40 and 100 F.

Pangea250

PS> I laughed so hard I spilled my coffee when you said it gets cold in the winter in West Texas. I run year round outside in temperatures as low as -40. You should try my reality to really experience cold. My range of temp's is between -40 and 100 F.

I was thinking about you when I read that!

arc918

Forget the dreadmill, get some warm clothes and stay outside.

CakeFit21

Forget the dreadmill, get some warm clothes and stay outside.

This is what I was thinking too.

I'm in Central Texas and it got into the teen's last year. I don't know how cold it gets in West Texas, but I would just stay outside. I just bought some compression tights for the winter and I know under armour makes great warm weather pants. Forget the dreadmill and enjoy the cool temps. We don't get much of them here in Tx.

ninerbuff

I am a new runner - just finished my first two 5k races the past two weekends. I am also an outside runner - I have our school's track right across the street from my house but it is starting to get chilly here in the early mornings in West Texas. I have been given a treadmill for this winter when it gets too cold here to run outside. Also, I have a friend who has started running with me but she runs solely on a treadmill. She tells me her times, which are way better than mine, but she is running with no incline. When we've run the two 5K's together, it is harder for her to set her pace outside, than it is for me. I know that outside running is more difficult than on a treadmill with no incline.

As I get ready to run on a treadmill, I want to know if anyone has figured out what incline the treadmill needs to set on to be comparable to running outside? I'd like to let my friend know, as well, so that we can start having a better comparison of our times.

Thanks for your help! Keep on running.

3%

CoachsWife4

PS> I laughed so hard I spilled my coffee when you said it gets cold in the winter in West Texas. I run year round outside in temperatures as low as -40. You should try my reality to really experience cold. My range of temp's is between -40 and 100 F.

HA! There is definitely a reason I don't want to move any further north. I have lived on the same latitude line my whole life - We didn't know what to do last winter when it got below 12 degress. I have friends in Canada that laugh at me every winter! :drinker:

CoachsWife4

Forget the dreadmill, get some warm clothes and stay outside.

I will certainly put it off as long as I can! :glasses:

gleechick609

1.5-2.5% incline, however, I try to run on the treadmill as LITTLE as I can. Obviously on the very cold days, I will have to, but I dont think the treadmill works my legs like the good ole' road does!

anastasiaBH

bump

maemiller

1-2% Incline

there are times where i do hill workouts and i adjust my incline fro 2-7% ever few minutes. I also do my speedworks on the TM if i dont have enough time to do it outdoors.

But dont think a TM is the best way to train. TM are great during the winter times, but you cant beat the outdoors, weather permitting

txjulie

You might actually enjoy running when it is cooler outside. When it is in the 30's here (in Houston), I LOVE IT!! Put on some layers and go. Typically you can run a little faster than our standard hot & humid weather. Now, if it was -40 I wouldn't be outside running but that won't likely happen way down here.

In regards to the treadmill running - I HATE IT! It also aggravates my plantar fascitis terribly so I have not used it much since I noticed that was a main connection. Yes, I have been fitted for shoes but the way I strike down on the treadmill is obviously different than outside on the pavement or a trail.

I know you will keep on running and will do great either way!!

dmpizza

A trainer at my gym said that the incline setting of "1" is equivalent to running outside on a flat surface.

iplayoutside19

The gear you need to run in the winter is cheaper than a treadmill. And you don't have to guess about the incline.

Just thought I'd throw that out there.

(But when it gets nasty cold I run on an inside track.)

Kilter

I wrote a couple of blog posts (external to MFP) about this topic that you might find useful.

Treadmills v Outdoor Running Pt 1: http://noattentionspan.com/blog/?p=913

Treadmills v Outdoor Running Pt 2: http://noattentionspan.com/blog/?p=1011

In the first post I had done some research, but by the second I'd done more to answer some questions I was being asked.

As for temperature... run happy. If you are more comfortable indoors, run indoors. If you want to brave the elements, brave the elements. Just run. People will tell you one is better than the other, or criticize you for hiding from the weather (I'm likely to tease for that too to be honest), but as long as you are out there running, who cares.

If you are just too cold to run outdoors, you simply won't run. You will reduce your enjoyment to a point where you don't bother getting out there at all.

Congrats on your first 5km races!

S

melizerd

Another one that runs outside in real winter conditions here I'm in Wisconsin. I do have a treadmill for when I just don't make it outside because I HATE winter (I was born here LOL).

Layers, a base wicking layer, a middle wicking layer, and an outside water/wind proof layer on top will help, on the bottom compression tights and then windproof pants, also a hat and gloves. I HATE when my hands/ears get cold. I can be wearing more layers than that though but I doubt you'll need more than that where you are.

For those of us where it snows a pair of Yak Trax for the shoes are also a necessity so we don't slip and kill ourselves.

j_courter

i'm glad to hear stories from those of you running outside in the cold. i have never been a runner, but i did c25k this year and have worked myself up to 4 miles! i was a bit cold this morning on my run (40 degrees and windy outside) and my muscles didn't think i should be running until about 25 minutes in! if i'm wearing running tights to keep my legs warm would that sluggishness probably go away?

i also had pneumonia at a young age and scarred my lungs. how do you keep the cold out while breathing?

melizerd

My best friend told me she bought a Buff:
http://www.buffwear.com/pages/welcome.php

and that it's the best thing ever because you can have it over your face and still breathe.

This will be my first winter outside but it's on my list of must haves!

yeroc39

2% is definitely the incline needed on the treadmill to mimic an outside run.

HolleeERL

Forget the dreadmill, get some warm clothes and stay outside.

This is what I was thinking too.

I'm in Central Texas and it got into the teen's last year. I don't know how cold it gets in West Texas, but I would just stay outside. I just bought some compression tights for the winter and I know under armour makes great warm weather pants. Forget the dreadmill and enjoy the cool temps. We don't get much of them here in Tx.

HAHAHA!!!! I agree!! I grew up in West Texas (Midland/Odessa) and now live in Montana. I run in the snow and LOVE it! If the wind is kicking up, then I might stay inside. Also...if you are running on a track, then you aren't running on an incline either (not to mention West Texas is so flat you can see the curvature of the Earth!! LOL).

I have done a lot of training on my treadmill because I have small kids and no babysitter. I run on a 1% incline, but also do some uphill sprinting maybe once a week on that treadmill. Could be another option for you.

DisneyMommy

I guess I'm the odd one out here. I'm a marathoner and train 100% on a treadmill due to my crazy busy schedule. I've never set the incline and have never had any problem finishing a race (including the massive hills of San Francisco). In fact I'm way faster when I do run outdoors than on the treadmill. Odd, I know!

lacroyx

I hate treadmills. I can never get comfortable. I always have this fear of falling off or mistriding, mistep. I go outside. rain, cold, windy, icy, snow. don't care. I bundle up and off I go!

mlb929

Forget the dreadmill, get some warm clothes and stay outside.

Ditto!
I got stuck on a hotel treadmill this weekend. I used 2% incline and hated all 3 miles it hurt and I was bored to tears. I'm running another half next weekend but will dress warn and head outdoors instead.

I giggled to at cold u run in 20 to 100 temps. I've read you run faster in the cold