Moving from running on a treadmill to running outside

JennS19

I've been using my treadmill for the last few months inside and have yet to venture outside to walk/run. As the weather starts to get nicer I want to start moving outside but it kind of scares me.

Inside I know how fast I'm running, it's the same surface over and over again so i have few injuries as well.

But the con right now is my belt needs to be professionally tightened because it keep slipping and running outside I won't have to worry about stumbling on a loose belt.

What are some sure fire ways to make the transition outside. I'm doing the C25K program and I have a 5k coming up in early April I want to run in (it will be my first 5k that I run).

How do you condition your body to run outside and minimize your injuries?

LorinaLynn

Stick to softer surfaces (grass, trails, roads) more than sidewalks, and just take it easy.

I actually found running outside soooo much easier than the treadmill. It's not as monotonous, there's always a change in scenery, and I personally find running at one exact pace really unnatural. It's normal to go from, say 5.5mph to 6mph to 6.5mph over the course of a run, rather than saying exactly at 6mph. Plus, there's AIRFLOW! That's what kills me on the treadmill. Even with ceiling fans at the gym, I swelter. Outside, even on a still day, I'm creating my own 6mph or so breeze... just enough to dry at least a little bit of my sweat.