Treadmill or out doors?

mecmic

+1 for running outside. Few things bore me to tears faster than running on a treadmill. I'd rather run 20m outside than 5m on a treadmill.

I'm with you on this one Brother , it's real easy to give up and hop off a treadmill and head to the couch, but man o man being 4 miles in and no where near home , That is great stuff. Plus I love being outside and enjoying mixing up the runs.
I use the treadmill as well but usually because of the weather.

runfatmanrun

Once you get your legs and lungs accustomed to the difference, I don't see how one would choose a treadmill over running outside.

It's this:


vs THIS:

Truly pictures are worth a thousand (or however many you want) words.

kathyhull

I think outdoors is probably better overall but I switch it up - some days I just don't want anyone to see me so I hide in my basement and do the elliptical, rainy or super hot days I do the treadmill at the gym, other times I just feel like flying out my front door and down my road. Just keep moving, that's the only thing that matters. Do what you like to do and you'll do it more often.

tjmbellsouth

Anything out doors is the best. I was adicted to treadmills, stationary bikes and elipticals. It use to kill me when I missed the gym, having to work late, out of town on business etc. Now all I need is my shoes and decent weather, 45 min -1hour and turn off my pnone, when it rains I can always find an inside stairwell and do 20-30 min or find a gym if one is nearby. Change up your routes too, Out doors is never boaring no mater where you are.

MinnieInMaine

A lot of people call it "running" when they use the elliptical because it's sort of a similar motion but the BIG difference is that there is no impact on the elliptical. When I first start running outside in the spring, my inner thighs and quads are really sore at first because of the impact, not to mention the natural inclides on my running routes. I'm thinking your body will adapt as you continue but maybe keep the distance and frequency of your runs low so you don't injure yourself and increase both slowly every week (I've heard 10-15% is a good level).

I'm not sure where you're getting your calorie counts from but I would think you'd be more likely to burn at least as many if not more, calories when you run outside than what you get on the elliptical. If you're getting the count from the machine or MFP, keep in mind that these are guesstimates based on limited info.

dennismacdonald

I feel we are not using all the same muscles when we treadmill that we do when we run outdoors. (Same goes for fast walking.) I feel same as you regarding outdoor running being a tougher workout. Now I only run outdoors. (Five miles a day 7 days week for the last year. Prior to that, several years of walking outdoors and running treadmill.) Your shoes are very important as is keeping hydrated when you run outdoors. Do what you enjoy most but know and act on your limits or you can hurt yourself and be unable to enjoy any type of cardio.

Lifting_chick

outdoors it is nice to be out of the gym

CarsonRuns

...when it rains I can always find an inside stairwell...

Why not just keep running? You are going to shower when you get done anyway, right? Rain is only water.

muddyventures

Once I got myself outside, I found that I really hated being on the treadmill. I've gone to the gym in the last weeks and I could barely make myself go three miles. Outside I've been doing longer more satifying runs. I've found that I especially love running in the rain as long as it isn't freezing.

BrianSharpe

I started on a treadmill myself and made the huge error of not training enough outdoors before running my first 5K in 2009.

The bio-mechanics are different - outdoors you don't have the treadmill mat propelling you which is why you felt sore.

Once I made the tradition to outdoors, though, running became far more enjoyable (I'm very lucky, I have some very nice recreational paths literally footsteps from my front door) and the only thing that will keep me indoors is freezing rain.

Give yourself time to adapt & have fun!

placebomonkey

...when it rains I can always find an inside stairwell...

Why not just keep running? You are going to shower when you get done anyway, right? Rain is only water.

I really love getting caught out in rain it's so refreshing

YoungDoc2B

Outdoors > Indoors

Nuff said.

rml_16

A lot of people are saying calorie count on an elliptical is lower than running outside, but basing it on assumption. Using an HRM, my calorie burn on the elliptical is the same as running outside. It's low-impact, so you don't feel like you're working as hard as you actually are.

tabik30

Depends on the weather. I like having the option of either!

jcmartin0313

A lot of people are saying calorie count on an elliptical is lower than running outside, but basing it on assumption. Using an HRM, my calorie burn on the elliptical is the same as running outside. It's low-impact, so you don't feel like you're working as hard as you actually are.

I am a new, SLOW and still obese runner (Clydesdale) and despite the difficulty in building up to my current 2.5 mi training runs, I will tell you that I think there is just something about running that the elliptical or treadmill just does not provide. Call me a masochist, but I am more than willing to endure the knee, ankle, back and neck pain/ soreness for the pleasure of completing a run when 6 months ago I could not run at all. This is for me only and I am not calling elliptical work any less important, but there is something about running!

jcjsjones

I started doing C25K on the treadmill during the winter. As it became warmer, I decided to take it outside. I had to go back a couple of weeks on the program to get my body used to it, so I think it is quite a bit harder to run outside. Now that I am running more and longer distances, I will run outside versus on a treadmill any day.

rml_16

A lot of people are saying calorie count on an elliptical is lower than running outside, but basing it on assumption. Using an HRM, my calorie burn on the elliptical is the same as running outside. It's low-impact, so you don't feel like you're working as hard as you actually are.

I am a new, SLOW and still obese runner (Clydesdale) and despite the difficulty in building up to my current 2.5 mi training runs, I will tell you that I think there is just something about running that the elliptical or treadmill just does not provide. Call me a masochist, but I am more than willing to endure the knee, ankle, back and neck pain/ soreness for the pleasure of completing a run when 6 months ago I could not run at all. This is for me only and I am not calling elliptical work any less important, but there is something about running!

I agree. But we're talking calorie count and it's the same.

Also, from experience, the elliptical works muscles running doesn't (and vice versa) and is a great way to build endurance.

sozzell

I have always done the eliptical or treadmill at the gym. I wanted to change things up so I bought a GREAT pair of running shoes and I began to jog (5MPH) outside. Well my thighs were sooooo sore after a cuple of days I could hardly walk, it was a good kind of sore- not an injury...I was just wondering, am I getting a better work out when I jog outside? The eliptical claims to burn more calories but I have never felt so worked as I do after jogging.

p.s I took 2 days off because of the soreness, and got right back to it

outside >>>>> inside. Period. No matter what.

THIS!

I started running on a treadmill last year. Granted, it definitely improved my fitness & stamina, but since I started running outdoors in March this year I have never looked back - and I can't bear to run on the treadmill anymore!!

PlunderBunneh

I burn the most outside, according to my HRM. I tend to get a bit lazy on the elliptical though, with intervals of pushing really hard and then just moving for a bit. Running keeps my heart rate high, and I can more easily change my pacing to achieve my heart rate goal. It's much harder, especially if I am running on sidewalks instead of a track, but I agree that it's more stimulating than on a treadmill.