Treadmill vs running outdoors

hjfischer

I have been running for about 20 years. I can never EVER under any circumstance run on a treadmill. It is so hard and boring. Running outside gives you time to breathe, think, see the sites, try different paths, hills, flat, city, country, trails, cement. A treatmill is for rats. Bleh

I can tolerate an elliptical for about 12 minutes before I want to poke my eyes out.

llangstraat

Completely agree that running outside is harder but I believe its a better workout and you get much more satisfaction from it. IMO

KBrenOH

Sure - running outside is more difficult, but I prefer it to the dreadmill. Unfortunately - due to my working hours and the fact that I will not jog in the dark, from Fall til Spring, I'm stuck in doors except on the weekends. I say if you can get outside -- do it.

runner2runner

Running outside is definitely harder than running on treadmill, but then that's precisely why it's so much more effective. I prefer that to the treadmill. I used to do my speed sessions on the treadmill until three weeks ago when I started doing fartleks and I realised how fun they were. The problem with the treadmill is that you're in one place and after a while it becomes monotonous, even if you increase the speed and intensity of your workouts. Outside you're exposed to different conditions and gradients and if you get bored the route you're doing you can always do a different one. And if you live in hilly city like Pretoria, the challenge is simply irresistable. I only use the treadmill in extreme situations like if the weather is extremely bad and doesn't permit running outside.

jen10st

Interesting article, I'm a running outdoor convert and sometimes on a hard run where it takes all my willpower just to keep moving forward I long for the treadmill. Once the speed is set on it you have no choice but to keep up or fall off. Outdoors is much more challenging and I now love it :happy:

BaconMD

I can't carry my television with me outside while I run, and even if I could, I wouldn't be able to hear the dialog over the traffic noise.

RunnerInVT

All treadmill all the time. I trained for a half marathon and ran 15 miles at a stretch on it. I am now training fora full marathon on it. I had been kicked in the eye by a horse and totalled a motorcycle. I have had enough of the great outdoors for now except race time. The half was harder outside but not that much.

BakerRunnerBadass

I love my running outside, the fresh air and being able to take the dogs with me is great. That being said I am new to running this year and I struggled with investing in proper shoes and clothing to run outside in the snow and cold conditions or getting a gym membership for the winter. I decided on the gear to run outside as I love my morning runs and the dogs keep me motivated and moving, fingers crossed that I don`t slip and fall on my *kitten* :laugh:

weigoldjenn

running outside is much more difficult because you are using your muscle and body power to propel yourself forward.. on a treadmill you just have to pick your feet up and stride.

litatura

Meh, the way I see it, as long as you're running, who cares if it's on the treadmill or outside.

ipsamet

I'm sure I could run longer on a treadmill. But I would also want to kill something out of sheer boredom, so I don't.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

fatpanda96

the treadmill feels easier but nothing beats a good outdoor run.