why am i slower on dreadmill??

sportzmom23

First, I am not a fan of it, but I use it as needed. I have a hard time running a 12 minute mile on it, inclince is between 1.5 and 2. But when I get outside, no problem with a 10minute mile, today was averaging 9:33 miles.

So why? Is it a mind block, is it my treadmill? Thinking I may run with my app to see how it compares...it really shouldn't matter too much more, weather is gwtting better so I can get outside, but still want/need to know!

NCchar130

Same for me. I believe it is a mental block when you pick a speed setting and have to manually change it. I think when I run outside I speed up or slow down automatically as needed. If I'm running on the treadmill at 6 mph, I definitely CAN go faster but sometimes I think I can't LOL.

Elliehmltn

I think the friction is different on the treadmill, or something. Speeds that I can handle outdoors suck the breath out of me on the treadmill. My landings are different, too. On the road, I run with a midfoot strike, but on the treadmill, I land with a heelstrike. Midfoot is more efficient. I can't seem to do it on a treadmill.

manhn1

I tend to run slower on the treadmill too. I find that when we run outdoors, we run "faster" unconsciously for short periods of time--like sprinting when running across the street before the light turns red, or to pass a runner in front of us, to avoid a scary dog, etc. We slow down during other parts of a run, but on average, you are running faster.

At least for me, I don't like to push buttons while I run so I run at the set speed for the entire duration of my workout. I know I can run a bit faster, but I don't push it. Also, I don't want to fall on my face on the treadmill.

That said, if I wasn't timing myself or looking at any speed numbers on the machine, I would think I was running faster on the treadmill. When outside, I "feel" like I'm running quite slowly most of the time.

EdTheGinge

My view is Treadmills are boring therefore you're paying so much attention to your speed and time that you're not enjoying it, when you're not enjoying something you tend to do it slower. When outside you have traffic to contend with, views to look at and the time goes faster and you find that you're just doing not thinking about it therefore your pace improves.

What others have said have more science to it but that's my view, plus if I see a car I make a concious effort to try and look damn good, even if it means dying as soon as the car has passed lol.