Treadmill vs street

Taes_Hunt
Taes_Hunt Posts: 41 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Which do you prefer and why?
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Replies

  • crystalflame
    crystalflame Posts: 1,049 Member
    Street street street street street. Better workout, not nearly as boring, don't have to push buttons to slow down or speed up, don't have to push buttons to have inclines, don't have a big red clock staring you in the face going "YOU STILL HAVE 20 EFFING MINUTES."

    ...I used to seriously prefer the treadmill because of climate control, TV, and constant speed. These are unnecessary, and I know better now.
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Get off the dreadmill and hit the pavement, trails or the track!
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    Paved bike trails at the park! I don't trust drivers enough to hit the road but the treadmill is boring for running. I do fine walking on it, but running on it started feeling like torture once I moved outside!
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    I'd rather run over hot lava than the treadmill.
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 906 Member
    Which do you prefer and why?

    I like the street, simply because you can vary the route and scenery. Can't do that on a treadmill unless you've got a really fancy (and really expensive) machine.

    Although, in the treadmill's favor, you can use that when the weather's crummy.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Although, in the treadmill's favor, you can use that when the weather's crummy.

    Define "crummy". I'm sure my definition differs from yours, but here in the Baltimore area, I only had 4 crummy days last year in which I was forced onto the treadmill. :smile:
  • Taes_Hunt
    Taes_Hunt Posts: 41 Member
    I just recently purchased a treadmill to use during the winter time and because my 2 year old makes it super hard to enjoy a walk while he is screaming to get out and play... Gonna have to figure something out because I dont feel like Im buring enough calories when on the treadmill. Although, I do get to watch American Horror Story and I walk... :laugh:
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    Equal opportunity here. I like paved trails at the park best, but I don't "do" nature or bad weather, so I'm really just fine on the treadmill too. I don't watch tv, listen to music or read-I run to clear my head, I get lost in the sound of the footsteps and the motor-and my head empties itself out and I'm good. Oddly, I do listen to music sometimes outside-but not always.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    I just recently purchased a treadmill to use during the winter time and because my 2 year old makes it super hard to enjoy a walk while he is screaming to get out and play... Gonna have to figure something out because I dont feel like Im buring enough calories when on the treadmill. Although, I do get to watch American Horror Story and I walk... :laugh:

    If you are walking for the same amount of time and exerting the same amount of effort, you are burning the same amount of calories.
  • Taes_Hunt
    Taes_Hunt Posts: 41 Member
    [/quote]

    If you are walking for the same amount of time and exerting the same amount of effort, you are burning the same amount of calories.
    [/quote]

    So, I dont have to walk at an incline or anything to get the same benefit as walking on a trail?
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    If you are walking for the same amount of time and exerting the same amount of effort, you are burning the same amount of calories.


    So, I dont have to walk at an incline or anything to get the same benefit as walking on a trail?

    It's all about the effort. Do you use a heart rate monitor? That will tell you if you are exerting the same amount of effort.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I did 5 miles on my treadmill this morning only because we've had a fair bit of freezing rain the last couple of days (only the 2nd or 3rd time I've used it all of 2012 so far). I run in the heat and in the snow, running outside is interesting and fun and meditative whereas running on a treadmill is mind numbing.
  • Taes_Hunt
    Taes_Hunt Posts: 41 Member
    If you are walking for the same amount of time and exerting the same amount of effort, you are burning the same amount of calories.
    [/quote]

    So, I dont have to walk at an incline or anything to get the same benefit as walking on a trail?
    [/quote]

    It's all about the effort. Do you use a heart rate monitor? That will tell you if you are exerting the same amount of effort.
    [/quote]

    No, but I think that may be the next thing on my to buy list...
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    Although, in the treadmill's favor, you can use that when the weather's crummy.

    Define "crummy". I'm sure my definition differs from yours, but here in the Baltimore area, I only had 4 crummy days last year in which I was forced onto the treadmill. :smile:

    Crummy for me (although I'm not the person you're asking) is anything not between 45 and 65 degrees, any kind of precipitation, wind more than 10mph, snow/ice/mud on the roads, and/or the threat of any of the above during the time I expect to be outside. I hate nature-and i am outside more than in (although I don't have any of the normal resentful feelings towards my treadmill). I will say safety is a much bigger issue than weather where I am-and that will bring me inside faster than hurricane sandy did.

    Guess I'm a bit of a princess...
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    I'd ask how this is even a question, but then I'd get flooded by people who are too uncomfortable to run outside, think it's too hot or too cold or too dark or too bright or too wet or too dry or whatever else. So I won't.

    Outside for me, no doubt about it.
  • Taes_Hunt
    Taes_Hunt Posts: 41 Member
    Although, in the treadmill's favor, you can use that when the weather's crummy.

    Define "crummy". I'm sure my definition differs from yours, but here in the Baltimore area, I only had 4 crummy days last year in which I was forced onto the treadmill. :smile:

    Crummy for me (although I'm not the person you're asking) is anything not between 45 and 65 degrees, any kind of precipitation, wind more than 10mph, snow/ice/mud on the roads, and/or the threat of any of the above during the time I expect to be outside. I hate nature-and i am outside more than in (although I don't have any of the normal resentful feelings towards my treadmill). I will say safety is a much bigger issue than weather where I am-and that will bring me inside faster than hurricane sandy did.

    Im in OK, so we dont have many crummy days... the main thing is my son, BUT I completely understand... If its cloudy outside, I will not go out. (Mind over matter, my mind just isnt fully there yet I guess...)
  • Taes_Hunt
    Taes_Hunt Posts: 41 Member
    I'd ask how this is even a question, but then I'd get flooded by people who are too uncomfortable to run outside, think it's too hot or too cold or too dark or too bright or too wet or too dry or whatever else. So I won't.

    Outside for me, no doubt about it.

    To each their own...
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Although, in the treadmill's favor, you can use that when the weather's crummy.

    Define "crummy". I'm sure my definition differs from yours, but here in the Baltimore area, I only had 4 crummy days last year in which I was forced onto the treadmill. :smile:

    Crummy for me (although I'm not the person you're asking) is anything not between 45 and 65 degrees, any kind of precipitation, wind more than 10mph, snow/ice/mud on the roads, and/or the threat of any of the above during the time I expect to be outside. I hate nature-and i am outside more than in (although I don't have any of the normal resentful feelings towards my treadmill). I will say safety is a much bigger issue than weather where I am-and that will bring me inside faster than hurricane sandy did.

    With those parameters, you might have gotten in a dozen or so runs outside here last year. :laugh:
  • DefyGravity1977
    DefyGravity1977 Posts: 300 Member
    I prefer the street! I had been treadmill bound for quite some time and recently got outside and love it!!!
  • crimsoncat
    crimsoncat Posts: 457 Member
    Treadmill. Street is more fun, but hurts my knees more. Also, my friend who runs street has been followed before. She only runs with her dog and mace now.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I just recently purchased a treadmill to use during the winter time and because my 2 year old makes it super hard to enjoy a walk while he is screaming to get out and play... Gonna have to figure something out because I dont feel like Im buring enough calories when on the treadmill. Although, I do get to watch American Horror Story and I walk... :laugh:

    Kids are a HUGE reason to use a treadmill. I have one and I'll be getting on it tonight because hubby is in class and I have 3 kids. And having them out in the cold and the dark will not win me mother of the year LOL.

    As for being outside with your 2 year old, what we do with our kids (when the weather is nice enough) is we walk or bike or run for however long, and then take them to the play set afterwards. So they get to play, after we all get some exercise. When my husband is with me, I'll drop him and the kids at the play set and then continue my workout at my normal pace (instead of the slower pace I use with the kids LOL). My older kids are 8 and 9 and the baby is 2.5. The baby is in a stroller or bike trailer. The big kids will walk about 3 miles with me, or bike 4 to 7 miles. We have run too, but that varies with their moods.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    street.

    ....so i can like... go places.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Treadmill. Street is more fun, but hurts my knees more. Also, my friend who runs street has been followed before. She only runs with her dog and mace now.
    Someone got stabbed at work the other day... are you going to stop going to work too? Yes, I'm being a jerk, but only to illustrate my point: If it's unsafe, then that's one thing... but don't use 1 isolated incident as an excuse to not run outside.
  • FestusB
    FestusB Posts: 8
    Either, as long as you are moving. Put the treadmill on an incline of 1 to be alittle closer to the workout of pavement. If you have a newborn, or small children and live in freezing temps...sometimes you just have to stay indoors because it is just too cold to take the little ones outside that long with you:) Whatever keeps you in motion :smile:
  • christinehetz80
    christinehetz80 Posts: 490 Member
    For years I thought I hated running....nope I hated running on the treadmill. Running streets, trails, etc its like a new playground/discovery every day. LOVE IT!!!!!! Saw something on facebook today that describes my love of running now. If you want to change your body, exercise...if you want to change your life, run. True statement in my life.
  • caseythirteen
    caseythirteen Posts: 956 Member
    Treadmill for me. It's way too dark outside when I exercise to make me comfortable going out and doing it on the streets. I go up to the loft area of the gym, cover the panel with a towel and use the TVs and the people as my entertainment while I run.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    street. because you are actually moving mass through space (force = mass x distance).... on a treadmill, you are not moving your body, you are just moving your legs.

    so

    street>treadmill

    however

    treadmill> nothing

    So if weather or what not is keeping me sheepish of the street, i won't shy away from machinery. I actually will do the elliptical though becasue i have dexterity issues on a treadmill :)
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    Although, in the treadmill's favor, you can use that when the weather's crummy.

    Define "crummy". I'm sure my definition differs from yours, but here in the Baltimore area, I only had 4 crummy days last year in which I was forced onto the treadmill. :smile:

    Crummy for me (although I'm not the person you're asking) is anything not between 45 and 65 degrees, any kind of precipitation, wind more than 10mph, snow/ice/mud on the roads, and/or the threat of any of the above during the time I expect to be outside. I hate nature-and i am outside more than in (although I don't have any of the normal resentful feelings towards my treadmill). I will say safety is a much bigger issue than weather where I am-and that will bring me inside faster than hurricane sandy did.

    With those parameters, you might have gotten in a dozen or so runs outside here last year. :laugh:

    I did update my post to say that I am a bit of a princess. I really am outside more than in....I'm willing to stretch the temp criteria depending on amount of sun & wind, but I'm not about to run in the rain or snow (I know-princess...). Frankly, flooding has brought me inside more than weather criteria in the last year. I am ambivalent to the treadmill vs outside-so it just doesn't bother me to be inside. I do make more of an effort to be outside if I'm planning to do a race in the near future-but otherwise, I really don't care (I know that's not normal).
  • Molly_Maguire
    Molly_Maguire Posts: 1,103 Member
    I prefer my treadmill. I don't have to worry about the weather (I live in Arizona, where in the summer you scorch your lungs just by breathing outside), plus I get to watch Grey's Anatomy and yell at the screen at the drama, all while getting a workout. :)
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I like both. Do what you gotta do to get it done.

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