Treadmill vs street

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Replies

  • annabellj
    annabellj Posts: 1,337 Member
    So, I dont have to walk at an incline or anything to get the same benefit as walking on a trail?
    Recommendation is 1-2% incline to make up for lack of wind resistance, etc.
    when its 99 at 4 am, no way im going outside! in july, it never cools off! thats what the treadmill is for.
    Recent study conducted by Running Times showed that there is no compensation necessary for wind resistance until you are running sub 6:00 miles.

    Really? That is good to know because whenever I use the incline on a treadmill I have a harder time with shin splints and asthma.

    I prefer outdoors but from about May to Mid-Sept use treadmill. Too hot on the surface of the sun and I can't get up at 4am to run. :tongue:

    I was sent to the surface of the sun on a business trip this summer. Lovely place-I enjoyed that it was nice and flat but good Christ it was hot. No reason for it to be almost 90 before the sun is up. And I had to be outside because work insisted we stay in a ghetto hotel that had no gym.

    Oh man, that had to have been difficult. I want to try running outside this summer but am so nervous. I went a few times on what seemed like a nice September afternoon... I learned quickly that 98 is still just as hot as 115 when you run at 1 in the afternoon.
  • grammysboy
    grammysboy Posts: 151 Member
    I think I'm the odd man out here. I use my treadmill for my daily cardio because I do it first thing in the morning (5:00 am). I don't want to throw on a bunch of clothes and go outside at that time. I watch a recorded TV program or a ball game for an hour or so. I mostly walk, but do jog for a few minutes at a time. I like to be able to adjust the incline to make the walking a little harder. It works for me. My wife prefers to run outside, but will use the treadmill when pressed for time.
  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    I use run on both the treadmill and the street/trails. For a while I let the cold weather/snow be an excuse to stay inside. I am not using that as an excuse any more. There is nothing wrong with winter running so long as you are not running in dangerous conditions (like on the edge of a slippery road, covered in ice with lots of traffic).
  • OMG_Twinkies
    OMG_Twinkies Posts: 215 Member
    I am really liking pavement and my knees finally got used to it. No pain at all now!
    I love the feeling of trying to beat my last time with the whole, "Ok, this time, I'm going to pass that light pole in under 5 minutes!" pep talks. And I feel like a total badass when I'm running in the rain :bigsmile:
  • serenapitala
    serenapitala Posts: 441 Member
    Depends on the time of year. I like street better and trails best. However, I live in a rural town in Minnesota. So, after a snow storm, on icy days, during a heat wave, during a cold snap, when it's raining, when it's snowing, when it's foggy, etc. I have to go for the treadmill. Let's face it; people shouldn't live here most of the time. But I love it anyway:love:
  • tbisca1
    tbisca1 Posts: 142
    I prefer the treadmill. I lost all my weight from the treadmill and it broke because I wore it out! Now I have taken to the streets and I HATE it. I was use to walking/running on a 7 incline and now unless I go find an elevated ground area I am flat and I don't feel I am exerting myself like I did on the treadmill. I could burn way more calories on the treadmill using the incline than I do now. Now I have to stay out longer and go futher to compensate.

    Congrats on your weight loss!!!!

    Thank you! Good luck with your journey and as long as you get exercise in (whichever you choose), along with a healthy diet, you will see results.
  • eyeshuh
    eyeshuh Posts: 333
    I prefer running outside for the change of scenery, fresh air, and the "not having to push buttons" thing for speed - but right now it is winter and I hate the outside when it's winter. Once it gets below 30 I'm done for the season.

    Plus side of running on my treadmill indoors is that I get to watch Netflix! lol
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member


    Running in extreme heat conditions just requires adaptations. It takes about 3 weeks for your body to become acclimated to the heat. The first thing you have to do is slow way down. Then, after that acclimation period, you will find your pace naturally getting faster. Maybe not back to your pace at 45°F, but it will be faster than when you first started running in the heat. You will lose this adaptation over the winter and will need the same 3 week period to acclimate when summer rolls back around.

    Any slower and I will be walking. :laugh:

    I plan to work on it this summer. I don't really want to join a gym again. I just get overheated very easily. I have read a lot of tips and things to get some ideas. In Sept I went early-ish mornings on weekends and after dark on weekdays. Still hot but not as bad.
  • basillowe66
    basillowe66 Posts: 432 Member
    The treadmill is a lot easier. It is more boring. After you have run on the treadmill and think you are good, you go outside and see it is a harder.
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    Removed quotes.
    Really? That is good to know because whenever I use the incline on a treadmill I have a harder time with shin splints and asthma.

    I prefer outdoors but from about May to Mid-Sept use treadmill. Too hot on the surface of the sun and I can't get up at 4am to run. :tongue:

    I was sent to the surface of the sun on a business trip this summer. Lovely place-I enjoyed that it was nice and flat but good Christ it was hot. No reason for it to be almost 90 before the sun is up. And I had to be outside because work insisted we stay in a ghetto hotel that had no gym.

    Oh man, that had to have been difficult. I want to try running outside this summer but am so nervous. I went a few times on what seemed like a nice September afternoon... I learned quickly that 98 is still just as hot as 115 when you run at 1 in the afternoon.

    Running in extreme heat conditions just requires adaptations. It takes about 3 weeks for your body to become acclimated to the heat. The first thing you have to do is slow way down. Then, after that acclimation period, you will find your pace naturally getting faster. Maybe not back to your pace at 45°F, but it will be faster than when you first started running in the heat. You will lose this adaptation over the winter and will need the same 3 week period to acclimate when summer rolls back around.
    [/quote]

    So by that same token, if I brave the cold, will I be faster? Should I be looking for a race in mid-Jan for a banging PR? That could get my princess-@as off the treadmill...I fear it may be a pipe dream...
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    Removed quotes.
    Really? That is good to know because whenever I use the incline on a treadmill I have a harder time with shin splints and asthma.

    I prefer outdoors but from about May to Mid-Sept use treadmill. Too hot on the surface of the sun and I can't get up at 4am to run. :tongue:

    I was sent to the surface of the sun on a business trip this summer. Lovely place-I enjoyed that it was nice and flat but good Christ it was hot. No reason for it to be almost 90 before the sun is up. And I had to be outside because work insisted we stay in a ghetto hotel that had no gym.

    Oh man, that had to have been difficult. I want to try running outside this summer but am so nervous. I went a few times on what seemed like a nice September afternoon... I learned quickly that 98 is still just as hot as 115 when you run at 1 in the afternoon.

    Running in extreme heat conditions just requires adaptations. It takes about 3 weeks for your body to become acclimated to the heat. The first thing you have to do is slow way down. Then, after that acclimation period, you will find your pace naturally getting faster. Maybe not back to your pace at 45°F, but it will be faster than when you first started running in the heat. You will lose this adaptation over the winter and will need the same 3 week period to acclimate when summer rolls back around.

    So by that same token, if I brave the cold, will I be faster? Should I be looking for a race in mid-Jan for a banging PR? That could get my princess-@as off the treadmill...I fear it may be a pipe dream...


    To some extent, yes. Depends on the distance of the race. For 10K and shorter, I don't think temperature makes that much of a difference. For 10 mile and above and especially the marathon, cooler temps make a HUGE difference. I'd love for every race to be 44°F and low humidity...but I'm not picky.
  • toaster6
    toaster6 Posts: 703 Member
    Treadmill for running, street for walking.
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    Removed quotes.
    Really? That is good to know because whenever I use the incline on a treadmill I have a harder time with shin splints and asthma.

    I prefer outdoors but from about May to Mid-Sept use treadmill. Too hot on the surface of the sun and I can't get up at 4am to run. :tongue:

    I was sent to the surface of the sun on a business trip this summer. Lovely place-I enjoyed that it was nice and flat but good Christ it was hot. No reason for it to be almost 90 before the sun is up. And I had to be outside because work insisted we stay in a ghetto hotel that had no gym.

    Oh man, that had to have been difficult. I want to try running outside this summer but am so nervous. I went a few times on what seemed like a nice September afternoon... I learned quickly that 98 is still just as hot as 115 when you run at 1 in the afternoon.

    Running in extreme heat conditions just requires adaptations. It takes about 3 weeks for your body to become acclimated to the heat. The first thing you have to do is slow way down. Then, after that acclimation period, you will find your pace naturally getting faster. Maybe not back to your pace at 45°F, but it will be faster than when you first started running in the heat. You will lose this adaptation over the winter and will need the same 3 week period to acclimate when summer rolls back around.

    So by that same token, if I brave the cold, will I be faster? Should I be looking for a race in mid-Jan for a banging PR? That could get my princess-@as off the treadmill...I fear it may be a pipe dream...
    [/quote]

    I had a PR at my coldest 5K. I was so cold my toes and legs were numb when I started!
  • CallmeSbo
    CallmeSbo Posts: 611 Member
    street
  • blackmantis
    blackmantis Posts: 165 Member
    5mins on the treadmill feels like an hour and I hate it. I'd rather be outside!
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    Im a hamster on a wheel in my day job..the last thing I want on earth is to be a hamster on a wheel when I workout...I only started running in May but I have resolved to run outdoors no matter how cold,wet and windy it is.

    exposure to different weather and conditions can only make me a more polished runner. no treadmill for me. ever.
  • LucyT4dieting
    LucyT4dieting Posts: 284 Member
    Exercise is not fun for me. I do it only because I want to be healthy, and keep moving. So I get up early and walk on a Treadmill for a half hour every other day. Listening to "Preston and Steve" makes it bearable. Any walking is better than no walking in my book, so whatever works for you, I say GO FOR IT!!!
  • michelejoann
    michelejoann Posts: 295 Member
    I prefer a good trail, but where I live, getting to the trail consists of me driving to it. Yes, lazy, I know...but at least with the treadmill in the workout room at my apartment...it's something rather than nothing. Living in the suburbs near a high traffic business district is kind of a pain in the *kitten*.
  • sunsnstatheart
    sunsnstatheart Posts: 2,544 Member
    Outdoors. Street is okay but beach or trail is better. I can't do treadmills. I'm not a hamster. Not that there's anything wrong with hamsters . . . nevermind
  • beekuzz
    beekuzz Posts: 428 Member
    I actually made this same decision today. I chose outside for walking (don't run yet) as the treadmill is causing pain. I will use my treadmill on bad weather days.
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
    Outside.

    I've been running for the better part of 3 years. I ran on a treadmill for the first time last Thursday mostly because of schdeduling and childcare logistics....I'll skip my run before I do that again.

    I used to have some weather perameters for running outside. After a trail race I ran last winter where the temp was 5* F and the wind was 25 mph out of the north...I have two, hail or frequent lightning, everything else is on the table.

    In fact the the guy I ran the race with we challenge each other to run in the gnarliest weather that comes our way.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    So, I dont have to walk at an incline or anything to get the same benefit as walking on a trail?
    Recommendation is 1-2% incline to make up for lack of wind resistance, etc.

    Recent study conducted by Running Times showed that there is no compensation necessary for wind resistance until you are running sub 6:00 miles.

    Really? That is good to know because whenever I use the incline on a treadmill I have a harder time with shin splints and asthma.

    I prefer outdoors but from about May to Mid-Sept use treadmill. Too hot on the surface of the sun and I can't get up at 4am to run. :tongue:

    Maybe that is why I was having shin splint problems... I was walking on a 3-5 incline.

    I doubt it's the incline because I've had shin splint from walking on dead flat concrete in two different cities now. I'd say it's more likely the shoes.

    I get bored walking or running on the treadmill non-stop but I find if I do HIIT on it instead it make the time go faster because I'm adjusting the speed all the time plus you don't have to do it as long.
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    Outside.

    I've been running for the better part of 3 years. I ran on a treadmill for the first time last Thursday mostly because of schdeduling and childcare logistics....I'll skip my run before I do that again.

    I used to have some weather perameters for running outside. After a trail race I ran last winter where the temp was 5* F and the wind was 25 mph out of the north...I have two, hail or frequent lightning, everything else is on the table.

    In fact the the guy I ran the race with we challenge each other to run in the gnarliest weather that comes our way.

    This is what i want to be like when I grow up. Is it wrong for me to wish for gnarly weather just so I can beast it out and feel gratification in knowing that gnarly weather can no longer be an excuse to run indoors, or even worse, not run at all???
  • takumaku
    takumaku Posts: 352 Member
    Both. Each have their respective strength and weakness. I use a treadmill to work on HIT and to become use to a certain speed. Being indoors and having the ability to zone out without worrying about random stray dogs or vehicles is also a plus. I use the street and track for greater distances.
  • clioratha
    clioratha Posts: 29 Member
    In general, I prefer the treadmill - no heat, rain, or mosquitoes! Also, I can treadmill at midnight or so if I need to, or interact with my family. Also, I can read on the treadmill (at least until I get fit enough to run instead of walk)

    Also, where I live doesn't have much in the way of terrain. Coastal Florida is rather flat. Treadmill gives me inclines.

    If I'm away from home and somewhere with real terrain and scenery, then I'll go street.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member


    ... I have no sympathy for people who get mugged or knocked in the head running in dark desolate areas, especially in cities. You should know better....

    :noway:

    :mad:
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member

    How the heck do you read while running? I'd love to learn this trick because I have a ton of reading to do in law school and I can only manage speed walking at an incline or the stairs while reading.


    I couldn't read and run at the same time. But i spent a fair amount of time between classes on the elliptical. Tho i did notice the further i went into a case, the slower my pace went. Its not so easy to burn mega calories and prep for class :(
  • TazzytheMotivator
    TazzytheMotivator Posts: 646 Member
    I enjoy running outside. I love the fresh air and that fact that i'm moving. But at times treadmill can be alot easier on your joints.

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  • RobynLB
    RobynLB Posts: 617 Member

    How the heck do you read while running? I'd love to learn this trick because I have a ton of reading to do in law school and I can only manage speed walking at an incline or the stairs while reading.


    I couldn't read and run at the same time. But i spent a fair amount of time between classes on the elliptical. Tho i did notice the further i went into a case, the slower my pace went. Its not so easy to burn mega calories and prep for class :(

    And my margin notes look like Michael J. Fox wrote them!

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