Treadmill vs the track

nenacakesxo
nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Has anyone noticed a difference between running on treadmill and old fashion running?

I have recently conquered my treadmill-phobia but i noticed that its harder for me to run on it compared to regular running. Am i the only one?
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Replies

  • pawilliams1191
    pawilliams1191 Posts: 3
    try setting an upward incline. i find that helps, especially the knees.
  • groomchick
    groomchick Posts: 610 Member
    Your not alone!! I can run forever on the treadie but not outside. I'm told because of the different surface and temperatures? But honestly...I'm clueless & frustrated! :)
  • nenacakesxo
    nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
    try setting an upward incline. i find that helps, especially the knees.

    ooh good tip. i'll try it next time :)
  • sonjetaylor
    sonjetaylor Posts: 6
    I can run longer on the track than the treadmill. I guess because with the treadmill I get bored but when I'm
    running outside I get the fresh air and the scenery which makes it much easier for me.
  • nenacakesxo
    nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
    Your not alone!! I can run forever on the treadie but not outside. I'm told because of the different surface and temperatures? But honestly...I'm clueless & frustrated! :)

    haha, i guess it just matters that we are running.
  • toddis
    toddis Posts: 941 Member
    Treadmill dorks up my stride and makes my knee hurt. Darn indoor tracks are barely any better, especially with 13 laps=1 mile. Meh...bring on spring!
  • MorganLeighRN
    MorganLeighRN Posts: 411 Member
    I loath running on the dreadmill, but sometimes I have to do it. I have to put a magazine over the time and distance because I am constantly looking at it and it feels like FOREVER! I would much rather run outside. Even though it is harder, I love it!
  • Jerodhold
    Jerodhold Posts: 87
    Yes running on the trendmil and outside are completly different, on the tredmil you have a set pace and a set incline (unless you change it while running) and the ground is moving but you are not unlike if you ran outside you are moving and the ground is not and your pace is not set, you will slow down and speed up and what not, and the incline changes slightly the ground is not perfectly flat. I would switch up between running on the tredmil and outside to get the best of both.
  • nenacakesxo
    nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
    Yes running on the trendmil and outside are completly different, on the tredmil you have a set pace and a set incline (unless you change it while running) and the ground is moving but you are not unlike if you ran outside you are moving and the ground is not and your pace is not set, you will slow down and speed up and what not, and the incline changes slightly the ground is not perfectly flat. I would switch up between running on the tredmil and outside to get the best of both.


    i do plan on doing both
  • nenacakesxo
    nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
    Treadmill dorks up my stride and makes my knee hurt. Darn indoor tracks are barely any better, especially with 13 laps=1 mile. Meh...bring on spring!

    treadmills used to make my knee hurt too but it hasnt been hurting since i bought supportive shoes!
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    Treadmill dorks up my stride and makes my knee hurt. Darn indoor tracks are barely any better, especially with 13 laps=1 mile. Meh...bring on spring!

    AGREE!

    Treadmill is harder mentally and physically for me. I find my average pace is faster outside too.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    I run better outdoors. I get hotter when on the treadmill cause there is only a pissy little fan on it. I need the sea breeze I get here outside. I miss running outside, I only di it on the treadmill cause of the heat outside. Now that it's almost over & done with I'll go back outside.
  • matt2442
    matt2442 Posts: 1,259 Member
    If it's only between these two, Ill take the track any day. 12 minute run is my nemesis.

    Isn't better to get out of the house and get some fresh air on the track then being on the treadmill?
  • kaliyat
    kaliyat Posts: 4
    I think it's because on a treadmill you're at a set speed where on a track you can run at variable speeds and maybe not even notice you're speeding up or down. I find it harder to run further on the track personally but I do both. I think it just takes some getting used to.
  • lachesissss
    lachesissss Posts: 1,298 Member
    I actually have the opposite problem. It was very easy for me to run on the treadmill. Track/ pavement I'm still adjusting to. I can't go as far or as fast or as long on pavement as I can on a treadmill. I think the regular pace setting is a crutch of mine. I have to actively not think about it to run more than a mile or so on pavement or trail.
  • CalJur
    CalJur Posts: 627 Member
    Treadmill is harder if you set the incline high and you can get a bigger burn in a much shorter amount of time. Running outside is cool but make sure you have some quality running shoes as the surface can be brutal on the leg muscles causing injury.
  • Angie52732
    Angie52732 Posts: 66 Member
    I take my tablet down on the treadmill and pull up a movie on netflix so that encourages me to get down there because I can only watch the movie when I am on the treadmill. However, I am one of those people who don't have the confidence to go very long without grabbing the handrails. I try a slow jog at 4.2-4.5 and can manage about 6 minutes straight but after that I have to drop it down to 3.5-4 and usually after about 15 minutes I start grabbing the rails. I get so paranoid about falling off the back - never have - but like to be up at the front of the belt and once I hit that mid-back point I panic - I need a big belt like bunge cord to hook to the front of one side and come around behind my back and hook to the other side - to make me feel secure I guess...maybe someday I will overcome that fear :)

    Today I got out and walked and the 40 minutes flew by!!! I much prefer the outside be we have had such awful cold, ice and snow I wasn't attempting it.

    Angie
  • mlauraa
    mlauraa Posts: 166 Member
    i think old fashion running is way better...i dont have to worry about my balance n falling down if the speed it too fast :-)
  • nenacakesxo
    nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
    I take my tablet down on the treadmill and pull up a movie on netflix so that encourages me to get down there because I can only watch the movie when I am on the treadmill. However, I am one of those people who don't have the confidence to go very long without grabbing the handrails. I try a slow jog at 4.2-4.5 and can manage about 6 minutes straight but after that I have to drop it down to 3.5-4 and usually after about 15 minutes I start grabbing the rails. I get so paranoid about falling off the back - never have - but like to be up at the front of the belt and once I hit that mid-back point I panic - I need a big belt like bunge cord to hook to the front of one side and come around behind my back and hook to the other side - to make me feel secure I guess...maybe someday I will overcome that fear :)

    Today I got out and walked and the 40 minutes flew by!!! I much prefer the outside be we have had such awful cold, ice and snow I wasn't attempting it.

    Angie


    i was afraid of falling off of the treadmill too. but i think it is a mind over body thing. I havent fallen yet despite my paranoia
  • nenacakesxo
    nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
    Treadmill is harder if you set the incline high and you can get a bigger burn in a much shorter amount of time. Running outside is cool but make sure you have some quality running shoes as the surface can be brutal on the leg muscles causing injury.

    Recently bought new running shoes :) no injuries yet lol
  • bbydl64
    bbydl64 Posts: 30 Member
    OMG...I HATE the treadmill. Would rather be outside for 6 hours then on a treadmill for 6 minutes !!!
  • nenacakesxo
    nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
    OMG...I HATE the treadmill. Would rather be outside for 6 hours then on a treadmill for 6 minutes !!!


    I dont love it either.... but it gets the job done when its raining outside :)
  • swimmer154
    swimmer154 Posts: 1
    Treadmills just make me want to cry. Literally.
    I can run a mile normally in like 8 minutes, so about 7.6 mph, but when I try the 6 mph on the treadmill, I have to quit within the first 2 minutes! It's just awful.
  • mountaingirl2207
    mountaingirl2207 Posts: 181
    I have a harder time outside than on the treadmill. Its just too darn hot in Florida!
  • nenacakesxo
    nenacakesxo Posts: 118 Member
    I have a harder time outside than on the treadmill. Its just too darn hot in Florida!

    Im in central florida! Its been raining a lot so i use the treadmill. but i do agree that it is tooooo hot lol
  • pawilliams1191
    pawilliams1191 Posts: 3
    one other thing, a lot of treadmills have a "hills" program. try that if you need more excitement on the treadmill.....:)
  • lyndabraczynski
    lyndabraczynski Posts: 53
    You are not alone...I cannot embrace the treadmill like I do outside running....so I do a higher incline and face paced walk but looking forward to spring if it ever gets here so I can go back to running outside...
  • elainecroft
    elainecroft Posts: 595 Member
    I hate the treadmill and refuse to do it. It is boring, makes my legs hurt, and makes me feel like an off-balance idiot. I love love love to run outside, or even on a track if I have some good music.
  • BenderFitness
    BenderFitness Posts: 349
    I run on both and there is definitely a difference. If you want to simulate outdoor running, and prevent over-extension of the back during the movement (this is common if you run toward the front of the treadmill) you should use a 2% incline while running on the treadmill.

    Personally I find treadmill running easier to maintain a fast pace (I can hit 19 minute 5Ks on the treadmill, and my outdoor race time isn't even close to that). I think it's in large part what you are used to, and the pace/incline you select. They are both beneficial, but I think running outside still tops the treadmill.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    I feel the same. I learned to run a 5K on the TM. But after I started running out side I noticed it actually took more effort to run at what was the "same" speed on the road.

    I have grown to hate the TM except for cold rainy days.

    I always set the incline from 2-6 for my long run pace of a 10 minute mile. Then my HRM seems to agree with the distance run, but not the speed.

    When was learning to run, I found that the steady pace allowed my to pick music for certain speeds. When I run on the street, I am never more than 20 seconds difference in my splits.

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