We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

treadmill vs outside

wardiemelissa
wardiemelissa Posts: 365 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello,

I have been running for about a year now and started last fall/winter running on my treadmill. Once it got nice out I obviously started running outside. Now I would rather run outside but on some days it just doesn't happen so treadmill it is...Here is my question: is anyone else's pace on a treadmill slower than outside? Yesterday I ran 3.27 miles in just under 32 minutes outside. Today I ran 3.19 miles in 35 minutes. I'm SO confused because I felt good running, wasn't tired, and ran between 5.5 and 6.5 mph. Any ideas??

Replies

  • sugarbuzz74
    sugarbuzz74 Posts: 17 Member
    I've heard that treadmill running is easier and should feel easier because there isn't any wind or change in terrain. I typically run faster on the treadmill (but like running outside better).
  • krow0916
    krow0916 Posts: 1
    I'm actually the opposite. I can run farther on the elliptical than outside. I think you just need to listen to your body on that day and do what feels best. Some days I can run 5 miles in 40 mins on the Elliptical, and like today, I only had 3.5 miles in me.
    Just listen to your body..that's my only advice..
  • Oranda
    Oranda Posts: 121
    I'm like you, I run faster outside. I have heard it is supposed to be easier on the treadmill. I suspect that it may be that my mind wanders more freely when I'm outside and there is scenery to look at and such, but I really don't know.
  • ColoradoClyde
    ColoradoClyde Posts: 6
    Well, how do feel about running on the treadmill? I can cycle for an hour at lunch, come back and complain that I would have gone longer but I had to get back to work. But on a stationary bike, 30m minutes and that's it, I'm done. Maybe you're running faster outside because you like it more.
  • jclguru
    jclguru Posts: 123
    Hello,

    I have been running for about a year now and started last fall/winter running on my treadmill. Once it got nice out I obviously started running outside. Now I would rather run outside but on some days it just doesn't happen so treadmill it is...Here is my question: is anyone else's pace on a treadmill slower than outside? Yesterday I ran 3.27 miles in just under 32 minutes outside. Today I ran 3.19 miles in 35 minutes. I'm SO confused because I felt good running, wasn't tired, and ran between 5.5 and 6.5 mph. Any ideas??

    I'm that way. I run 5.5 to 6.0 on the treadmill, which felt 'fast' to me. When I ran my first 5k and was timed about
    6 minutes faster than my treadmill time, I'm think wth? Especially since it felt like I run slower outdoors. But I've
    ran other races since then and its always the same.

    Doug
  • Beth720
    Beth720 Posts: 661 Member
    I seem to average out to about even, but lately my outside pace has been slower. Of course, I was tending to run slightly faster than the treadmill. I'm not sure what the difference is...the other day I thought I had really picked up my pace outside only to come home, look at my Garmin data and discover that I was the same pace or a smidge slower than the runs before that.

    Regarding the race pace, I think most people find that they run slightly faster in a race with all the adrenaline, etc.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories