Should I just quit trying treadmill?

First off machines lie about calorie burns. Take 50% of what it tells you. You aren't good at the treadmill because it's something you don't do. It's a whole different workout than the elliptical and requires good lungs along with cardio endurance. You cold try doing the C25K plan on the treadmill to learn to run or lower your expectations of what you should be able to do.

If you want to actually master the treadmill then just practice at your pace, HIIT is good to build up speed, there are plenty of phone apps that help you out check it out!

I second the suggestion of Couch to 5K, though I would actually suggest that you download the C210K app from Zen Labs. Chances are, once you reach the 5K "graduation" you will want to continue anyway, so you might as well just use the app from the start. The program will take you from running 1 minute at a time to running 60 minutes straight in 14 weeks. It really works.

yes, machines in general overestimate burn...elliptical machines seem to be really wacky though. one of the reasons I've never really been a fan of them though is that they don't really train you for anything outside of actually doing elliptical...there's not really any real world value from it other than the fact you are moving and thus burning some calories. if you want to be a good runner you have to run...being a good runner translates to many real world applications (as does cycling, swimming, etc)...but really that is the primary reason I've never seen much point in an elliptical machine.

I'll echo the C25K suggestions. Also, treadmills suck. While you can argue it's less effort to run on a moving band, it's also stupendously boring and staring at the clock ticking up (or down) just makes the run drag on. I run marathons, but 30 minutes on the treadmill is torturous. Run outside, if you can.

I couldn't run a mile without walking half of it the first week of September, and now I can run 60 minutes with no walking. Here were the secrets for me:

1) Don't be ashamed of walking. Run/job for a few minutes or whatever you can, and then walk for a few minutes. Then Run/jog again, and then walk for a few minutes. After time your walking will begin to reduce and your runs will get longer.

2) MIX IT UP and keep it interesting. For example when you walk try to increase the incline maybe to 2-4%. Or when you when you run go harder on a few of the intervals (HIIT), but keep the durration lower. Then walk again. Then do a slower jog but with a longer durration. Keep it interesting and grow into your abilities.

3) Mix up your cardio to keep it interesting. I love to run, but at 42 it's not as easy on my body as when I was in High School. So I mix some eliptical as well every other or every 3rd or 4th cardio session to keep the pounding down a bit. Or try to add some biking or anything else that will give you a good burn, but simply change it up from time to time.

I hope that helps and YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I'll echo the C25K suggestions. Also, treadmills suck. While you can argue it's less effort to run on a moving band, it's also stupendously boring and staring at the clock ticking up (or down) just makes the run drag on. I run marathons, but 30 minutes on the treadmill is torturous. Run outside, if you can.

Who can argue it's less effort to run on a moving band that is going at a steady speed in the opposite direction of where you are trying to go? Less impact vs. running on pavement, sure, but less effort, not even close. It takes more effort to run on a treadmill vs. identical road conditions (meaning same pace and grade).

Running on a treadmill with no elevation takes less work than running outside. You have to put it at a 1% grade just to match running outdoors. That doesn't even account for running up/down hills. http://runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/treadmill-vs-running-outside/

Although I never used the C25K program... I am a fairly new runner (last couple years) that did it the old fashioned way... just started running. 1) running on the treadmill is boring 2) running on the treadmill will not really prepare you for real life running in a 5K (especially If you live in a hilly/mountainous area like I do).

So... when I began, I would set little goals for myself "run to that tree... run to that house" around my neighborhood and try to surpass those goals each time. When starting out and trying to improve my endurance.... I try to run for a song, power walk for a song (using my ipod) and I usually finish with a 10-12min/mile timing. Running a few miles is ALOT easier in the real world than the Treadmill because time goes by faster.

Definately, doing the elliptical is nowhere near running because you have to carry your whole body weight with a run and withstand the impact of foot on pavement... its a lot harder than the elliptical. That being said.. I think there is a lot to be gained from all forms of cadio which is why I rotate what I do on a daily basis (bike, elliptical, running, etc). I think you should not really worry so much about how many calories you burn but concentrate on keeping your heart rate up and SWEATING! You know what they say... if you're not sweating... you're not working hard enough! Use MFP or the reading on the machine as a guideline... but if you're number obsessed... get a HRM. Good luck!

I have a much easier time jogging (and even walking) outside than on the treadmill.

As for the elliptical, I used a heart rate monitor on mine and could burn around 600-650 calories in an hour pushing myself pretty hard. Depending on your weight, 670 is a reasonable burn on an elliptical, though you can cut 100 calories or more if it makes you feel better (if you're eating them back).

I hate the treadmill with a passion, so I say dump it! lol