Running on a treadmill vs. open running - which is easier to

I find it harder to run outside. Though I have not done a 5K. I am working onthe C25K program and find it much easier to do it on a treadmill than outside. Just my opinion

Treadmill is definitely easier. I can run 7 miles on a treadmill, but I can only run around 4 outside.

I'd say treadmill is much easier. I can run 5K on the treadmill at 5.1 miles/hour without stopping but once I get outside its harder to regulate my own speed and just go non-stop. especially if I have to think about the route that I'm running (like where to turn or if I have to cross a street)

Treadmill running is more controlled and easier I think. Outdoors you have an incline maybe, some wind, scary dogs xD

I can run a 7:15 minute mile outside tops

but on a treadmil I can get it to 6:40 maybe faster now

*shrugs*

Treadmill is easier...but running outside is much more fun

I have found that the treadmill can be easier to running outdoors (i used to run 5k's competively when in high school and college, we had an intramural cross country team). I would suggest trying an outside route before committing to a 5K. The treadmill is great for those rainy days and the ones where it is just too dark, too cold, and too hot. I have run 3 steady miles on a treadmill with a low incline with great time. Then, I go outside to run a similar length route and my time can be considerably slower. The treadmill moves under you, the ground offers more resistance for you to have to propel yourself forward more which can be the result of quicker fatigue. Mixing indoor and outdoor (on those nice days) would be advantageous to your routine if you are looking to make a goal of running a 5K. I hope this help you out

In terms of exertion, treadmill is easier. Rather than propel your body forward, the belt moves and you are running in an up-down motion. Outside, you need the up-down as well as propulsion to move forward. Either way though, it's not a huge difference. If you can run 5k inside, you'll be able to do 5k outside too

Not that I can provide much insight here.
But I'm walking/jogging/running with a few what used to be broken bones (foot and pelvis) so the treadmill is easier for me than the pavement/asphalt in my recovery. Just that little bit of "give" the treadmill provides seems to let me push that extra little bit. Whereas going for a 5k outdoor, by the time 3.5k rolls around, I want to call a cab to take me the rest of the way home. Of course I push through it at a slower pace, but I find the treadmills a bit easier on the body. For the moment anyway. See how things progress and with the weather warming up I would LOVE to be able to get some trail runs in.

And congrats on the 5k!

Congrats on your 5K!

The treadmill is slightly easier for a few reasons: you don't have to propel yourself forward--you just have to pick up your feet as the ground is moving beneath you; the incline is nonexistent or consistent; you're in a climate controlled environment with no wind. Your aerobic capacity is not that different indoors vs. outdoors, but it's much different on your muscles.

The treadmill also protects your joints a bit as it's softer than road running.

If you can, get outside at least one day a week. You may want to put the treadmill on a 1.5% incline to more closely mimic outdoor running.

I have literally run over 16,000 miles in the last 8.5+ years. Exactly 5 of those miles were on the dreadmill and all those were at my physical therapists office while rehabing some injuries.

I would rather run 20 miles in the wind and rain, than 1 mile on the dreadmill!

running and walking is okay. some say they recomend it because ''interval'' running/walking will help you burn more and increase stamina.

Congratulations on your first 5k.

I love running outside. I only tolerate the treadmill. But I live in a beautiful rural community with temperatures that range from 45 in the winter to only about 75 in the summer. The posts that say you should set an incline are correct.

I am a personal trainer (22 years in the industry), and I was never much of a runner, but my last boss was a professional marathoner. She claims that running on hills, both up and down are much better overall for your joints and creating muscle balance. You can't do downhills on a treadmill. I agree with my former boss. A lot of people don't think about "muscle balance". It means working different angles of your muscles and different types of contractions (lenthening and shortening) If you do the treadmill all the time, you will not gain muscle balance. And long term could actually lead to injury.

However, you cannot just go for it outside. Build it up slowly.

My suggestion is to try a walk run outside, kinda like you might have to build up to the 5 k. Break everything up in 10 minute increments, and go for about 40 minutes. Start with 6minutes of walking and 4 minutes of jogging. Repeat 3 more times for a total of 40 minutes....then cool down. Do this workout 3 x's per week. Then the next week do it three times but change the ratio of walk run to 5:5. The next week it's 4:6. The next week is 3:7. The next week is 2:8. Then 1:9.....After that make sure your warm up walk for 5 minutes, then do a 14 minute jog, followed by a 1 minute walk, and repeat once. The next week, after warm up do a 19 minute jog, and 1 minute walk, and then a 14:1 again. Finally, do 19:1 2 x's. That's almost 40 minutes of straight running outside. Then try running 30 minutes straight, and add on 5 minutes per week, until you can do a 5 k and then some! I have now done 2 marathons and several half marathons. And I never thought I would do that. But I often go back to this type of a program to safely build my miles up again. The more I study, the more I am convinced that a lot of people can run, if they build it up properly, taper back, and build it up again. Do cross training, and strength training, self massage, and you can enjoy one of the most effective, rewarding, endorphin building, economical, self satisfying forms of exercise available....for YEARS TO COME!

I know there are phones with gps devices on them. I don't have those. I bought a Garmin gps device off ebay for $85. It was refurbished and under warranty. It saved me $200. It tells me my pace, my time, my miles etc, and I wear it on my wrist. Then I plug it into my computer, and it downloads my runs, with graphs, maps and elevations. That is the best investment I ever made.

I'm also really excited to hear about the NPR report. Any idea on how to access that? I agree that I'm also sick to death of hearing "running is bad for joints" We were made to run. Although I admit pavement was not a natural landscape, so maybe trails are in order. Regardless, I heartily agree. It is my experience through meeting many runners, and training a few, that people can build themselves up to running outside.

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134861448/put-those-shoes-on-running-wont-kill-your-knees

Here is the link.....good sound advice, and nothing new to me. Again, caution to people 20 pounds overweight or more and other cautions....READ. Great article.

And below is Runner's world reaction.

I love this!!!

I think running outside is easier as I get very bored on the treadmill. No matter what WTG on the running!