Which do you prefer? Treadmill, stepper or running outside?

Elliptical. I used to prefer the treadmill but now I have a really bad bunion that makes the force of running too painful on my toe/foot to endure regularly.

outside rain or shine. I think the only time I wouldn't is during the times when ice is a factor. not sure what i'll do then. probably pop in a power yoga/cardio yoga dvd
inside I would say elipitical, I don't like treads or steppers

I just started it and doing it. I still don't like, but I love that I'm doing something hard and getting better. I like the time where it's just me and the dog and the sound of my footsteps. I run in the morning so I don't run into too many people. just the guy delivering the papers

OUTSIDE!! I'm not sure how you learn to "like" to run, good music maybe?? I mean I just always have liked running and I love going out for runs, pain doesn't stop me. Dont force yourself to do something you hate especially when it comes to exercise, find an alternative if you have to

saylorkw wrote: »

moyer566 wrote: »

outside rain or shine. I think the only time I wouldn't is during the times when ice is a factor. not sure what i'll do then. probably pop in a power yoga/cardio yoga dvd
inside I would say elipitical, I don't like treads or steppers

I just started it and doing it. I still don't like, but I love that I'm doing something hard and getting better. I like the time where it's just me and the dog and the sound of my footsteps. I run in the morning so I don't run into too many people. just the guy delivering the papers

i think LOVE is a strong word, I hope I can learn to love it. I use the treadmill at a local fitness center and recently alternate on the stepper if it's raining. On sunny days I WALK at a local high school track in the evenings, after work. I have only been doing this sine March so i am trying to work up to LOVE, right now it's still a chore!

love comes with time, but love has happened for me. probably cause I can already see improvement in less than a month. and I realize it is something I can do and it is something I can be good at
If I don't run, giving knees and tendons and irritable lungs a rest, I miss it. even a speedy walk doesn't cut it for me. It's become part of me and my daily routine

Typically I prefer running outside over the treadmill. However, it ultimately depends on the weather outside, what I want to accomplish for the day, and how
my body feels.

For your second question I personally have taken my time to get where I am now and am still not rushing anything. I started all runs on a treadmill the first few months and build up my distance/time running slower than most training regiments you see online.

It's something I want to do the rest of my life like when I lost all my weight. There is no rush so take your time and don't push yourself to hard or you can get burnt out or injured.

saylorkw wrote: »

Which do you prefer? Treadmill, stepper or running outside?

Running outside hands down no question. Trail running preferred, but I'll run anywhere outside. Day or night, all months all weather except when side walks or trails are ice covered (a rarity here).

saylorkw wrote: »

How do you get to the point that you actually LIKE to run.

Most enjoy a sport more when they are better at it, right?

@saylorkw You get to that point by training smart. Often as not that means slowing down and taking a gradual approach.

While there are some very natural born runners out there, I disagree with the notion that people must be born or built to run in order to build proficiency and love of the sport.

The forums here on MFP categorically disprove that notion. Read through the vast number of Fitness threads here and you'll discover hundreds if not thousands of new runners each year created by their own efforts, many of whom started as very heavy people, often having no running or athleticism in their background.

Don't use your high school experience as a yardstick. I sure wouldn't use mine (and I liked it). My school coaches were more track oriented not distance and their coaching experience for endurance sports was lacking. Maybe yours were better.

You mentioned pains - assuming your chest issue was breathing, cardiopulmonary efficiency related - this is one area where running will deliver to you amazing improvements to your cardiopulmonary system that will benefit you elsewhere. Building that capacity doesn't have to be painful. Running slower but longer, at a pace where you can still carry on something of a conversation, will do that. No pain, real gains over time.

Back, knees, ankles - you'll need to look at all these things individually. Assuming your joints are otherwise healthy, chances are some strength training and running (again the slower but longer approach) will set you up right.

In the end you don't need to run - there are tons of other ways to get some fun cardio exercise in, but it is a very efficient and low-cost exercise that many find fun and can even be social too (join a running group).

Outside