Treadmill vs outdoor run

Preference - outdoors is more visually engaging so it feels easier because you're better distracted. I like them both as long as I have a movie playing while I run. That equals a good distraction for me, too.

I feel the same way! Running outside, you can watch your progress because the scenery keeps changing. With a treadmill, you feel like you've put in a ton of effort and gone nowhere.

To me it's the exact opposite. Go figure.

Treadmills make it easier for me to keep the pace at a constant speed. While outdoor running I find myself often stealthily speeding up thus getting tired fasted. There is no air resistance involved while running on treadmills either.

Put your treadmill in front of a big screen tv and watch something that puts you on edge. You won't feel the time go by. Outdoors is wonderful due to the fresh air, the weather, the beauty of nature, but when weather conditions are adverse, the treadmill in front of the TV keeps you going.

I find the treadmill terribly boring, too. I only run inside if the temperature is above 90 degrees or below 30 degrees.

I greatly dislike treadmills, so I'm biased but I've never heard of treadmill running being harder than outside running, I've always heard the opposite..

I have the same issues. I enjoy scenery in trail running over road running, and scenery in road running over treadmill running. On the other hand, I have difficulty managing my pace when running outside... I'll all of a sudden notice myself going way too fast and running out of steam after short distances, then walking for a ways.

The other difference is carrying stuff with me (on me) when running outside. If I'm trail running, I carry more stuff. I need to have some water, and since I am diabetic, I need to carry my glucometer and glucose tablets. I've always struggled with taking more, and sometimes take too much. But I also want to be prepared. Over time, I've minimized how much I carry. For example, if I'm only going out for 10 miles or less on a trail run, if it isn't raining when I start, I probably won't take a rain jacket. If it starts to rain, I'll try to cover my insulin pump with my shirt and hope it doesn't get too wet. But frankly, I haven't had time to do a trail run or an outdoor run for a long time. I'll run for a little while to warm up before lifting weights, but I work FT (it's a busy time right now), I'm a FT grad student (with a very busy class right now), and I'm a local political party leader (the 2016 race for President is starting to heat up).

Timorous_Beastie wrote: »

I prefer running outside. The dreadmill is just so boring! Even with a tv on or music, all I can focus on is the slow progression of numbers on the display. Outside, I'm focusing on not stepping in a pothole and avoiding traffic, and I'm not paying as much attention to the actual act of running. Plus, outside, there's (usually) better airflow. And - I think this is a big one for me - it's just not natural for me to run at one steady, exact pace. It's normal to speed up and slow down a little when running, and you're being forced to keep at one pace on a treadmill.

For me, it's this. I simply cannot maintain a steady pace on the treadmill no matter what I do. So I'm constantly adjusting it and getting frustrated because I can't find a rhythm. Drives me cray-cray.

Plus, the air flow, scenery, birds, just the whole being outside and feeling that freedom. It's a sense that I only get from being outside and exerting myself just a little beyond what I really want to or think I can do. I'm already trying to figure out how to keep doing my stuff outside when winter sets in. I want to feel the wind against my skin. I want to hate the headwind and LOVE the tailwind. I don't get that from the treadmill.

grassette wrote: »

but when weather conditions are adverse, the treadmill in front of the TV keeps you going.

Or you could just properly dress for the weather conditions and continue to run outside.

I have run on a dreadmill ONCE in the past 2 years - and that was only because it was a VO2 Max test. All of my other runs have been outside - from 90*F with bright sun and 90% humidity to -10*F in the dark with snow and windchills of -20*. I've run in snow storms, bitter windchills, pouring rain, fog, and on icepack. The ONLY times I won't run is if there is lightning or an ice storm....then I just run on a different day.

sevsmom wrote: »

I can run soooo much faster outside. Plus, the treadmill does weird things to my stride and I end up with hurting legs. I'm 100% for outdoor running!!!

I've been using the treadmill at my apartment's little gym until recently, and 90% of the time the belt jerks about. A couple times I've almost tripped right into the console. :laugh:

for most people, it's actually physically easier to run on a treadmill...like I can actually go faster and further on a treadmill than outside...but outside is more enjoyable and engaging so maybe it feels easier to you.

I enjoyed both. Indoor is more focused, and outdoor is more distracting from the pain.

AlisonH729 wrote: »

It's just personal preference. I'm a treadmill runner myself.

Even though my life revolved around running when I was younger, I did indoor & outdoor track, I wouldn't consider myself a runner. I never really liked it, it just happened to be something I was pretty good at.

So if I'm just doing cardio I prefer to crank out my miles on the treadmill. Turn it on, put in my earbuds, turn on my autopilot and zone out. No worries about a route. Or if I push further on the out, I still need to get back. Avoiding potholes, navigating curbs or turning my ankles in the grass. And then when I decide I'm done, I'm done.

I much prefer hiking as a method for enjoying the outdoors.

Yes! I'm the same way--love outdoor hiking, but much prefer the TM for running. I think it's just a preference thing--do whichever you prefer so long as you're doing something!

For me I find it goes much more quickly on the treadmill. But maybe it is because the treadmill is a novelty for me, so I am always excited to use it. Nerdy, I know. I live in a tiny town without a gym and don't own a treadmill, so my only option is outdoors. And with it humid as hell right now, I would love a treadmill run in an air conditioned space! Like other posters I find that I can tune out with a set pace and get it done and over with as opposed to constantly changing pace (which I am bad about). A 5k outdoors feels like torture to me and completing it in under 30 minutes seems impossible, but when I use the treadmill, it is totally doable.

I find the treadmill harder because it forces me to keep pace. When I run outside I slow down as I get tired so I can keep going longer, but on the treadmill I stay at the same pace so it's a harder run. I enjoy doing a mix, some treadmill, some outdoor. My bum knee definitely likes the treadmill more.

I think the muscles used are a little different also. The treadmill - because it's moving - helps you in your stride a bit. But outside it's all you, so I think you get a big more ham/glute outside. At least that's how it feels to me.