Treadmill vs. walking outside
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I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?0 -
I would get so bored on a treadmill! I am doing c25k on our hilly country road at 5am every other day. I love the challenge and variety of the varying terrain and weather. So beautiful outside in the pre-dawn hours!1
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I find the treadmill excruciatingly boring. I like trails in the woods. There's a state park with extensive trails 10 minutes away and another network of trails behind my house. I manage winter weather by bundling up. When the trails are muddy I wear my waterproof boots and focus on trail maintenance - trimming the sides of parts of trails that get flooded or battling briar patches. No one has worked in the trails out back in years and there is lots to do there.
I went snowshoeing for the first time this winter and loved it. I "borrowed" the snowshoes from my mom who had received them as a gift from someone who paid $5 for them at a yard sale. They are the old wooden ones so not great for distance but since I use them to burn calories they are perfect. 38 minutes on these snowshoes is way harder than 75 minutes of walking on rugged terrain.3 -
I walk for pleasure. Or to get somewhere. Walking mindlessly on a treadmill would never occur to me. I used it at the beginning stages of c25k, now I just run whatever the weather (I'm in the UK so we don't have extremes, but we have plenty of wet).
Walking for me mostly is about exploring the landscape - seeking out ancient archaeology, visiting magnificent natural features. But it's also about enjoying the air - and this is one thing a lot of people forget, that being OUTSIDE is one of the best things we can do for our health.
So to me, there is no argument - outside, never treadmill. I'd choose another activity if the outside was that bad.1 -
I personally like doing both. I don't mind treadmills as long as I put a towel over the display.0
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coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?
Curious as well? I've broken plenty of bones running with shoes on.
I don't care for the DREADmill. But it's the lessor of two evils, for me, when compared to other cardio machines. I prefer running outside. Feels better on my body. You use more/different muscles running outside since your pushing for power vs moving to keep up. Your ankles will be a lot stronger from having to navigate uneven terrain.
Sadly, I'll be on the treadmill for my 5 mile run tomorrow. Snow/mix here in Chicago. Nope.0 -
I'd rather be outside.
But on my treadmill, in my basement -- the risk of anyone else saying anything about what the motion of exercise is doing to my D-cups or acting on that observation in crude or dangerous ways is nonexistent.
People suck.4 -
It's up to you. Outside, you can vary your scenery (walk different routes) but will not have maximum control over how fast you go or your inclines. Inside, you stare at the same stuff all the time (or you can watch TV) but have better control over your speed and incline.
It depends on what you're looking for. Personally, as I live in a city, walking outside is annoying. Lots of cars and loud noises. Not to mention I can't really walk half the year with winter (and people who don't clean their sidewalks). I love walking on my treadmill.0 -
There are pros and cons to both. If the weather is bad or if the outdoors is too dangerous for any reason, walking on a treadmill can help you get your steps in. On the other hand, outdoor or trail walking uses more and different muscles and you get the benefits of fresh air, sunshine, and outdoor sights and sounds. The treadmill can also track and count, but many of us wear fitness bands anyway.0
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I only use the treadmill in winter when the weather is way too bad for me to run outside. Besides the boring hamster feeling I have on the treadmill, I hate the way I feel mentally and also I run slower on it.
I started running outside and prefer to run outside, since I have specific running goals. the treadmill is the last place I want to training to be a better runner. I also love running in various weather conditions, inside does not give me any challenging elements to add into my running.
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Limit treadmill if you can. Due to its mechanic it doesn't engage certain muscles. It doesn't train your balance the way self walking/running does.
Run with comfortable shoes. Don't pound your bare feet on the ground and break up your blood cells. There's a term for that. Less chance of that if you run on the beach or softer ground, even barefoot. Shoes are better for joints, too.0 -
I prefer walking outside when its nicw out, fresh air and have some lovely country walks in my area so nice views, doesnt feel like exercise1
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"Better" is pretty subjective. I'd say being outside is far more enjoyable...but I can also get a killer workout done on my indoor cycle trainer as well.0
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coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?
Also curious why? I've always preferred to be barefoot, period. What about the treadmill makes it so unsafe?
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I love and adore my outdoor walks/hikes! When the weather is not permitting, (I will not walk outside in cold weather - I'm kind of a sissy when it comes to that as I've had massive ear problems and I can't go through that again.), I will do the treadmill and I like it but it's not the same. I just love being outside!0
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Just getting warm enough here to venture outside, so I've done a few runs outside. But still do my 5 am runs on the treadmill (it's dark then). Lots of pro's to both so do what you like. I'm faster outside than the steady state of the treadmill, but still slower than some people walk.0
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So, I was curious and did some reading.... Apparently running barefoot on the treadmill is not really a big deal. https://breakingmuscle.com/learn/the-pros-and-cons-of-barefoot-running-what-the-research-says So yeah, gonna keep doing that.....1
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coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?Also curious why? I've always preferred to be barefoot, period. What about the treadmill makes it so unsafe?
It seems to me the bottom of one's feet might get chaffed. Running barefoot on a treadmill must place a lot of stress on one's feet because there's no traction from shoes.1 -
coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?
Curious as well? I've broken plenty of bones running with shoes on.
I don't care for the DREADmill. But it's the lessor of two evils, for me, when compared to other cardio machines. I prefer running outside. Feels better on my body. You use more/different muscles running outside since your pushing for power vs moving to keep up. Your ankles will be a lot stronger from having to navigate uneven terrain.
Sadly, I'll be on the treadmill for my 5 mile run tomorrow. Snow/mix here in Chicago. Nope.
I've never broken a bone running before, but I know if I try to run barefoot my feet literally hurt. I just imagine a treadmill barefoot run might make it worse.1 -
So for me there are pros and cons to each.
Outside Pros / Treadmill Cons:- Terrain forces me to handle more natural hills
- Scenery to look at is preferable to Netflix
- Stride is more natural because it's longer and rather than just up/down there's a push off
- I like the air outside better, and sunlight is good for Vitamin D synthesis
- Treadmills do not go down hill, but races do
- Outdoors with GPS gives me a better barometer for race performance
Outside Cons / Treadmill Pros:- Bad weather like rain and snow and ice and frigid cold winds
- Dogs that want to bite me are only outside
- There are no oblivious car drivers in my treadmill room
- Gets dark early in winter, and that makes me harder to see even with reflectors and lights
- Pacing is a bit more difficult outdoors, making speed work easier on the treadmill
Given all that, I choose to run outdoors as much as I possibly can. I have a treadmill, and I do use it a fair bit, but on any day where the weather is decent I'll be outside.1 -
The treadmills I have access to have TVs mounted in front of them, and I can crank the incline to max and get a bigger burn than walking outside. But outside has like fresh air and chirping birds and *kitten*. It depends what mood I'm in. The most important thing is that you don't hate whichever you choose.4
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coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?
Curious as well? I've broken plenty of bones running with shoes on.
I don't care for the DREADmill. But it's the lessor of two evils, for me, when compared to other cardio machines. I prefer running outside. Feels better on my body. You use more/different muscles running outside since your pushing for power vs moving to keep up. Your ankles will be a lot stronger from having to navigate uneven terrain.
Sadly, I'll be on the treadmill for my 5 mile run tomorrow. Snow/mix here in Chicago. Nope.
I've never broken a bone running before, but I know if I try to run barefoot my feet literally hurt. I just imagine a treadmill barefoot run might make it worse.
I cant even walk on the treadmill without shoes as it really hurts my feet and lower legs, i need my trainers
Im often barefoot even outside1 -
Reading this thread makes me so grateful for where I live. I can leave the house and spend a day walking with only a few minutes here and there on roads. This isn't even in the country. Nothing beats walking in nature on a nice day.3
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I run on the balls of me feet though when I run barefoot. It's a totally different gait. I touch the belt for such a short amount of time it's never really been an issue. Not to mention I have built some pretty epic calluses from years of barefootedness lol. I think maybe if it hurt I would feel differently, but it truly doesn't. The fact that I have a padded belt might help too.0
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Given the choice, I'd hike outside rather than walk on a treadmill, for a lot of the reasons that have been posted. One more reason is that I'm very motivated to finish my hike. If I get bored or tired on the treadmill, I can step off the treadmill and quit early, but if I'm hiking, that isn't an option.
If someone were injury-prone and might need to quit early for health or safety reasons, that could be a drawback though.0 -
coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?Also curious why? I've always preferred to be barefoot, period. What about the treadmill makes it so unsafe?
It seems to me the bottom of one's feet might get chaffed. Running barefoot on a treadmill must place a lot of stress on one's feet because there's no traction from shoes.
No worse than running barefoot on pavement, and arguably safer. People run barefoot on pavement, a lot.0 -
ruqayyahsmum wrote: »coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?
Curious as well? I've broken plenty of bones running with shoes on.
I don't care for the DREADmill. But it's the lessor of two evils, for me, when compared to other cardio machines. I prefer running outside. Feels better on my body. You use more/different muscles running outside since your pushing for power vs moving to keep up. Your ankles will be a lot stronger from having to navigate uneven terrain.
Sadly, I'll be on the treadmill for my 5 mile run tomorrow. Snow/mix here in Chicago. Nope.
I've never broken a bone running before, but I know if I try to run barefoot my feet literally hurt. I just imagine a treadmill barefoot run might make it worse.
I cant even walk on the treadmill without shoes as it really hurts my feet and lower legs, i need my trainers
Im often barefoot even outside
Normal walking, I'm barefoot as well. Love the feel of the ground under my feet.
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coreyreichle wrote: »coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?Also curious why? I've always preferred to be barefoot, period. What about the treadmill makes it so unsafe?
It seems to me the bottom of one's feet might get chaffed. Running barefoot on a treadmill must place a lot of stress on one's feet because there's no traction from shoes.
No worse than running barefoot on pavement, and arguably safer. People run barefoot on pavement, a lot.
Well, it all comes down to preference and whether you can tolerate running barefoot on a hard surface. Personally, I live in a larger city and I've never seen anyone running barefoot on the pavement...and there's a lot of runners here.
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coreyreichle wrote: »coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?Also curious why? I've always preferred to be barefoot, period. What about the treadmill makes it so unsafe?
It seems to me the bottom of one's feet might get chaffed. Running barefoot on a treadmill must place a lot of stress on one's feet because there's no traction from shoes.
No worse than running barefoot on pavement, and arguably safer. People run barefoot on pavement, a lot.
I've been running for decades, and I've actually never seen that, unless it's little kids running around playing or something. I believe that it does happen, but a lot?0 -
coreyreichle wrote: »coreyreichle wrote: »I really like to run barefoot, so the treadmill is a safer option for me lol. I'm also very introverted so I have to push harder to convince myself to go outside where the people are. I find I run more when I can be alone in my space.
Seriously? You run barefoot on a treadmill? That is not safe.
Why is that?Also curious why? I've always preferred to be barefoot, period. What about the treadmill makes it so unsafe?
It seems to me the bottom of one's feet might get chaffed. Running barefoot on a treadmill must place a lot of stress on one's feet because there's no traction from shoes.
No worse than running barefoot on pavement, and arguably safer. People run barefoot on pavement, a lot.
I've been running for decades, and I've actually never seen that, unless it's little kids running around playing or something. I believe that it does happen, but a lot?
This is my experience as well. I think it's rare to see adults out there on pavement running barefoot, but kids love it! I sure loved to run on pavement when I was a kid.
I really love running on the treadmill, but with good running shoes. Now, I'm in admiration of anyone who can run without shoes on.0
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