treadmill harder?

meerkat70 · January 2012

I've always had a mortal fear of treadmills, which I've recently overcome. I've done 2 runs now on the treadmill at gym, and something is puzzling me. I'd always been told that treadmills were easier. However, with the speed set to my road running speed, and incline at 0, I'm finding it really quite challenging to run on the machine. My regular 3 (plus a bit) mile run is on a farm road, with lots of little hills, so theoretically more challenging than running on the flat. Why is it that I can do that with some effort, but am finding it close to impossible to do more than 2.5m on the treadmill?

plumwd · January 2012

I don't think that it's necessarily harder. I have always found it harder to run outside. The treadmill is a little easier on your body with respect to shock absorption.

My guess is that because you've not really run on the treadmill before it's just going to take some adjustment to running on it.

ryno0618 · January 2012

Typically it is true that the treadmill is easier. I can run same distance at a faster speed on a treadmill at zero incline than I can running on the road. Since you are new to treadmill running there may be a break-in period getting used to running on the treadmill, it really is a different feel and stride and tempo can be different. It may also be that you are running faster speed on the treadmill than you do on the road without realizing it, the faster speed might be wearing you out faster which is why you feel more winded doing 2.5m on treadmill compared to 3m outside. Also, there is a huge mental element at play. The treadmill is so boring and repetitive! I find it much easier to complete a 5k, 10k, 15k run outside than trying to do so on the treadmill. Just because its easier to run faster and less strain on your body on the treadmill, does not equate to a run being easier.

BerryH · January 2012

Well done on overcoming your fear!

I find the "dreadmill" SO much harder! I think it's lack of distraction and the inability to change your speed just that tiny amount to suit you at that moment. And the heat!

CarolynB38 · January 2012

I found the treadmill physically easier but I could never run as far because I got bored very quickly. One thing I did find is that because it absorbs the impact better than a more solid surface you don't get the same "assistance" from the springiness of your shoes (if that makes any sense). I always find running on grass much harder for the same reason. It's a bit like the difference between bouncing a rubber ball on tarmac and bouncing it on grass. I bet a rubber ball wouldn't bounce so high on a treadmill as it does on the road or hard dirt track! Perhaps that's part of it. (Now I really want to compare "bounciness" of a ball on different surfaces - I need to find something productive to do!)

summertime_girl · January 2012

I get stuck with boredom. My longest road run has been a bit over 9 miles. I'd die doing anywhere near that on a treadmill because I'd be so bored. I feel like physically they are similar as far as difficulty.

Iluvchopsticks · January 2012

I can't run as fast on a treadmill as outdoors either. Most people I know have the opposite problem. I think it is because I only ran outdoors before ever thinking of getting on a treadmill and running on a treadmill will take an adjustment period. I don't love it but have found that it comes in handy this time of year when the weather is unpredictable and it gets dark so early.

RedRage00 · January 2012

I hate the treadmill. I have this fear that I'm going to fall off so I hardly ever put it at the fastest speed that I could possibly do LOL

Plus, it's extremely boring.

nuttyfamily · January 2012

I find the tread mill much harder.

Outside, for six miles, I can average a 10 mm pace on a good day...slighter slower on a bad day.

Inside, for even three miles, I can barely maintain a 11:20 mm!

What I find in talking with more folks is that those who start outside running find tread mill harder and those that start running on the TM find outside harder.

jdjefferson · January 2012

It has been my experience that people who claim treadmill running is more difficult generally have a running style that is not conducive to treadmills.
Running on a treadmill is hardly equivalent to running outdoors. First, the belt travels at a specific speed (say 8mph), but you are not moving at all. You are, in fact, merely lifting your legs up while the belt travels under you. The belt pulls your leg back for a bit then you lift it up and pull it forward--but you're not really running. To prove this, try doing long "hops" on the treadmill (like a triple jumper)--your body stays airborne longer and the belt continues to move under you. Does this mean you're running faster? Not really.
So if running on a treadmill seems harder, it is likely that your leg turnover (how fast your leg goes from in front of you to behind you and back in front again) is too slow or your step cadence is not appropriate for the "speed" of the treadmill.

Also, if you want to at least add some realism to the treadmill workout, you should set the incline to 1%. This will compensate for the lack of air resistance and friction you otherwise have to overcome while running outdoors.

treadmill harder?

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