treadmill vs outside

[gamecockfan]

Does anyone have any strong feelings about whether or not treadmill running can be as good for you as outdoor running? I use my treadmill when the weather is bad or my husband has to work late and I have no one to watch my daughter. So I guess honestly I am about half and half. Do you think this is OK? Is 45 minutes on the treadmill equivalent to 45 minutes outside?

[Kitrinkles]

Well, this is just purely my personal opinion...I don't think the treadmill is a *good* as a run outside because I think outside your stride varies more, you use more of your body turning or maybe jumping over a puddle, I think you run faster outside BUT I think the treadmill is a really good alternative when you can't get outside. I live in WI so I know a lot of times you just cannot run outside.

I actually don't like running on the treadmill and I use the elliptical because I like the stride better...but one advantage IMO of running on the treadmill is that you can use the incline feature and run "up hill"...you can't really do that on the treadmill.

[Fuelyourrun]

I agree, I feel that running on a treadmill vs. outside is completly different. When you are outside you will be faced with many different factors ex: wind, heat, rain, hills, slopes, etc..you will not experience this on a treadmill. When you are on a treadmill, it is almost as if the treadmill is guiding you and you are just reacting to the pace. Compared to outside, when everything is done by your body and your mind, there is no help.

[Mikelonis]

There's no doubt that the rebound effect of a treadmill track makes running on one easier than pavement.

[dreaded]

I personally prefer the outdoors..thers nothing like the feeling of grass on ones shoes..And the air plus the ambience serves more than just add ons.






outdoorlover (http://www.shoeshoetrain.com)

[LordHeinrich]

I am always afraid I will fall off a treadmill. I usually run very slow and hold on the whole time. It's pretty funny. However, if it gets very cold, then a treadmill is fine. My preference is an outdoor track, followed by indoor track, then outdoor and then treadmill. I like tracks most because you get accurate times. However, for just running distance, nothing beats running along beach.

[CY1216]

Treadmill running is a great tool. Running on a treadmill can improve running form, even compared to outside running and improve the general fitness of runners.

Source: http://www.marathon-training-schedule.com/treadmill-running.html

Cyrus

[Runpals]

Running on a treadmill is a much more controlled and steady motion, which is good if you are recovering from an injury, or trying to improve your running posture and technique.
Running outdoors exposes you to so many different elements that make your body work harder. Running trails improves your agility, while running uphill will increase your endurance, and running downhill will teach your body how to recover quickly. This is not to say that running on a treadmill is bad for you. It’s a great option when the weather is bad, or if it too dark outside to run alone.

For more frequently asked questions (http://www.runpals.com/running-questions.html) about running, please click here (http://www.runpals.com/running-questions.html).

Good Luck & Happy Running! :)