A Little More on the Treadmill vs. Running Outside Debate

FitSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 05:30:00 -0700

We all have personal preferences: dark chocolate over milk, red wine over white, running outside over running on a treadmill. Wait! I like both hitting the pavement in my sneakers and chalking up miles on a treadmill. And it looks like variety is a good thing when it comes to where you choose to run. You shouldn't really place yourself too strongly in either camp.

Running outside definitely has its benefits, like boosting your mood and making you feel more invigorated than running indoors. You also burn about five percent more calories when running outside. Which makes sense since you have to contend with the elements (like wind – oh how I hate running into a headwind!), and you don't have the assistance of the treadmill belt pulling your legs back for you. Studies have also shown that when running on treadmills, we tend to go a bit slower than we would on a track.

To see the benefits of running on a treadmill just

Running on a Treadmill vs. Running Outdoors

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 08:45:00 -0700

You may opt to run on a treadmill because it is convenient but you may be choosing the treadmill because it is easier as well. Have you ever run three miles on a treadmill and thought, "That was a piece of cake," but then when you run three miles outside you think, "I thought I was in shape; that was so hard!"

The reason is that running on a treadmill is a lot different than running outdoors and here are several reasons why:

The rearward rolling treadmill belt offers help to your legs by pulling your feet back underneath your body, which means you could be exerting less energy to move your feet and legs than if you were running outdoors on a surface that doesn't give your legs momentum.
When you run on a treadmill, you do not have to overcome any kind of wind resistance, which means you'll use less energy than if you were running with wind resistance. More than just wind though, running indoors maintains or offers stable elements. Indoor runners avoid cold/hot air, rain or sand, gravel, dirt, natural increase/decrease in the gradients of the pavement and other outdoor obstacles. Your body’s natural efforts to acclimate itself to these varying elements requires much more energy than the flat, cushy treadmill surface.
Pace is steady on a treadmill because it runs on a set (or variable) speed and your body has ample time to adjust. When you run outdoors, it is a different story because you no longer have a machine keeping pace, so if you are not skilled at pacing yourself, you either under or overcompensate which could make you winded.

Fit's Tip: If you are training for a race, you definitely want to train outdoors to properly get your body (physically and mentally prepared).

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A Little More on the Treadmill vs. Running Outside Debate

Running on a Treadmill vs. Running Outdoors