Questions about changing from running outdoors to treadmill

[SillyLilly]

The weather forecasted for here next week shows a dramatic dip in temperatures and lots of rain. I'm thinking my training will have to resume in the gym for next week. I plan to stay outside running as long as i can tolerate but our winters are brutal so I know I won't be out there then. Only once since I had started this program did i run on the treadmill.I was only at 5min intervals then. I found it much different then running on the road. I don't want to lose the progress I have made outdoors because I hope to resume outdoor running come spring. Does anyone have any tips on treadmill running? If you ran indoors all winter and then resumed outdoors come spring did you feel like you maintained your progress. I'm just trying to prepare for what is to come and feeling a bit anxious about it. There is something about being outdoors early morning that I truly enjoy. No audience, just me.

[AndyD Graduate]

The most common tip is to set the incline to 1-2% to represent the "outdoors" better. Also raise and lower the speed a bit to again represent a "normal" run and perhaps mix up your runs with some intervals etc. I recently did some walk/jog/run intervals for 1min each to see how far I could get in 18mins (6 of each) which mixed it up a bit.

Some people think that it is slightly easier to run on a treadmill if you can overcome the boredom!!!

[AnneDroid Graduate]

For me the big problem with a treadmill is I can stop it and get off any time, so the mental battle to keep going is bigger. If I'm outside running a big loop, yes I can stop and walk but I still need to get back so I can't just stop and so I find of course that I may as well keep running.

[SillyLilly Graduate in reply to AnneDroid]

That's what I'm worried about. It's to easy to stop due to boredom. Guess I"m just gonna have to find some good music and hope for the best.

[Simmypie Graduate]

I bought a treadmill in June and did up to week 7 on it because I wanted to exercise and didn't like the thought of going outside. I like the idea of finishing the run, stepping off and not having to go anywhere apart from the kitchen for some milk and cereal.

I didn't find it boring as I had good music to run to and could get into a good rhythm.

Then I found this forum and they convinced me to try outside so the treadmill is getting more and more neglected.

I belonged to a gym years ago and found that once I was there it was fun, but it was so easy to make excuses not to go, driving there, all the faff of getting changed, doing the exercises, showering and getting dressed and then driving home again.

So now if it's bad weather I don't really have any excuses not to run.

I like that you can raise the inclines and speeds if you are getting bored and there are lots of hilly programs on most of them so if you want a fast run for a few minutes or a medium walk on a steep incline then it's good.

I also think it's improved my fitness more than going outside as I can run 30 minutes and then walk for as long as I like; also my knees never used to hurt until I ventured outside.

I know it's not as good as looking at the trees and roads but it has its' place and will keep your fitness levels up.

There are some crazy people on here though who like running in the wind rain and snow so...

[SillyLilly Graduate in reply to Simmypie]

Thanks for your help. It is so easy to just put on your gear and go outside as opposed to driving to a gym. Luckily mine is only 5min away. So like you I have no excuses not to get the exercise in. I'm certainly not going to let all my training go to waste and will continue to do this through the winter. I will not be one of the 'crazy' runners out there in the snow.lol But then again never say never right? lol