Treadmill or tarmac?

[Raymond16460]

What would you say is the most difficult? I'm on w6r3 and haven't got me trainers dirty yet but I am thinking of heading outside for the last 3 weeks as the treadmill is so boring. There are a couple of football pitches and a lot of flat land near by and I'm sure that would a bit easier psychologically

[agedsnailspace Graduate]

Running outside, you will need to set the pace for yourself. This can be a bit of a shock to the system if you are used to only running on a treadmill, so be prepared for your first run to feel a bit more difficult than you were expecting - and slow down! (Really, slow down a lot!). If you allow yourself to go slow, you will find you can do it - and once you're out there, you will wonder how you coped on the treadmill for so long!

Give it a go (slowly!) and let us know how you get on.

[RainbowC Graduate]

I find running outside much more tiring - and grass is much harder work than tarmac or paved paths. But it's definitely more interesting outside, so go for it!

[first_mate Graduate]

I started the first couple of weeks on grass which at the time seemed ok but then I ventured out onto pathways and found that much easier. Unlike the treadmill you cannot set where there will be a hill or incline and you'll find they are in places you never noticed before. It's not a problem, just take it slowly and go even slower if you feel you are struggling. I enjoy running outside, so interesting and it's great to get the fresh air in your system. Go for it x

[june67 Graduate]

hi Raymond16460, when I started c25k I ran round a football pitch until week 4 than I ventured out onto the streets and found it a lot easier, not so boring and the runs seemed to pass quicker. now I am a graduate and pound the pavements 3 times a week I enjoy it a lot better.

[Nobbywatts Graduate]

I love running outside and did my entire C25K on either roads or grass or paths. Sadly because we run in the evening, we have to do road running throughout the winter months but once the light evenings are here it's off to the fields and footpaths and it's sooooo much nicer, healthier and challenging and much nicer things to look at so not nearly so boring as treadmill running.

Go for it but plan your route carefully. Our 5 minute warm up walk takes us up a hill. At the top of the hill it flattens out and we start running there. Then there is a downhill bit before we have to go uphill again. I KNOW that I couldn't start my running by running up hill, I need a flat bit/down hill bit to warm me up properly before the hilly bits. Plan your route ....

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

Running on the treadmill will be a little bit easier physically both in terms of effort and impact forces. Running outside though is just so much better in every other way, for me at least.