Is running on treadmill cheating?

[marbz]

Yesterday I decided to give the treadmill at the gym a go. It seemed a lot easier, I guess as the surface is even, good suspension and no weather to contend with. Plus I could watch TV as boredom is a factor for me. Is this cheating? 🤔

[Rignold]

were you moving your legs in a vaguely running motion for the allotted time?

Depends what you call cheating. Is 30 minutes on the rowing machine cheating because you are not in water?

It's not actually a competition. Its a means of building stamina and endurance to be able to do 30 minutes of cardio exercise non stop. If you were doing that, you're not cheating.

[marbz in reply to Rignold]

Thanks 😃 I recently graduated but had a break due to illness. Managed 20 minutes outside on Sunday but 30 mins no problem on treadmill yesterday, 4.5k. Don't think I could have done that outside. Just don't want to get false sense of security.

[Rignold in reply to marbz]

It's only cheating if you put your dog on the treadmill and sit at the side reading a magazine.

[wizzbang Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I tried to put my dog on the treadmill, he ran away and hid! when he sees me on it, he looks very nervous!

[Rignold in reply to wizzbang]

I'm not even going to go into the nightmare I had trying to get my dog in the rowing machine.

[wizzbang Graduate in reply to Rignold]

start worrying when he lifts bigger weights than you!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to wizzbang]

Not possible.. have you seen Rig without his shirt on!!!!

[Rignold in reply to Oldfloss]

My Frenchie's shoulder Gainz put me in the shade. He is bulking like a Beast.

[Gabby08 Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I knew I was going wrong somewhere...

[wizzbang Graduate]

no, it is not cheating. Some people will say it is easier than running outside, I disagree, it is boring. I did the full c25k on a treadmill in my lounge where the temp is 20c, no air con, sweat constantly pouring off me. Day one I struggled to run for 60 seconds, now I can run for 30 minutes, that is not cheating that is an improvement in my fitness, so not cheating.

I saw a headline the other day that stated more people run at a gym than outdoors, so are they all cheaters?

Stephen

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

What Rig says...

[Carolinemcd Graduate]

I am a treadmill graduate. I had no confidence to run outside due to weight and ability, or lack thereof. On Monday I decided to go out for a walk and ended up doing very short running bursts just to get a feel for it. Oh and I also fall over easily.

I enjoyed it so decided to give outside running a go. Last night I went out and did week1 run1 a go. No idea why I started at the beginning but I thought it was as good a place as any. My thinking is that I will do a run of each week until I get to one that I can't finish and then i'll move on from there. That plan may change. I did find it quite tough but I'm not sure why. The uneven surface? The intervals? Battling to maintain a slow speed? Could be all those things.

I've registered to do a 5k in September so I know I needed to get out sooner or later and I'm glad I did it sooner.

It's not cheating but it is different

[misswobble Graduate]

The sun is gonna shine soon. Get outside, make the most of it. Dreadmills must be the most goshdarned boringist thing known to humankind. Other than that I have nothing against them

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

The only form of cheating is saying you have done the runs when you haven't. Treadmills are great for increasing your speed and getting your form right, when I was a member of a gym I looked forward to my speed training on it. You are a runner and it really doesn't matter if it is inside or out.

[PruesDad]

Apparently, due to lack of air resistance and a slight gain in momentum from the belt, treadmill running is very slightly less beneficial than outdoor running. I'm told (by people who know their stuff) that adding a 1% incline makes he treadmill about comparable.

[Janeofash]

I am a beginner and a mile is my current limit. I run with a group twice a week and practice on a treadmill on a Saturday. I can run further on a treadmill. During the Easter break I did 3 sessions a week on the treadmill and when I went back to outside running I was disappointed with my ability. It's not cheating, or boring if you have something to think about. The gym I go to has treadmills that face a large window, overlooking fields and trees. When I'm more confident I'll be running out there! The music is a pain in the arse though! I recommend using the gradient button to make it a bit tougher. It's all good excersise though.

[runlikeagirl Graduate]

I started on the treadmill with a 1% incline and was really worried about running outside as I'd read so many the posts saying how much easier it was to use the treadmill. I now run on the flat near to where I live and maybe I'm strange, but I'm actually finding it easier to run outside! I love looking around, plodding to my own music, smelling the air and feeling the cool breeze. (Probably different in a force 10 gale with rain though....).

[secksy34 Graduate]

i use a treadmill and i certainly hope it is not cheating or all the hard work i feel i have done will have been in vain ! i couldnt run for 1 minute , now ive just run for 25 mins so i dont think its a cheat , i did run outside when i went away and to be honest found it about the same , ... i sweat ive worked lol

[AngelStMary Graduate]

I run on a gym treadmill following a bad ankle injury a couple of years ago whilst walking on uneven ground. It took six months before I could even walk again properly, so I want to build up strength and confidence before venturing outside to run. It certainly isn't cheating - I couldn't run for a bus two months ago, but today I am attempting Week 5, Run 3 ... The BIG one!

[Dhiny]

I think a run is a run whether it is on a treadmill or outside - same effort is used regardless. I wouldn't consider using a treadmill cheating at all, just a different run. We all have different preferences, I prefer to run outside; run wherever you prefer it will increase your fitness & that's what it's all about

[Minnielala]

I hope it isn't cheating! as a lone woman runner I do not feel safe running around my area so I go to the gym as it is safer. It is a shame as there is a lovely park near me but I run early morning or late night.