Where do you run?

[sczoo26]

Hey all do you run 🏃 at the gym on a treadmill or do you run in the great outdoors?

I tend to run at the gym because I continue working out afterwards with other cardio equipment be nice to see what everyone does

Take care

Scott 😜

[Decker]

I run outside on a flat course around the neighbourhood. I did c25k once before years ago on an elliptical but it bugs my knees now so the outdoor run works best so far. I've never run on a treadmill

[sczoo26]

Aww yeah nothing quite like the fresh air is there, I think I am going to mix it up too and try running outdoors in the upcoming runs 🔥

[Rowville]

I run on a treadmill as my knees are dodgy but I am hoping that I will be able to run outdoors even if I have to back a few weeks.

[sczoo26]

Same as me I'm gonna work up to running outdoors 🌳

[rutheliza Graduate]

I run around the block and the local area. I didn't want to spend money on a gym membership as I wasn't

[damienair Graduate]

I started running a 3.2k block around my local area through various housing estates whilst I was on the plan. Now I run a few different 5k loops. Sometimes a running track or park. All outdoors. Even enjoyed a few runs in the rain.

Damien

[rutheliza Graduate]

sorry, pressed "submit" by accident. I didnt want to spend money on the gym as I wasn't sure I would stick with it at first. Also it feels easier to just head straight out the door for a quick run while the teenagers are busy, rather than making a journey to a gym. But we're on holiday next month where there'll be a gym available, so I'm looking forward to having a go on a treadmill. How sad is that

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate]

Definitely outdoors. Gyms are prohibitively expensive over here in Germany and I don't want to waste the money. Plus I can go into the great outdoors any time I want from my doorstep. Plus the fresh air. Plus it's not boring, etc., etc!

[Hidden]

Out for me, slope of hope, hill that kills, Lovers lane and another loop if I have not fallen due to exhaustion. No gym nearby and if I had to drive there I wouldn't go.

[alpacagirl Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Same - and for same reason. Only out and back routes here and all a bit up and down. The slope at the end is a killer though!

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Outdoors every time for me! 🙂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Outdoors always, except... I used my elliptical trainer after I fell and broke my ribs.. no resistance or incline... it just kept my strength up and my legs moving.. also use it on icy days, which, is the one weather condition I will not run in... (funny incident involving ice skating one winter morning in the country lanes ! :))

Because I run and then ramble on about it in my posts... I run and look around...as some of the others say, so much to see out there, and in all weathers..on long runs it is brilliant... and the different terrain,weather, wind, elevation, make it interesting and really help the disciplines of our running.

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

So let's look at the evidence shall we oldfloss, ice, ice skating, winter and country lanes. I'm thinking a forerunner of dancing on Ice....

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Hidden it was very very funny! if you have five mins.. this may make you giggle..

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Cartwheeling with Ebenezer, who knew? This is my winters resolution - to find an Ebenezer somewhere and really to avoid the ice cartwheeling. ... Honestly there's something about being outdoors that makes you much more engaged with the world. But I am never cartwheeling on black ice - don't want to be that engaged. You're a star!

[sczoo26]

So I think outdoors are deffo winning then.. as opposed to the gym, I am so gonna build up and get outdoors and run around I have lots of lovely scenery and valleys and lakes and rivers near my home that would be pleasant! 😇

Oldfloss - hehe I can only imagine what you mean, like Bambi on ice is it? I'm the same ice and me = no go lol 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to sczoo26]

It was... I called it my Bambi moment!!! Clever you!

Lucky, lucky you, your running area sounds amazing... if you could find time to maybe head out sometime soon, whilst the weather is good I think you would love it...I know with your shifts it could be hard, but I think you would feel amazing!

[sczoo26 in reply to Oldfloss]

Haha, see great minds think alike 💭

Yeah it's pretty nice that's the heart of the valleys for you, plenty of hills and lovely scenery to take in 😊

I shall have a wonder later on and plan somewhere I can run, instead of doing it on the treadmill at the gym, deffo the weather is lovely here at the moment so best I take full advantage of that 👍

Yeah well I promised myself I wouldn't run or do any gym before or after work (purely because I am tired, I do walk around 15,000 steps during work) so something to add lol! I only run and train on my days off which can very from 2 to 4 times per week this exercise thing is all new to me but I must admit I love it! ❤️

[iain-strachan Graduate]

I had a go on a treadmill at lunch (for the first time). I think it could be a useful way of improving your speed as you can set it precisely on the machine. So I started of with a walking pace, then increased it up to my "normal" pace of about 7:20/km and when got used to that, then wound it up to sub 6 mins/km which you would need for a sub 30 minute 5k. I managed to sustain that for about 2 minutes then eased it off again. I think one could use this to build up one's stamina further, pretty much as the C25K plan winds it up every week. As long as one does it in small increments that should work pretty well I think.

You could also probably do this with Strava, but the Strava app doesn't update the speed indicated so often so is less precise than the treadmill.

Also the treadmill I use has heart rate - I watched it climb to 165 bpm during the fast bit when I decided to slacken off. According to the "magic formula" 220-age my max should be 161, though I think this varies from person to person - at your true max heart rate you'd not be able to sustain for very long before gasping for breath I think.

So I think it gives you more information that will allow you to train for better times outside. Outside is still the most enjoyable though.

[misswobble Graduate]

The only way is out 🙂 It's free and can be done almost anywhere

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Dreadmill and (other people's) sweat soaked atmosphere are anathema to my personal concept of running for enjoyment.

[sczoo26]

I am gonna run outdoors 🌲 a lot better than a room with others sweating haha!

[midgetdisco]

I started outside around the Norfolk Broads (Suffolk end it's nice and flat and a combination of road and soft ground). Then the shin splints knocked me back, that was about 5 years ago. I've now started C25K again and am slowly building up the week 1 session and will do that one as long as it takes till I feel my shins will let me progress further.

[Nobbywatts Graduate]

Outdoors every time except 3 times on holiday in Turkey a couple of years ago when it was just too hot and hilly so we used the treadmills in the hotel's gym. They were positioned looking out of the window onto the pool area so 3 x 30 mins watching the "all inclusives" leaving their empties all round the pool and the local moggies scavenging through the bins (not the most salubrious of hotels, you may have guessed!).

In the words of the marvellous George Michael, "let's go outside ...." 🎶🎶

[Ktblonde Graduate]

OK, I will be an odd one out and say treadmill! I am re-doing the Couch to 5k to get me back into running after a knee injury. I originally completed the plan over 3 years ago and went on to run a few 10k events and I was just getting into regular Parkruns. I have got a treadmill at home - my lovely husband made me a little mini-gym as a Christmas present! It started life as a garden shed but inside it's painted lilac, carpeted and hung with fairy lights and funky mirrors and it's got a TV on the wall. He kitted it out with a brilliant treadmill, elliptical trainer and exercise bike! I was out of action for over 9 months - stupid injury; I knocked my knee at work, didn't think anything of it and ran 5k that night and 5k two days later and then my knee swelled up like a grapefruit! Massive bursa which prevented me from bending or straightening my leg and I couldn't put any weight on it. I followed GP and physio's advice and started gently with the bike and elliptical before trying out the treadmill. Started the plan as a beginner and I ran for 25 minutes last night (wk 6, day 3) which felt amazing! I have never liked the idea of a gym and I don't trust my knee enough to go out and about but I am so happy to be able to run again, I missed it so much (and I put on over a stone!!) I listen to audiobooks or watch DVDs when I run so the lack of scenery doesn't bother me.

[Sillyyak13 Graduate]

I'm lucky enough to live on the Norfolk Broads, surrounded by farm land, (has its disadvantages, I fell in a vat of cow poo and wee on my first run last Monday. Lol). Apart from tripping up over stray weeds it's a great place for me.

[Rachel_Runs]

I run outside at the moment, but I think I'll have to join a gym for the winter months. Does anyone run outside in the winter? If you do, do you prefer it to running inside? I tend to run by a lovely stretch of path near by house which is by a stream and trees.

[Wannaberoadrunner Graduate]

Always outdoors. Up until now, I alternate between two different parks, just to change things up a bit.

[J9_54 Graduate]

Hi, I'm not one for the gym so outdoors for me round local farmers fields or parks as prefer soft surfaces.

[KKThomas Graduate]

I run on a treadmill at the gym. I tried outdoors and it about killed me (was only week 2 and very hot). I have bad knees and find the treadmill easier on the knees plus the aircon is very needed for my overweight, unfit body. I also don't think I could manage windy days and I'm too much of a whimp to run in the rain. Basically it would be too easy to make an excuse not to go if I had to face the weather. I'm on week 9 now and once I graduate I am hoping to venture outdoors and I would like to try a parkrun one day - when I'm feeling brave.

[physicaldelete]

Outdoors all the way, I live 5 mins away from the canal and river, so I can loop around and make my way home, it's nice being able to pick a point and try and beat how quick it took to get there on the last run

[Rb123]

I prefer outdoors and even in the rain