Treadmill -v- Road Running? : Hi! I have just... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,411 members158,563 posts

Treadmill -v- Road Running?

tryingtorun profile image
6 Replies

Hi! I have just completed week 6 with the lovely Sarah Millican encouraging me in my ear! I must confess I'm still finding it very hard but determined to finish and then carry on! I am lucky enough to have a treadmill in our garage (my hubby is a keen runner), but because he is a keen runner he is actually not that helfpul to me as I am far from a natural runner! This is a roundabout way of asking if people think it's easier on the treadmill? I have done a few on the treadmill but I am trying to do it outside more often than treadmill. Is there a rule? He says I'm cheating if I do it on the treadmill!

Written by
tryingtorun profile image
tryingtorun
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
6 Replies
DLMZ profile image
DLMZGraduate

I’m doing it on a treadmill. I find running outside very hard with lung burn (only way I can describe it!) when I first start running and I don’t experience this on a treadmill. I don’t feel I’m cheating. The idea is to get my bottom off the couch & outside or not I’m doing it!! I’d suggest do what feels right for you and never mind what anyone else thinks!!

Carolinemcd profile image
CarolinemcdGraduate

I did my first couch to 5k (2017) on a treadmill and found it quite tough to transition to outside. Mainly a confidence issue as I’m SO unsteady on my feet. I’m doing run 3 of week 4 tonight and find outside more difficult. I started from the beginning as I hadn’t run for nearly a year and I didn’t do many runs after graduation.

If you do both then at least you’re getting a feel for outside so you know the difference. And you’re not on the couch so that’s a bonus

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJoGraduate

It's certainly not cheating. I've not done treadmill, in fact might have my first opportunity as I'm going away and the hotel has a gym. I believe you're supposed to set a small incline of 2% to mimic outdoor more.

Whatever works for you. I would miss the fresh air and the nature aspect but I understand the "lung burn" but that does get better as you get fitter anyway.

I certainly wouldn't have called myself a natural runner, my style was somewhat wonky at the start but somewhere along the way towards the end I really felt it improve dramatically. In the early weeks ankles were knocking and stride was all over the place. In fact in the running shop getting my shoes they even said I needed practice... I'm sure that was kind for... you're not doing it right! 👍🤣

Just keep it up either way 😉👍

Run-Claire-Run profile image
Run-Claire-RunGraduate

I completed the whole program on the treadmill and I didn't feel I was cheating. I think it was more important to me that I was exercising regardless of whether it was on the treadmill or outside. I now sometimes runs outside and sometimes on the treadmill. I must say I do find it harder to run outside and get out of breath much more quickly. I also find that different muscles are sore the next day when I've run outside. Maybe that's just me though :-)

Kar43 profile image
Kar43

Hi neither is cheating.

I done c25k in treadmill until start of week 6 where I transitioned from treadmill to outdoors. I done around 4 runs I think to transition as I struggled with getting my breathing and pace right with no screen on treadmill I didn't know how fast I was going until I couldn't breath then was told why 😊

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

Take no notice. It’s your run, not his 😃

I run outside all the time, but you do as you please to suit yourself. 👍🙂. You can follow the programme just the same

Having said that, running outside is just fab 🙂

You may also like...

Treadmill or road running?

in opinion to whether road or treadmill are best, I purchased a treadmill on Ebay, and think it is...

Treadmill V Outdoor Run

on the treadmill as I don’t feel comfortable enough yet to run outdoors. Just curious to see if...

Treadmill to Road running

Hi all I’m now in W5R2 and have only done 1 of those runs outside and my god I found it hard! I now

Treadmill v running outside.

running on a treadmill to pounding the footpaths outside. It did feel a bit easier on the...

Treadmill V road - injury woes 😕

run on the hotel treadmill instead of the street. first time running on the treadmill, and I...