Hi loverly people, just wondering if anyone else feels like walking/running on treadmills always seems more difficult than walking/running outside. I have just managed just over 1k on treadmill and I feel like I’ve done at least twice that, would like to know other peoples views on the matter.
Treadmill i set to minimum incline and I’m a left below knee amputee just trying to get back onto C25K after a few setbacks.
Yes dreadmills are brutal. I definitely go slower on one than for the same effort outside. On top of that, it’s so boring. On top of that, the sweat doesn’t evaporate like it does outside. All in all, I don’t bother 🤣
Hello! I would love to be able to do an occasional treadmill run, if it was pouring or whatever, but they make me feel really queasy for some reason. Can't get on with them at all. I would be chuffed with any progress on them to be fair! 🤣
Hi Branders, due to my physical situation, if I want to push myself I have to use the treadmill, cannot risk pushing too hard and being stranded with stump problems and not being able to walk home, but I do find that the actual distance I can walk on them is a lot less than real world walking.
Totally understand. I'm sure there will be someone on here who can give you great advice!
I LOVE treadmills! In my 6 years of running, (about 4500 miles) I do about 30% on a treadmill.
With the works gym closed and also the nearest private one, I CANNOT WAIT until next week when I get on one again.
Physically, they are easier to run on - taking a bit less effort/energy than outdoors. Mentally - yes it can be boring, but with smartphones, tablet, TVs etc, there should be no excuse for actually getting bored. And... with incline and intervals, you can any session quite lively.
Enjoy!
Hi John, I seem to find mine harder to use than real world walking, can just about walk for half the distance of real world walking.
Hi Pete,In what respect? Tasha99 is correct re: sweat build-up, which serves to heat you up... your heart rate goes up more compared to the same speed outside - it's beating faster in order to cool you down cos the sweat isn't being evaporated away - so in that sense, it's physically harder. Apart from that, as an amputee, I don't think we have anyone to compare you with. So may be it's down to the particular running dynamics due to your prosthetic leg.
I feel the same way. It feels harder, hotter and utterly joyless. Each to their own, I guess. Everyone’s circumstances and challenges are different but I’d always choose an outdoor run over a treadmill. My best friend is the opposite - won’t run outdoors. Horses for courses as they say.
I did this programme last year on a treadmill. When I wanted to run outside I found it so difficult. This year I’m running outside and it’s so much better. I think I’ve you’ve got a treadmill with a decent incline setting (mine doesn’t it just tilts a bit) that might be better. Good luck.
Having seen your post yesterday, I waited to see what other replies came in before putting in my two penn’orth.. As you know I’m also a below knee amputee so I guess I'm qualified to comment, in a way, but like you I don’t have a lot of treadmill experience.. mainly because I’ve found i don’t really enjoy it. The point of exercise to me is to have fun and I haven’t so far reached the stage of enjoying the treadmill. I’ve never tried a treadmill in a gym, and I suspect that might be more pleasant than the one I have at home.. maybe bigger, smoother, and (one day) in a social space..My treadmill is a cheapo from Facebook marketplace and I’ve used it maybe half a dozen times only.. obviously it’s easier in some ways than being outside because there is no variation in the surface. It’s quite narrow so I have to concentrate hard to keep my balance and an even pace within the track.. anyway, I’ve just started trying to run a bit and I did a run to the next village a few days ago - actual running around 12 or 13 minutes, so this morning I’ve got up early and tried running on the treadmill.. especially for you..😊
I did five minute warm up at 4kph, ten minutes running.. started at 7kph then reduced a bit gradually down to 6.5, then cool down at 4.8.. heart rate went much higher than my run outside earlier in the week.. and I felt dizzy and wobbly when I got off.. on the plus side, no damage at all to my stump..🤷🏻♀️
A doctor once told me that amputees use a lot of energy just walking so it’s normal to get tired quicker than you used to I guess.. hope some of that helps.. and thank you for providing the motivation for my run..😊
Another point Pete.. I think I’m a lot more relaxed running outside, I can concentrate on easy breathing , and my pace adjusts naturally as I get tired rather than having to press buttons..😊
I think you have hit the nail bang on the head Peggy, outside running is more fluid and natural whilst treadmill is more mechanical.
I’d like to add that I found that since you mostly stick to the same pace and incline on the treadmill you’re pounding away in the exact same way every step, these repetitive movements put a lot of strain on you. I don’t feel that when outside.
As well as what Peggy said about slowing down when tired, you also naturally speed up as you feel ready to when outside. On the treadmill you have to consciously decide how much and when to up your pace.
Hi 👋 I know what you mean, I find running on the treadmill much harder than running outside. I always feel like I’m going really fast then my splits are much slower than outside 🤔. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- the faster the treadmill is set, the more my stride length increases so my Apple Watch registers less strides and so less distance. This is my theory as the faster I set my treadmill, thinking it will give me a faster time it doesn’t. It gives me a slower time 🤔
- you can’t naturally speed up and slow down so you tire more quickly
- you get very hot so tire more quickly
- you get very bored so get fed up and stop quickly
Now I set my treadmill at a lower speed than I can run outside ( about 6.5km/h). I find this very comfortable so I can carry on for ages without getting tired or too hot. I also increase and decrease speed every 1k sometimes to break up a longer run
I also keep myself amused with videos, podcasts and audio books.
Hope that helps. Good luck with it. It’s taken me ages to sort it out to suit me.
That is really interesting and helpful to me Frizzbomb67 so thank you.. when I ran outside for 12 minutes earlier in the week I felt like I could have kept going easily at my own pace (I stopped because the bus shelter seemed liked a good reference point marker for future runs), but this morning I felt like stopping well before I got to ten minutes, and no doubt should have done.. I will remember to keep at a much slower speed but vary it a bit next time.. after all my main target is to increase my running time outside eventually and on a treadmill I’ve not got any place to go!
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