Hello fellow C25K-ers! On Monday I completed Week 7 Run 3 in torrential rain from start to finish - wet socks, wet undies, wet everything! It took me much huffing and puffing with a face like tomato for the next three hours. As a result, I thought for my next run (today) I would repeat the 25 minutes before going on to Week 8...just to be safe!
As it was still raining this afternoon (surprise surprise) I decided to ring the changes and do the run on a treadmill at the gym. Well....I could have gone on for ever, I barely broke a sweat, breathing almost normal, legs happy. According to the machine I covered the same distance in the same time, so I must have been doing more or less the same speed.
So what is going on? Either my fitness has miraculously improved in 48 hours (unlikely!) or the treadmill is massively easier than 'real' running. I'm bemused!!!
🍏 You are doing so well & are so determined. Fantastic! I have never run on a treadmill but I do know you can program the run to be easy or difficult… maybe yours was on the easy setting ?? Here’s a link to running on a treadmill
Both types of running are different, some find treadmill running easier because it's at a set speed with no variation of terrain, no wind and rain to contend with, but both are running so well done you 😄
I take your point - thanks! But the difference was quite extreme. Oh well, it's given me the confidence to launch into Week 8 now!
I haven't run on a treadmill, but I have experienced the suddenly easy run! In my case, it would have been;
1. because the second (or third) time, my body had got used to the distance, so it really was just easier to do. After all that's how the c25k program works.
2. Added to that, there's the speed I go off at. If I find a run difficult, the next time I run it, I force myself to REALLY slow down. (I've been through the program several times now, I know the drill!) Running it slower makes an incredible difference - breathing is easier, everything is easier.
3. There was a third, but I've forgotten what it was...😜
I'm going to guess that the treadmill was set at a slower speed than the one you ran in the howling gale and lashing rain.
Oh! 3. Different gait. Apparently because the treadmill moves under you, rather than you moving over the ground, your gait is completely different, everything is being impacted in a slightly different way because you aren't propelling yourself forward (in the lashing rain).
The treadmill has no inclines, no corners or camber, no wind (nor rain), and the "ground" is moving beneath you. So it makes a big difference. All running is good though they're not comparable. I feel like Usian Bolt on the treadmill, but in reality I have the grace of a baby elephant when I'm running outside 😄Well done on the run!
Maybe you were just in the zone! I’ve had a few runs like that since I started and it’s just the best feeling. We all want to feel like that all the time!
Treadmill running is still real running! Your legs still ran! It is different for all the reasons that people have described above. Interestingly, I’ve found that running on a treadmill aggravates my IT band problems much more than running outside. I’d planned on using one more to make it easier but it actually had the opposite effect. Maybe my gait is different enough to cause problems. Strange, hey!
You can take that supercharged confidence outside and chase after the feeling again. Just watch out for going too fast while you’re still on a high. Have a wonderful next run!
well done Hidden …sometimes it feels like you’re fighting against the elements when you’re running outside so I suppose that will have an effect on how you run outside…on the treadmill you have only to concentrate on running, no puddles to jump over, no uneven pavements where you have to watch your step etc etc…however you’re doing it, you’re doing brilliantly so keep doing what you’re doing 🏃♀️
You've shown yourself you have options (I have run on a treadmill once and that was once too often) so that's good. Many of us find that a 'soaked through' run is one of the most exhilarating run experiences there is... but still don't find it any easier to set out into rain despite that knowledge.
It matters not whether a run was tough or easy, if you maintained a running motion (however slow) throughout the run sections and a walking motion (however slow) throughout the walk sections, job done. But you may have learned a thing or two about the value of slowing down to make it a bit more comfortable.
You're so right about the rain. To my utter amazement, it turned out to be just a different experience, not a torture session. In fact, I was rather surprised when a well-clad dog walker coming the other way actually stopped when she saw me and said "oh you poor thing"...and I was feeling pretty good.
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