Is treadmill running not as good as outdoor road running? If yes why?

[Snipe]

[Beads Graduate]

From my point of view, it's not as good coz it's too easy to give up! It was weeing down here earlier so I went to play in the shed on the treadmill and only managed 12 minutes. If I'd been outside and got bored after 12 minutes I'd still have the 12 minute run to get home.

Whether there's and actual difference for actual running style/speed/technique I don't know. It's probably easier to track actual progress, though the wrist GPS computers will now do that for you outside. It's meant to be an easier run (being consistently flat and no puddle dodging), but I find it harder.

[Mitts Graduate]

Never having stood on a treadmill (yet) I can only speak for running outside.

I run on a lakeside path and round a woodland trail. Outside you have to watch out for uneven bits, tree roots, wet leaves, stones, fallen branches, holes, slugs, pools of water, dogs, dog owners, other joggers, bikers, dead mice (yes, really!), muddy bits, and sunshine glinting through the treetops making it more difficult to see all the aforementioned obstacles on the path. You are kept busy right to the end of the run, which passes in a flash.

I suppose the advantages of the treadmill are that you don't have any of that, but I think it must be more boring...

Let us know how you get on - which are you doing?

[JoP1 Graduate]

I've only done a couple of my runs in the treadmill, and it's very boring. 5k on the treadmill seems like a lifetime. Whereas 5k on the road goes by much quicker. I feel more sense of achievement of the distance that I have covered when I can actually see my route on the map. Although when it's cold and wet the treadmill is probably more appealing!!

[Snipe]

Interesting. I used to run on the roads, but started running at the gym when the weather turned nasty. I expected it to be boring, but found it great. I was really encouraged by being surrounded by other runners, rowers, cyclists, etc. I also feel that I pushed harder in the gym and found the clock on the treadmill great for setting targets. Probably most importantly, I had a couple of niggling injuries and have found the softer running platform of the treadmill has aided recovery.

[Mitts Graduate in reply to Snipe]

Thank you Snipe! I'm going to have to move to a treadmill at some point to get through the winter and I've been dreading it - this was absolutely what I wanted to hear I'm going to take a 3 month sub at the gym from Dec on.

[sfb350 Graduate]

I find the treadmill too boring to just get on and run 5k but it's good for interval training.

A lady I ran with today was telling me about her friend who was training for a marathon and arranged to use a treadmill at the gym for 4 hours because the weather was so awful and she wanted to do a 20 mile training run. She was running the marathon for charity and a lot of people at the gym came to support her while she ran on the treadmill and even made donations - I'm completely in awe of the dedication it must take to spend that long on a treadmill :-0 I can't imagine running on a treadmill for much more than 30 minutes !

[notbad Graduate]

I've been running 4 months now (with breaks inbetween of course ) and today ran on a treadmill for the first time. I was nervous about falling off (according to my regular gym going sister it does happen) but actually found I quite enjoyed it, although I did hold onto the bar the whole time. I've read treadmill runners are less likely to get injuries because it's flatter no broken pavements, no traffic hazzards. Over all though I do prefer outdoor running, the change of scenery, the air flow in my hair but the treadmill will be good for bad weather days.