Is it cheating?

[Pippa49]

I posted a few days ago about running on the treadmill doing my long run.

I know it's silly but I can't help feeling like I am cheating especially when it is not raining outside atm.

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Many people here on C25K call a threadmill a dreadmill, however, in your case you are not cheating by doing any of the runs or week's on a treadmill at home or at a ⛹️ gym.

[Lordi Marathon]

Don't think so. You can google studies on the relative effort required to run on a mill and on the road and they are similar. Not getting soaked to the skin in freezing rain v sweating to death in a poorly ventilated gym? About even.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Increase your incline. You won't feel as though you're cheating 😊💪💥

[AnnieW55]

It’s definitely not cheating but I would advise getting some outside running done before your next event - which isn’t too far away 👍. Only saying this as we all know how different outside running is to inside running due to changes in terrain and weather so think it might be an idea to reacquaint yourself/your legs and feet with harder surfaces before the big day if possible.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to AnnieW55]

I do run outside however I can only stand short runs around my local area. Anything more than 10K I am desperately checking Strava to see how many more miles I have to do which is why I prefer to do a long run like the one I tried to do today and had to abandon as I couldn't get any connection with my wireless headphones for the second session on the treadmill . I am thinking of trying again tomorrow unless I should wait until next week but then I will be doing 18miles then the Weston Super Mare half marathon on 24th March (13.1).is this OK or should I try again tomorrow re the 18miles.

[AnnieW55 in reply to Pippa49]

If I read your last post correct you did 16 miles two days ago, if that is so I wouldn’t do 18 miles tomorrow. Generally speaking when training, even for marathons, it’s only one long run a week. You have more than covered HM distance already in training (and completed events so you know you can do it) so I would cut the distance down a bit and maybe do some speed runs or just vary the pace on a set shorter distance. It’s so easy to overdo the training which is not good for your body.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to AnnieW55]

Hi I did 16.05 miles on the treadmill on February 10th not two days ago.. My fault I should have made it clear. I am training for the Brighton Marathon 2019. I have one more week then I am off to Weston Super Mare to do the half marathon on 24th March so if I don't do it tomorrow I will have to do next week which might be too much the week before a half marathon.

[AnnieW55 in reply to Pippa49]

Sorry misunderstood your post from a couple of days ago. No reason not to go for it tomorrow 😀. Are you following a plan as the usual longest distance for a full marathon is 22 miles, then taper. Advice of not overtraining (and good well balanced diet) still stands.

I’m sure you’ve got this 👍

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to AnnieW55]

I am following Jeff Galloway's to finish Marathon plan obviously with a few tweaks however I have Weston Super Mare half marathon on 24th March then only 2-3 weeks before the Brighton Marathon on 14th April and a coach friend said that I should start to taper from WSM and should do another long run next week ie Saturday 16th March. I am concerned that it would be too much. The most I would be able to do is 20 as even 2miles is more than 10%.

[AnnieW55 in reply to Pippa49]

That seems ok. 18 tomorrow, 20 next week, then you are coming back down for your half on the 24th. After that you taper to the marathon. It’s not ideal but you have to work with the timescale you have (longest runs are usually about 3 weeks from event day). By Jeffing you are looking after your body so it should all work out. Just keep listening to what it’s telling you and make sure you are eating a well balanced diet and keeping hydrated - it all counts towards training. Don’t forget your strength training too.

[Irish-John Marathon]

My Treadmill experience.

After almost three years of exclusively running outside, having reached a standard where I did a 10 miler in less than two hours and had a bit left over in the tank...a 5k on the Treadmill literally had me peeing blood afterwards. No joke.

It's just a different KIND of running - but it still IS running!

If you swam in a pool rather than a Lake it would be a different environment but still swimming. You'd just be using different tactics and learning different skills - fast underwater turnarounds in a pool, dealing with Chop in a lake etc.

So - it's not the "running" that is a problem, it's when you go to TRANSITION from one to the other that you have to realise it's a different"skill set" to a degree.

Apparently, I slapped the walls of my Bladder together like a Steel Drum at an Unlimited Free Ganja party when I got in that Treadmill Took me three long runs before I was able to adjust myself to where I wasn't pounding the heck out of myself

Outside - there are constant adjustments to make as you run, and while everyone rather dislikes hills - it's road cambers I hate, kills my ankles because I have foot problems.

Then there is wind, cold and rain

So much fun though to just trot along (or in my case, gasp and lurch 😂) and see the sights and at times have something bizzare or nice happen as you encounter people

So, you are no "cheater"- you are a Runner

[Hidden in reply to Irish-John]

I'm another camber-hater, even the smallest cause my ankles to moan that something's off here!

All I would say to the OP is don't feel like you're cheating. Your muscles will still strengthen, you're body will benefit from the cardio, and your respiratory system will also love you. Do what you need to do. Like the advice above, of you have a road race you'll have to change up to the outdoors to prepare your body as we know it is different, not easier/harder necessarily but different.

All the best with your running and don't be frightened to "do it your own way". 😁

[John_W Marathon]

Running is running. I wouldn't even bother with the incline to be honest - I think that's only for very fast runners (are you very fast??) . I did the whole of C25K on a treadmill and didn't care a bit. I've continued to use a treadmill about once a week for 4 years now. It's an integral part of my running week and incredibly useful.

Cheating? No way.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to John_W]

Hi John W sorry for the late response to your reply. Everyone has said that running is running. Yes it is different outside but I know that and I do run outside. I had it on. 0.5% incline. I will try and do the next one outside but not sure where I will go.