How do you feel about running on a treadmill?

[Tessie66]

Went to to gym 🏋️‍♀️ 💪 with my son in law after work and did a work out then said to him I'll go and do some running on the treadmill and wow can't believe the times I know I did it on totally flat and I still prefer running outside but is it cheating or should I feel proud for my times? I did the 6k run on the NRC

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

I believe people do get faster times on the treadmill, due to the machine doing some of the work for you - ie it assists leg turnover.

I have started using the gym once a week for some of my strength work and also tend to do a 1k warm up and 1k cool down on the treadmill. I used to hate the ‘dreadmill’ but have to say, I quite enjoy it now as part of my session.

It will never replace the great outdoors for me though - even in the winter, I am happy tootling along in the rain and the cold, with my chestlight on to light the way!🙂

It’s always good to try new things though, isn’t it - so well done on your session!🙂

[Tessie66 in reply to Sandraj39]

Totally agree incorporating gym once a week will help and the treadmill will never replace outdoors for me either 👍

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I don't like treadmill running at all. I find it much, much harder with nothing to distract me. You should be proud of sticking it out for 6km in my book, never mind the awesome pace on top of that 😊

[Tessie66 in reply to linda9389]

Thank you only my 2nd time on a treadmill so definitely happy with what I did, I will always prefer to run outside but I was more shocked by the pace and time

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tessie66]

Were the time and pace were measured by NRC on your phone? Did the distance the treadmill measured agree with the phone measurement?

[Tessie66 in reply to linda9389]

To be honest I had my headphones on and I didn't know anything about all the numbers on it. My son in law set it going for me and showed me how to speed up and slow down. The only numbers I recall was the time

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Tessie66]

😍 If you are doubting what NRC is telling you, then if go again you could always try to double check the two distances have been measured the same. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, take a bow and enjoy 😎

[Tessie66 in reply to linda9389]

Thank you it definitely felt like a great run and I think it's easier on the treadmill, I just hope I can move these times to the great outdoors but I very much doubt it I've only gone under 30 minutes for 5k twice

[Tessie66]

Not being a massive gym person I'm scared of going on a lot of machines lol probably don't want to look a old fool 😅. When it comes to the treadmill I knew how to speed up slow down and stop I wouldn't touch anything else lol

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Love them and they’ve kept me running! 😀

I use one at the gym once a week, and more frequently when the weather isn’t conducive to running outside, as my closest route is an exposed common which gets battered by high winds/has no shade in the heat/gets soggy (none of those things appeal!)

I tend to do intervals runs at the gym because I know my efforts well enough to know what speeds to set the treadmill to. I always manually calibrate the distance on my watch after, because it’s said treadmills are more accurate than the treadmill setting on sports watches. They’re also great for hill workouts, except of course there’s no downhill setting! 😅

I said in a similar post the other day that I get quite defensive when people diss them, and I detest the term dreadmill. They have their place, and they saved my running on many occasions!

[Tessie66 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I totally agree and absolutely there is a place and I live in a really hilly area so it's nice to run on flats for a change

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Eek! Sorry to use the forbidden word in my post cheekychipmunks ! I have enjoyed using it during my weekly gym session but it is certainly something which seems to divide. The gym itself also divides doesn’t it? I loved the gym when I was younger and am loving going again now!👍🙂

[Tessie66 in reply to Sandraj39]

I used to turn my nose 👃 up at anyone running inside but not anymore, it's beneficial either way and will certainly help anyone

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I have fond memories of the treadmill because after week 3 I did the rest of the C25K programme on them. I had an old ankle injury that running resurrected and so the treadmill was a better, softer option for me at that time. I graduated from the treadmill and it was a fabulous feeling. I remember feeling invincible and wanting to shout to the other gym members that I’d just run for 30 minutes 💪🤣

Nowadays I prefer outdoors but treadmill running still has its place. For example, if I’m on holiday and it’s too hot to run or at home when it’s too icy outside.

I don't belong to a gym anymore and I do miss the treadmill at times because I really enjoyed it. Get the epic music in my ears and away I go, far away and in my own little world 😍

I’ve read that elite runners train a lot on treadmills as there are so many options for different sessions so if it’s good enough for them….

I think it’s good to mix up our running surfaces as much as possible and so treadmill running is just another surface.

Well done on your session!

[Tessie66 in reply to Irishprincess]

Thank and love how easy it is on the treadmill and will be using both

[Oldfloss Administrator]

Well done! I used mine a lot when I had it faster injury or in inclement weather, icy conditions especially. I was always much , much faster on the treadmill!

Not cheating at all. Many folk do not have an option and simply because of location or climate , it is there only way to run:)When I used mine... I watched Virtual runs whilst doing so... great fun!

But, the great outdoors... well , for me,. no contest

[Tessie66 in reply to Oldfloss]

Totally agree 👍 👏 🤝 definitely not cheating and anything that helps must be a good thing

[drl212]

I think it's up to the person. Personally, I am loving being outside. I started my C25K in the winter and actually enjoyed heading out into the cold for my runs.

I did a C25K years ago, pretty exclusively on a treadmill, and when it came time for the sponsored runs, I had a really tough time as it was so different. What I could do on the treadmill, I couldn't outside.

Perhaps a mix for folks who enjoy the treadmill to incorporate outside runs.

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

i have a treadmill and use it when the conditions outside are icy, extremely cold or I have procrastinated and have limited time. I actually run slower on the treadmill because I’m somewhat frightened of falling of the back. It’s an anxiety thing I guess.

Unless you have a foot pod for your shoe the pace on your watch will always be off. The pace on the treadmill is more accurate.

I don’t love using it but it certainly has it’s purposes here in Montreal in the winter. I try to run outside in the winter most of the time but do use it quite a bit then.