Treadmill vs. Road running

[Eddie]

How does running on a treadmill translate into road running as far as speed, distance, etc.? Any input?

I'm doing most of my running on a treadmill right now, and will probably continue that way more often than not. I've got back issues, and find that the added suspension of a treadmill deck keeps me from jarring things and hurting anything.

But I'm curious what to expect when I hit the road. Will it feel like I can't cover near the distance before tiring? Or that I can't run with the same speed?


By the way - I appreciate all the "I'm getting in shape" threads and comments here. As someone who is 6'2" or 3" and weighed as much as a middle linebacker while at the same time looking NOTHING like one when I started working out a 3 or so months ago, I appreciate hearing the stories of others in similar circumstances.

Still got a ways to go - but it is an amazing feeling when you go from thinking you are going to die after running 15 minutes to feeling like you don't want to stop after only 20.

[Commando]

I will tell you that after having run the 'mill for a long time, once I hit the road regularly the thought of doing the treadmill really invokes a vomitty response in my mind.

[Solon]

I will tell you that after having run the 'mill for a long time, once I hit the road regularly the thought of doing the treadmill really invokes a vomitty response in my mind.

It probably varies from person to person, but running on a treadmill is easier for me than running on the road. I'd guess this is due to the hilly terrain around here, but I still can run overall about 15-30 seconds faster per mile on the treadmill than I seem to outside.

But if you're over 6' tall, the softer impact might be worth sticking to the treadmill. Plus, you can watch movies while you run.

Whenever winter rolls around and I transition from outdoors to treadmill, my calves hurt for a week since running on a moving surface (like running on sand) works them differently than running outside.

[Jeff Lebowski]

My wife has suffered with knee and ankle problems for years from running. We bought a good quality treadmill last fall and she hasn't had a single problem since. And she does at least five miles per day.

[Pheidippides]

How does running on a treadmill translate into road running as far as speed, distance, etc.? Any input?

I'm doing most of my running on a treadmill right now, and will probably continue that way more often than not. I've got back issues, and find that the added suspension of a treadmill deck keeps me from jarring things and hurting anything.

But I'm curious what to expect when I hit the road. Will it feel like I can't cover near the distance before tiring? Or that I can't run with the same speed?


By the way - I appreciate all the "I'm getting in shape" threads and comments here. As someone who is 6'2" or 3" and weighed as much as a middle linebacker while at the same time looking NOTHING like one when I started working out a 3 or so months ago, I appreciate hearing the stories of others in similar circumstances.

Still got a ways to go - but it is an amazing feeling when you go from thinking you are going to die after running 15 minutes to feeling like you don't want to stop after only 20.

I can run much farther on a treadmill than on the road. My muscles get less sore on a treadmill, but I end up running faster on the road because the treadmill pace seems so slow. What I'm trying to say is that there are a lot of factors at work but I am convinced that treadmill running is easier than road running.

I do both, in the spirit of full disclosure, although more on the road than the treadmill since races are run on the road and that's what I'm training for. I do find that treadmill work is better on my joints and muscles, but I don't have any major problems either way.

I am 6'1" and around 200. I completely empathize with the "as big as a linebacker, without the physique" bit, as I used to be 6'1" and 250.

[Pheidippides]

Whenever winter rolls around and I transition from outdoors to treadmill, my calves hurt for a week since running on a moving surface (like running on sand) works them differently than running outside.

We don't have to transition here, thankfully, but I did run about 3.5 miles in a sandy creek bottom last week (ankle-deep creek, too). Barefoot. That was weird, and the sore muscles were ones I'd never experienced.

[MarkGrace]

Running on a treadmill is a hell of a lot easier than running on the road.

[Commando]

I can't run with that gym smell around me and a t.v. in front of me.. it makes me feel car sick.

[TripletDaddy]

I use an elliptical (stfu, yohio!) because years and years of all-night secret prayer has rendered my knees susceptible to injury.

No problems whatsoever on my joints.

My only beef.....my gym has those large TVs that say "Tune to 103.5FM" or whatever the station may be.....but the machines don't have tuners built into them. Who in the world carries around a transistor radio these days?

[cowboy]

It probably varies from person to person, but running on a treadmill is easier for me than running on the road. I'd guess this is due to the hilly terrain around here, but I still can run overall about 15-30 seconds faster per mile on the treadmill than I seem to outside.

But if you're over 6' tall, the softer impact might be worth sticking to the treadmill. Plus, you can watch movies while you run.

Whenever winter rolls around and I transition from outdoors to treadmill, my calves hurt for a week since running on a moving surface (like running on sand) works them differently than running outside.

I run with a heart rate monitor, and I need to run on a 1.5% incline on a treadmill to run with the same average heart rate as I do at the same pace on the road. Also, I've run into trouble making the transition from treadmill to road because my heart and lungs were in better shape than my joints. This has caused a variety of little injuries like shin splints, etc. Just don't overtrain during the transition.

[Eddie]

...

I do both, in the spirit of full disclosure, although more on the road than the treadmill since races are run on the road and that's what I'm training for. I do find that treadmill work is better on my joints and muscles, but I don't have any major problems either way....

The sprint triathlon I'm running is in August, so I figure I'll need to transition to the road at some point just to get a feel for how quickly I can cover the distance, pacing, etc. My initial thought was to remain on the treatmill until the end of June and then use July to get used to the road. But maybe I'll switch one of my runs each week to the road sooner rather than later to begin some of the transition.

Right now I look forward to running. Biking is coming along and I could see enjoying it more - particularly at the distance for this race. But if I finish the swim without picking up 10 lbs from drinking the water it will be a true miracle.

[Pheidippides]

Also, I've run into trouble making the transition from treadmill to road because my heart and lungs were in better shape than my joints.

This is precisely what I was trying to say.

[Sea Chicken]

Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I can't keep the same pace on a treadmill that I can on the road. I've measured the pace on both the treadmill and the Nike+ sensor. If I try to keep up my usual road pace on the treadmill it kills me. Plus I hate it because it is boring. So I run on the road even in the dead of winter.

[pelagius]

I use an elliptical (stfu, yohio!) because years and years of all-night secret prayer has rendered my knees susceptible to injury.

Dude, your a little wussy when it comes to the gym. Frankly, I'm worried about you. Here, watch this ... it should help:

[youtube]qi2GgE6wtQo[/youtube]

[Eddie]

I run with a heart rate monitor, and I need to run on a 1.5% incline on a treadmill to run with the same average heart rate as I do at the same pace on the road. Also, I've run into trouble making the transition from treadmill to road because my heart and lungs were in better shape than my joints. This has caused a variety of little injuries like shin splints, etc. Just don't overtrain during the transition.

Thanks for the tip. Even more than before I'm thinking I need to start with just taking one of my short runs each week on the road and then move up from there.