Treadmill vs. Road running

[Sea Chicken]

Running indoors on a treadmill certainly is acceptable behavior if the weather is rotten or if you don't want to run in the dark.

Anyone else find extra motivation to get out when the weather is really bad? If the weather is a little chilly or drizzly, I have a hard time making myself get out and run, but give me a good blizzard and I'm ready to go.

[Commando]

I have those Rocky moments, I must admit. I mostly don't run when it's nice outside or reasonably warm b/c the sun zaps me faster than anything. I have to run at night or when it's a little blustery. I got one of those wet suit looking running shirts from nike that I rock under a tee for optimal blizzard running, and it's really opened up my options for running opportunities.

[marsupial]

I have those Rocky moments, I must admit. I mostly don't run when it's nice outside or reasonably warm b/c the sun zaps me faster than anything. I have to run at night or when it's a little blustery. I got one of those wet suit looking running shirts from nike that I rock under a tee for optimal blizzard running, and it's really opened up my options for running opportunities.

I ran 8 miles once in a blizzard. It sucked. I was miserable. That was when I lived in Utah. Luckily, I don't see many blizzards in Mississippi.

[ERCougar]

I ran 8 miles once in a blizzard. It sucked. I was miserable. That was when I lived in Utah. Luckily, I don't see many blizzards in Mississippi.

Running a half on a treadmill is WAY harder than running in a blizzard. Or anything other accomplishment I can think of, for that matter. That's impressive.

[TripletDaddy]

Ugh. I have gotten really bad about running outside. I ran 13.1 today on the treadmill in preparation for a half I have in a month. The problem right now for me is 1) I started at 5 a.m. and I don't like running in the dark. 2) I'm breastfeeding and require an obscene amount of water to stay hydrated (I drank about 120 oz during my run--try and carry that in a camelback.)

I ran a 5k earlier this year and I didn't notice a difference in my pace from treadmill to road, but I imagine that I won't be able to keep up my treadmill pace for a half.

holy crud. you guys are hardcore, running all these long distances. I do 6 miles a day. Maybe I should increase that to 10? how long does it take you to do 13?

13 miles a day is some serious weight loss!

[marsupial]

holy crud. you guys are hardcore, running all these long distances. I do 6 miles a day. Maybe I should increase that to 10? how long does it take you to do 13?

13 miles a day is some serious weight loss!

It took 1:44, so just under an 8 minute pace. But treadmills are easier running. We'll see how I fair when I hit the pavement. Unfortunately no on the weight loss. I'm an eater.

[TripletDaddy]

It took 1:44, so just under an 8 minute pace. But treadmills are easier running. We'll see how I fair when I hit the pavement. Unfortunately no on the weight loss. I'm an eater.

Are you doing 13 a day? That is amazing.

If you are breastfeeding, I would imagine that your appetite is going to be a tad more hearty than before. Cool that you are running so much, though.

[BigPiney]

It took 1:44, so just under an 8 minute pace. But treadmills are easier running. We'll see how I fair when I hit the pavement. Unfortunately no on the weight loss. I'm an eater.

Btw, good job. I remember hearing one the BYU track coaches one day, could have been the cross country coach, talking to one of the guys that missed the morning run. It was a 4 miler, lets say. The coach made him run 6 on the treadmill, because he said that the treadmill does a lot of the work for you, so you have to run 1 1/2 times as far to make up for not running outside.

There is probably somthing to what he was saying, but most likely he was beingn like coaches are and making it harder than it had to be to create an incentive to not miss the early runs. Thought it was interesting though.

[marsupial]

Are you doing 13 a day? That is amazing.

If you are breastfeeding, I would imagine that your appetite is going to be a tad more hearty than before. Cool that you are running so much, though.

Heavens no. I do a lot of cross training. I run about once or twice a week. When I am not training for something I usually run for an hour which ends up being 7.5 to 8 miles.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I do 6 miles a day. Maybe I should increase that to 10?

You run? I thought you were an elliptical guy.

[TripletDaddy]

You run? I thought you were an elliptical guy.

No, I don't run. Sorry. We have all been throwing out different distances via different methods. I am elliptical....loud and proud!

I was doing 6 or so each day at a fairly slow pace, but now I wonder if I should be upping that to about 8 miles a day.

I am not sure it will make a dramatic difference in my cholesterol, but it would be fun to see if I can do as a personal goal.

[Teenage Dirtbag]

Sea Chicken is far from wicked fast. The Dirtbag would smoke me at pretty much any distance.

Not true. I am pretty much the definition of "middle of the pack".

[Eddie]

No, I don't run. Sorry. We have all been throwing out different distances via different methods. I am elliptical....loud and proud!

I was doing 6 or so each day at a fairly slow pace, but now I wonder if I should be upping that to about 8 miles a day.

I am not sure it will make a dramatic difference in my cholesterol, but it would be fun to see if I can do as a personal goal.

I don't know anything about the elipiticals where you work out - but I can tell you that 5 miles on the eliptical at my gym is NOT the same as 5 on the treadmill. I'm not sure why - if it is the physics of it or if they just count distance differently. But I was using the elipticals as much as I used to, I would up my miles on them. Or train for a set amount of time rather than looking at any distances.

[TripletDaddy]

I don't know anything about the elipiticals where you work out - but I can tell you that 5 miles on the eliptical at my gym is NOT the same as 5 on the treadmill. I'm not sure why - if it is the physics of it or if they just count distance differently. But I was using the elipticals as much as I used to, I would up my miles on them. Or train for a set amount of time rather than looking at any distances.

I appreciate the advice. Personally, I am not really concerned too much by which version is harder or whatnot. I am in it to get my cholesterol down and lose some inches. I also care about not hurting my knees. So if 5 miles on a machine equals 4.2 miles on the road, it is all the same to me.

I am definitely not training for any sort of road race, whereas others here are training for 5Ks, marathons, halves, triathlons, etc (which I think is great, btw), so I can see why it is more important that they get an accurate reading on endurance over distance.

Last night the machines were packed. There was only one left and it was behind a pillar, so I couldn't see the ESPN tv. I watched the aerobics class through the glass wall, instead. CMBF was on to something there....

[LA Ute]

I would up my miles on them. Or train for a set amount of time rather than looking at any distances.

Depends on your exercise goals. Keeping your heart rate at a certain level for a certain amount of time is supposed to be the standard approach. For fat/cholesterol burning (my own goal), it's 80% of your maximum heart rate minus your age, or something like that. (I just know what my magic heart rate number is - I've forgotten how I got to it.) For cardio training, it's higher, IIRC.