Treadmill or “Real Running”
After perusing the internet to find interesting stories and failing, I came back to my very own blogroll (as you always do – Beeble) and my favourite “Starling Fitness” where Laura had written about the benefits of running outside compared to using the treadmill. It got me thinking about the treadmill and what is wrong with it.
What is Wrong with the Treadmill?
Even though it looks the same technique as running outside it is very different. You see, with the belt actually doing the movement for you you don’t actually need to reach as far forward with every foot movement as you would outside. Outside you need to power yourself forwards otherwise you are just jogging on the spot and this is exactly what you are doing on the treadmill. You are bouncing up and down doing the movement of running without the drive forwards, but still moving quickly enough so you don’t end up in a heap at the back of your running machine (it’s happened to the best of us – Beeble).
What Affect Does this have on Treadmill Users?
It means that when it comes to running outside treadmill runners will find it much harder than actual road runners. Road runners are used to running on uneven surfaces where one moment it is a slight hill followed by a slight slope and so it goes on. They are also used to driving the body forwards which the treadmill runner will have failed to learn. This means that treadmill runners will be weaker running outside than people who actually practice running outside.
So is Running Outside Better?
If you are wanting to enter a race that takes place outside, then it is best to practice outside. You will get much better results and of course it is much more functional (meaning if you practice running outside it directly affects your abilities in the race, compared to the treadmill which won’t prepare you as well for outside running – Beeble) . However it has to be done in moderation if you want to have any knees left by the time you are planning retirement. As with all exercise, too much can be bad and if you are road running then that will be a lot of impact through the knee joint and other joints. The average treadmill on the other hand is usually sprung to absorb some of the impact and in turn protects your knees.
Is the Treadmill Useful Then?
You have to assess your goals: if running in road races is your goal then the treadmill will be less useful to you. If your goal is to lose weight then the treadmill is still very useful and will help you achieve that goal. However it will get a little boring in comparison to running outside and if you run outside you will benefit from the fresh air. I once read that if you run on the treadmill and you want to create a similar feeling to running outside on a flat surface then you need to add a 1 degree incline. Well I have tried this and of course I have run outside and I would say in all honesty that 1 degree is not enough. Try getting the treadmill to more like a 3 degree incline to give the nearest equivalent to running outside. You will need to power forwards a lot more and it will be much closer to the movement of running outside. (You can always get a friend to make outside noises and hold up visual cues to make you feel like you’re in the open – Beeble)
Summary
If you can run outside then do it but don’t overdo it. If your goal is weight loss then a good mix of different training styles is best. So running outside once a week will be good combined with other exercises during the week. If your goal is actually running and entering a race, then practise outside, because if you just practise on the treadmill you will be in for a real shock when it comes to the race. If the weather is bad or you just aren’t one for running outside then get that treadmill incline up to 3 (and give it your best – Beeble).
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