There is a lot of debate amongst runners as to whether treadmills are better or worse than running outside. Personally I have always run outside because of the variance in the surface and cambers that better prepare you for races, which after all are also held outside. However, the rains of autumn have already started and it won't be long before the nights lengthen and I will be spending the only daylight hours at work.
As I'm sure you've got from my hints before, I don't live in the nicest of areas and running in the daylight is okay, but running around the park in the dark is an entirely different matter. It is not something I would welcome. How does one get round this? Well, my running group will continue once a week so I can run with a group which will be safe, I can still do my long runs on Saturdays and that leaves one more run to find this side of Christmas (two afterwards). I am seriously considering doing this run at the gym on the treadmill and I took myself there on Thursday for a little taster session.
I have run on treadmills before and did find I could run for a longer period than outside, hardly surprising when I lived on a hill. This time I found I could walk at a fast pace so I really had to crank up the running speed. The biggest challenge I found was having to run at a very regular pace, I could not slow down without resetting the treadmill first. The sweat poured off me and it was very tough going. But it was also boring. There was no breeze, nothing to look at (and you know how I like to let my eyes wander), no dogs to say hello to...all in all I was not enamoured and I know if I had to do all my running on a treadmill I just wouldn't have got the running habit.
I guess when the nights are dark and cold I will find my way to the treadmill, but I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy it.
Are youa treadmill or an outside runner?
I am an outside runner as well, but like you I tried the gym treadmill for the first time this week. It was storming outside and I had to get my run in so I gave it a go. I wasn't in love. Like you said, no breeze and very boring. I took my ipod with me to distract myself but even that didn't help for very long. I found that I could go faster and longer, but I felt that it was actually harder mentally. And then when it was over with, I didn't even really feel like I had run at all. I think I am going to save the treadmill as a last resort.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I've went through many posts talking about the differences between treadmills and outside. And it is great to sharing your own feeling with us.
ReplyDeleteNo dogs to say hello to, this is good one.
George from http://www.lifespanfitness.com.au