Treadmills: walk slower, work harder, feel worse

[OakLeaf]

http://runningmagazine.ca/2010/11/sections/training/blogs/treadmills-make-you-walk-slower-but-work-harder-and-feel-worse/

[TsPoet]

"The goal of the study was to figure how to convince more people to exercise (and in that sense, it was somewhat unsuccessful because the volunteers chose paces that were too slow to elicit significant fitness gains)"

Interesting - but this snippet doesn't say who the population was (ie, fitness oriented or couch potatoes).
On the other hand, makes me feel a little bit better for my choice of an elliptical over a treadmill, at least it's intentionally different.

[if potato is spelled without the famous e, why is potatoes spelled with it?]

[emily_in_nc]

Wish they'd studied runners too. I always feel like the treadmill is easier than running outdoors since it helps move your feet along.

[ny biker]

I don't see how walking on a track is less boring than walking on a treadmill.

[Dogmama]

I don't see how walking on a track is less boring than walking on a treadmill.

Depends on who is walking ahead of you. :D

[Owlie]

I don't see how walking on a track is less boring than walking on a treadmill.

I prefer a track, especially outdoors. It feels like you're going somewhere, even if it is in circles. Of course, I'd prefer to be outside walking around on sidewalks, but they don't like that in PE classes...

[OakLeaf]

There are all sorts of explanations, and as the article points out, there weren't enough controls to sort among any of them. Intellectual stimulation? Sunlight (which has significant physiological and emotional effects)? Body mechanics? Fresh air (I know I breathe differently outside than indoors - can't say why or how, but it sure feels different)?

Even on a track you have some lateral movement to avoid obstacles, and the ability to change speed quickly to react to obstacles, start an interval, etc.

[WindingRoad]

Interesting article. I think of the trainer/spinner versus the real bike outside. So much more stimulating being outside than staring at the same place on a stationary bike so I guess it's probably the same on the treadmill. However, depending on the weather and time restraints I sometimes prefer the treadmill over outside. Honestly I think outdoor running is harder than the treadmill.

[FunSize]

I'm a nerd. I wish I could read the whole article to get a better idea of the logic and choices behing their study. Also how they measured affective state, and what the demographic was, and the measurement of VO2max....

Basically I want to critically analyze the article.

I miss school...

[limewave]

I find its much more difficult for me to run on the treadmill. I can comfortably run an 8:30/mile pace outdoors. When the roads are really bad, I go to the gym and run on a treadmill. I feel like I'm sprinting doing the 8:30/mile pace and its terrifying--I feel like my feet are going to fly out from underneath me. I have to slow my pace significantly to feel comfortable.

[nscrbug]

Well, for me personally, running is hard regardless of whether I'm outside or on a treadmill. I am a s-l-o-w runner. Just being able to maintain a 10min/mile pace is tough for me.

I do find that the time goes by a bit quicker when I run outside. On the treadmill, I have to cover up the display with my towel so that I don't constantly check the time I have left. But I do find it easier to do faster intervals on the treadmill, since it's hard for me to gauge my speed outside.