Treadmill Running

I was wondering how many of you run on a treadmill by choice. What I mean by that is that you are using it not just to escape cold weather and bad roads.

The reason I am asking it that many of the people that I know, very good athletes, very well schooled athletes use a treadmill by choice because they feel it is easier on your joints.

The track coach at my school, who coaches National Champs, says that he thinks it is harder on your joints.

I researched on the internet and could not get solid data either way.

So, I was wondering what all of you think.

Thanks in advance,

Ruth

Hmmm, don't know if any of this anwers your questions:

I run on a treadmill when the weather is cold and or nasty (below 40 degrees is my personal preference for a shorter training run) or if it's at night.

I think that running on a treadmill is easier and is softer than roads.

After I recovered from a heel bone stress fracture, The orthopedic doctor instructed me to run on the treadmill first because it would be a more gentle transistion. The following year, I had spent the entire winter running on the treadmill and then had some really nice weather and run the entire week outside. I ended up with another foot bone fracture from the drastic transistion (could have been other mitigating fractures).

any help?

however, I would prefer to be on the roads....I would rather pull my eyelashes out than do a 6 mile + ride on the treadmill. I wouldn't pass up good weather outside to run inside unless it was another situation like I was in before of going form all miles inside to all miles outside.

I run on the treadmill more than on the road, I guess you could say semi-by-choice. I full admit to being a weather-weenie as I don't enjoy running in either cold (anything below ~45F), rainy, or extremely humid or hot (anything above 80F especially if sunny) weather, which leaves a small window of where I feel really comfortable running outdoors. If I lived in the SW where it wasn't so humid, I'd probably run outside more ("it's not the heat, it's the humidity"). I also often choose the treadmill because I run during the week at the work gym at my lunchtime, and it's quicker and easier just to hit the treadmill than have to worry about the weather outdoors and bringing various layers of clothes -- I can just bring a singlet and running shorts for the gym, which is always 68F, a perfect running temp for me.

When the weather is nice, nothing beats a trail run, but I don't really enjoy running on the road with cars passing.

Well, for me it is both. With my weekday work schedule, and my refusal to run in the dark, the treadmill becomes a necessary evil during the winter months. Sometimes during the summer months too, when it is too darned hot to run outdoors when the sun is out (too hot for me, while running, is over 90).

However, I have not gotten the hang of speedwork or tempo runs outdoors. I just don't know how to get the pacing right. So, I always do speedwork and tempo runs on the treadmill. This way I can control the mph and know how fast I'm running.

The ONLY time I've used the treadmill for long runs (over 10 miles) is when the weather has been nasty (pouring rain and/or high winds). The worst was a 20 mile run on the treadmill. I thought I'd die. But, it made 20 outdoors feel wonderful after that! :rolleyes:

P.S. I don't know about the "easier on the joints" thing. In fact, I find I usually hurt more after doing a very long run on the treadmill rather than on the roads. Also, at least at my gym, there is no downhill option, so if you're trying to prepare for a hilly race, your body will not be prepared for the incredible joint pounding of downhills.

Yuck. I do NOT like the treadmill but do sometimes use it when weather/road conditions aren't conducive to running outside. I also feel it throws off my form. Anyone else feel like they run differently on the treadmill than outside? When I have to run indoors I often use the track instead of the treadmill and alternate directions every few minutes if possible (but even that tight little track seems to make it harder to run normally).

I did 5 miles on the treadmill at the gym this morning by choice. I prefer to run outside, but try to run on the treadmill one day per week. The reason is that I'm trying to work up to running faster, and by running on the treadmill I can "force" a particular pace on myself. Outside, I honestly have no idea what pace I'm doing. By forcing a certain pace on myself once a week on the treadmill, I'm hoping that I can get myself to adapt to that pace naturally outside as well.

I don't know if it's really working or not, but so far I *feel* like it's working... At some point I'll have to measure an outside course, time myself, then do the same distance on the treadmill and see how the time compares.

Susan

I run on the treadmill because I think it's making me faster outside since I can force a certain pace. Plus I like watching the numbers. I can focus on elapsed time or distance and ignore that I want to hurl

I'd still rather run outside though. And I do think outside is easier on my joints. But I have no evidence to prove that. :p

Veronica

Veronica, are we channeling each other? :D

Probably. :D

The treadmill becomes more of a regular thing for me in the winter, darkness pushes me indoors for my weekday runs. On the weekends, you'll only see me on the TM if there is ice on the ground! I get so so bored!

I think each affects my joints differently. On the road/sidewalk I have more discomfort in my ankles from the pounding on the hard surface. On the TM my hip issues flare up because I tend to run pretty awkwardly on the TM.

Treadmill = TM = Torture Machine

I do the TM for speed workouts. Thus the torture! So I can do speed work, intervals, etc. at a set pace. But it is HOT, boring & torturous. (OK, my opinion).
Occassionally use it for bad weather...but I live in Florida, so it is rare.

With my Gamin I can do some interval speed work outside, if the intervals ar the same time--but have to keep a close eye on the watch (for pace) and find myself not steady.

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Originally Posted by katluvr

With my Gamin I can do some interval speed work outside, if the intervals ar the same time--but have to keep a close eye on the watch (for pace) and find myself not steady.

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You can set the Garmin to alarm if you go above or below your desired pace during the interval (or you can set HR alarms, for either the intervals or the recovery segments). There's a considerable amount of pace error, so you can't really set the ranges too narrow (or if you do, you can't put too much stock in the alarm the first time it goes off), but you don't have to look at the watch. If you use the Garmin you don't have to count the intervals, either.

Just did intervals with my Garmin this morning, actually. Not that I'd run on a treadmill if no one was threatening me with serious bodily harm if I didn't... but the TMs in my gym can't be programmed with intervals, anyhow.

I usually prefer to run outside - for the varying scenery, fresh air, etc. On the other hand, running on the treadmill allows me the chance to listen to music and not worry about what's going on around me, (like traffic), plus I can still run during bad weather & when it's dark outside.

As far as which one is easier on the joints, I seem to have more odd "owies" after running on the treadmill. The treadmill is a moving surface, so it's a little less natural. I'll bet it varies depending on stride patterns, proper shoes, etc., but I'd also be willing to bet that even though you do take a pounding with road running, the treadmill can have some bigger disadvantages because of the surface movement.

That's my not-so-scientific guess. ;)

Deb

The trail runner's perspective (since I pretty much don't run on pavement)...

The biggest "problem" I see with the treadmill is related to the tendency to not vary stride, foot placement, weight distribtion, and the like. Now if you run on the road and always run on what I call a "reliable" surface, this is probably not a big deal (or no deal at all) because it probably allows you to fine-tune your form and efficiency. However, I find that (for myself) running on a traditional treadmill can be good exercise, but that it's no substitute for running on the trail in terms of balance, lateral movement, and form.

I think what a treadmill can/can't do for you depends on your running goals. And I think that not all treadmills are created equal (some decks are cusheir than others). I've gotten really sore running on a treadmill from what I interpret to be repetitive, non-varying movement. But then I've gotten really sore from running down 25% slopes, too. :p

I run on the treadmill in the winter, but I also run on it on days when I'm not sure how much energy I have. If I have my doubts that I can make it for my "goal time" I'll get on the treadmill. That way, if I can't make it, I don't have to walk home. I just get off of the treadmill. :p

Here's something that was just in a fitness newsletter I get. I'm not a basketball player, but you get the gist:

"An hour of basketball feels like 15 minutes. An hour on a treadmill feels like a weekend in traffic school."
-- David Walters, quoted in American Senior Fitness Association Experience!

Well, I don't run. But I do like a long walk.

If the weather is good I will take a walk outside. Otherwise I hit the treadmill.

I've found that in general the best way to make the time pass on any indoor cardio equipment is to do intervals. One minute harder, one minute easier. Two minutes harder, one minute easier. Five minutes harder, two minutes easier. Breaking it down makes the time pass better.

My 2 cents

first off I hate the Dreadmill but I am finding it may have its advantages. I have been running on the indoor 1/8th mile track. When doing 5 miles that is a lot of corners and the inside of my lower leg has been sore. So I may alternate between treadmill and track if the direction on the track is the same for my running days.

Also I am pretty sure I will use it when I start intervals and tempo in a week or 2. There is no way I would be able to pace myself on the track.

I am waiting for the snow and ice to go away so I can't get outside - The weather has been beautiful but we can't even run on the street. We have had so much snow that 4 lane roads are down to 2.5 and 3 lane roads are barely 2 and the 2 lane roads cars wait for one to go through because they are about 1.5 lanes - No room for runners and do you think people have shovelled their walks? ? ? ? ?

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Originally Posted by eclectic

My 2 cents

first off I hate the Dreadmill but I am finding it may have its advantages. I have been running on the indoor 1/8th mile track. When doing 5 miles that is a lot of corners and the inside of my lower leg has been sore. So I may alternate between treadmill and track if the direction on the track is the same for my running days.

Also I am pretty sure I will use it when I start intervals and tempo in a week or 2. There is no way I would be able to pace myself on the track.

I am waiting for the snow and ice to go away so I can't get outside - The weather has been beautiful but we can't even run on the street. We have had so much snow that 4 lane roads are down to 2.5 and 3 lane roads are barely 2 and the 2 lane roads cars wait for one to go through because they are about 1.5 lanes - No room for runners and do you think people have shovelled their walks? ? ? ? ?

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Wow, your indoor track is that big? You're lucky. The one I use is 1/17 mile!! And that's the bigger of the two I have to pick from. As for the snow and ice, I can relate. We have quite a bit of it here too and it makes it less than safe to run outside!

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Originally Posted by Jolt

Wow, your indoor track is that big? You're lucky. The one I use is 1/17 mile!! And that's the bigger of the two I have to pick from. As for the snow and ice, I can relate. We have quite a bit of it here too and it makes it less than safe to run outside!

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1/17 of a mile :eek: do you get dizzy going round and round and round. Doesn't that bother the inside of your legs? I ran on our indoor school track here at work, it is 1/14th of a mile and it drove me crazy. I bet you can't wait to get outside!
We are lucky here, we have 2 indoor tracks that are 1/8 mile, they Y (they just built on and expanded the track) and the University Dome is just about always open to the public and it is FREE! In the summer they leave their track open until late afternoon so anyone can run on it and the surface is awesome.
For being a little city in the middle of nowhere we aren't so bad off. :D
So I really can't complain about having nowhere to run I just need the motivation :p

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Originally Posted by eclectic

1/17 of a mile :eek: do you get dizzy going round and round and round. Doesn't that bother the inside of your legs? I ran on our indoor school track here at work, it is 1/14th of a mile and it drove me crazy. I bet you can't wait to get outside!
We are lucky here, we have 2 indoor tracks that are 1/8 mile, they Y (they just built on and expanded the track) and the University Dome is just about always open to the public and it is FREE! In the summer they leave their track open until late afternoon so anyone can run on it and the surface is awesome.
For being a little city in the middle of nowhere we aren't so bad off. :D
So I really can't complain about having nowhere to run I just need the motivation :p

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Actually the 1/17 mile track hasn't been too bad although I have only gotten up to 20 minutes on it since I am working on transitioning to running barefoot or in Vibram Five Fingers. The other (smaller and slanted) track seems to bother the outside of my left leg a bit sometimes. Almost in the IT band area but I think it's just the vastus lateralis muscle and not the ITB. So I think I will just stop using that track and stick to the other one even though that Y is further away and the people can be snootier there than at mine. I definitely can't wait to get outside!! This whole barefoot thing is going to be hard when it's cold though I did just get a pair of VFFs that are like a neoprene bootie and will be warmer (they were also very cheap as that model has been discontinued). Now I just need some toe socks to go with them, because they have some stitching that feels rough against the top of the foot/front of the ankle and besides the socks would add warmth. I can't wait to be able to do a nice trail run...

I run on the treadmill most of the time because I like that I can see my exact distance, pace and time. I also noticed that I am more motivated to push myself at the gym as opposed to running outside. The treadmill is also easier on my body (I get shin splints) and because I PAY quite a bit for my gym membership.

With that said, I really want to run some races this summer so I will need to get some outdoor running time in as well...

From the website I write for (I didn't write this one)

http://dvice.com/archives/2009/06/green-treadmill.php