Outdoors v. Treadmill

jadeorchid21 · May 2012

So, I am currently having a discussion with a friend who lives and runs in Canada (although that has nothing to do with this topic) and she hates running outdoors and mainly sticks to the treadmill. I actually run outdoors. So, here is the poll:[Poll]

Cinco · May 2012

I prefer to run outdoors, but still love having the treadmill. With 3 kids it is my only option at times, and it is better than not getting my work out in. I trained almost entirely on a treadmill for an early Spring marathon, and still was able to PR. I think the treadmill gets a bad rap sometimes.

Cinco · May 2012

Dup, sorry!

annabear07 · May 2012

I call it the dreadmill. I hate it with the passion of a 1000 firery suns! I get sooo board on the mill and my pace is always messed up. If it's the only option I'll do it but it is never, ever my preference!

jerseygirl81 · May 2012

I prefer to run outside, but I do speedwork pretty much exclusively on the treadmill.

gt7301b · May 2012

annabear07:
I call it the dreadmill. I hate it with the passion of a 1000 firery suns! I get sooo board on the mill and my pace is always messed up. If it's the only option I'll do it but it is never, ever my preference!

This! I am like a 5 year old when I am on the treadmill. I end up getting more water, adjusting the TV, and going to the bathroom all on a 30 minute treadmill run.

AGsWife · May 2012

I have a treadmill, but started running outside over the last year. I enjoy both. I first started running on the treadmill and enjoy it - it's great to have in the house because I can do things while I'm running like put a load of wash on, start my run, hop off the treadmill to put it in the dryer, get back on, etc. I'm glad to have bought the treadmill because after I have my baby (assuming things continue to go well), I'll be able to get some work outs in without having to bring the baby out into the cold, to the gym, etc. I also don't run outside when there's ice on the ground (I'm already a big enough klutz, I don't need help from the elements.)

I will run outside all year long (I invested in some cold weather running gear this past winter), as long as there isn't any ice on the ground. However, there are definitely days when it's really cold (or it's dark when I get home from work), that having the treadmill comes in handy.

So, my long-winded answer is . . . both!

C.squared · May 2012

I prefer to run outside, but with a small kid (and a HILLY neighborhood that is awful to push a stroller through) and a husband who travels a lot, sometimes the treadmill is the only option. I also like to do speedwork on the treadmill - easier for me to control my pace for whatever interval I need to. I trained for a half entirely on the treadmill and it wasn't too bad. The one 13 mile training run sucked, but I watched an entire movie, lol. If I've trained a lot on the treadmill, I find that my feet hurt a lot when i race, though, from the different surface.

melodramatic26 · May 2012

Depends on the distance. I will only do my long runs of 5+ miles outside.

However, during the week I have no option but to do my runs on the treadmill. In training season, doing 5-6 miles on it was killer, but I did them. However, for short runs, I don't mind watching tv or doing speed work on it at all.

MrsStubbs · May 2012

I love the treadmill at the gym.

I don't really enjoy getting up at 5:30 Saturday mornings during the summer for my longs runs. I don't do more than 6 on the treadmill.

mdd · May 2012

I run on the treadmill during the week and outside on the weekends. I don't have a preference.

MayFlowers22 · May 2012

I usually prefer to run on the treadmill because it's easier

annieu613 · May 2012

I chose both. I haaaate running in the cold, so I am generally 100% treadmill during the winter, but when it gets warm out I like running outside.

maggie78 · May 2012

When I started running, I prefered the treadmill or the park, as I didn't like running in front of too many people....

Now I prefer to run outdoors, where I can distract myself, I don't feel so trapped and I enjoy myself. I also get to run in some pretty picturesque areas.

AndysKandi · May 2012

I go outside whenever I can, but I love having a treadmill for rainy days, and the winter (I live in Northern MN and am just not comfortable with winter running yet. Maybe some day....). Sometimes I can't make it out due to scheduling between DH and I, and having the kids...so it comes in handy then too because I can just hop on after they go to bed, even if DH isn't home.

JenniferJaneC · May 2012

I like both. Speedwork is more efficient for me on the treadmill, and I have an app geared towards treadmill speedwork that I am in love with. I've been doing ten miles on the treadmill on Saturdays to take advantage of the nursery at the Y.

When I just want to go out and run, though, I prefer the great outdoors.

ktmae55 · May 2012

Outdoors. I live in a 1 bedroom apt so there's no room for a treadmill.

Plus, I just get too bored on the treadmill, running outdoors makes it more fun, and I feel like it's made me get a lot stronger more quickly than I would have otherwise. . . . that and moving to San Francisco, where I live at the top of a massive hill, so no matter what every run I do involves hills. I'm not fast, and I still can't run that far (I do 11:30-12 min miles and my farthest run is 5 miles) but when I'm huffing up a giant hill and then I pass a gym window and see people who are thinner and faster than me on the treadmill, I still feel like kind of a badass.

Outdoors v. Treadmill

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