Treadmill running vs Road Running?

[F l i c k e r]

Screw road running. If it ain't dirt or grass. Not running on it; outside.

Rather run on a treadmill than run on the street/sidewalk.

[Sugarj]

Is one less taxing on the joints? While following mileage on the podometer it tells me that I am running three miles A LOT faster than I would on the road. 30% faster perhaps? Is there any specific reason for this?

Forget pedometers, working out an average stride length is no way towards accurately predicting a three mile time trial.

The best way to work out how quickly you can run three miles is to go down to your local 400m track and time yourself over 12 laps.

Alternatively, buy yourself a Garmin 305 satellite watch. They measure distance accurately by way of sat nav. They aren't too expensive.....I use mine everyday and are very useful for time trials.

As for road running vs treadmill running. Remember that the treadmill might yield you better results over a trial distance for three reasons:

1) It forces you to run at a given pace (its easy to slack when you are by yourself on the road/track).

2) When you run at an even pace you are likely to get a better time than if you are left to pace yourself.....in a time trial its very easy to set off too fast.

3) How accurate can a treadmill be regardless? A measured 400m track is surely a more accurate basis.

[TheHoff'sGhost]

.Alternatively, buy yourself a Garmin 305 satellite watch. They measure distance accurately by way of sat nav. They aren't too expensive.....I use mine everyday and are very useful for time trials.

Or there are apps you can download on your phone that use sat nav to measure distance travelled and speed and what not. That's what I use. T'was a wee bit cheaper than a garmin.

[Sugarj]

Or there are apps you can download on your phone that use sat nav to measure distance travelled and speed and what not. That's what I use. T'was a wee bit cheaper than a garmin.

Very true, I know a few people who use their phones.

If you do this make sure you have a secure pouch or arm connector....because you look like a tit running with your mobile in your hand!

[robbieboy672]

Ok so after reading this its clear that roadwork is better than a treadmill for obvious reasons. However, I get shin splints whenever I run on pavement/concrete so i've been sticking to the treadmill as of late. So, with that being said, how much better is running outside vs. running on a treadmill?

[T.Horton]

Ok so after reading this its clear that roadwork is better than a treadmill for obvious reasons. However, I get shin splints whenever I run on pavement/concrete so i've been sticking to the treadmill as of late. So, with that being said, how much better is running outside vs. running on a treadmill?

one thing i can offer that works for me is to lace your shoes up to the very top islet. and of course ice afterwards.

[Spartacus Sully]

when training for my marathon id do miles on my treadmill and miles on the road, never really noticed a diffrence.

trail running is an incredible work out, and its alot better for your muslces and joints because you have to use alot more stabalizing muscles with every step and your not pounding away at your knees on hard pavement.

i had one of those GPS phone apps, id find if my phone wasnt full charged when i started my jog, it would be dead long bfore i finished. it just uses too much battery.

[Verstyle]

Ok so after reading this its clear that roadwork is better than a treadmill for obvious reasons. However, I get shin splints whenever I run on pavement/concrete so i've been sticking to the treadmill as of late. So, with that being said, how much better is running outside vs. running on a treadmill?

Put Icyhot on it and relax from running for a little bit then BUY NEW RUNNING SHOES. That's what it usually is.

And as I said before, you get the elements outside and to me it's more mental outside running. With a treadmill you can see how far you have to go to reach that mile which the time is just a quick look down. You tend to try to push yourself more outside and also as far as you run, you can't just get help when tired. You gotta walk or run your ass back. Haha. With a treadmill all you have to do is press the stop button.

[Spartacus Sully]

Ok so after reading this its clear that roadwork is better than a treadmill for obvious reasons. However, I get shin splints whenever I run on pavement/concrete so i've been sticking to the treadmill as of late. So, with that being said, how much better is running outside vs. running on a treadmill?

shin splints usually happen for 2 reasons, your tibial anterior muscle (the muscle on your shin) is weak or you lean too far forward when running. so even if the issue is with form and you lean to far forward strengthening your tibial anterior muscle will help improve your resistance to getting shin splints.

heres a few things you can do to strengthen your tibial anterior muscles:

every few days or even every day try to walk around for about 5 mins on your heels with your toes in the air, it will strengthen the tibialis anterior muscle and help prevent shin splints.

if you have weights you can also put your foot under the weight, and do reps where you bring your toes up heel still on the ground, then toes back down so foot is flat. this exercise does the same as above, strengthening the tibialis anterior.


as well, if you dont use running shoes or have really old running shoes get a new pair, most runners buy new running shoes every 500 miles.