Treadmill vs. Outdoor Running

The Marine asked me recently which is better running on the treadmill or running outside when training for an event. Now immediately most runners would probably say, “Running outside, of course!” I am not so quick do dismiss the benefits of running inside. And that is exactly what I consider treadmill workouts, running inside. I only make this distinction because some people consider running on a treadmill too easy to adequately train you for any distance and therefore the activity is a hybrid of running and an elliptical machine. I think they are wrong on that account. My simple answer is the road is best, but the belt is very useful.

Running on a treadmill offers many Pros that running outside does not. Among the most compelling reasons to hit the machines are the following: treadmills can regulate a runner’s pace such that proper pacing and rhythm is established early, and for seasoned runners can be reintroduced after many outdoor workouts.

Second, I believe a runner is more likely to adhere to pre-planned speed workouts, and therefore see noticeable gains in speed and endurance. In fact, I attribute my increased speed over the winters to frequent speed workouts in the gym.

Third, of course most obviously, it increases the likelihood of sticking to training plans, either in the summer or winter. Often, my motivation wanes because of undesirable weather conditions. Treadmill workouts give me an alternative to running in freezing or frying temperatures. Thus I am more likely to stick to the plan, no matter what the weather.

Finally (although there are probably many more unlisted benefits), for the motivation-impaired treadmills provide the safe atmosphere in which a runner may lose themselves in a movie, music, or even reading materials. This feeling of mental distraction allows the runner to get the miles in while not feeling bored to tears. I certainly do not consider running boring, but I am not blind to the possibility that others are not as enthusiastic about long distances.

Although I strongly advocate treadmill usage as a net benefit for training, I would be remiss not to mention its detriments. I have found the distraction available to treadmill use can strip the runner of necessary concentration. The concentration learned can be essential to knowing your running body and those lessons can be pivotal under race conditions. Also, no matter how you adjust the settings the real world can never be duplicated, and this is exactly why I advocate treadmills only as a supplement, not a steady diet.

So, if your feeling like a good speed workout, or you’re just feeling blah from the weather; then strap on your shoes and hit the machines, but don’t forget that you seldom find races run on a belt.