gravel roads

Okay, maybe this is a silly question, but it sure won't be the first time I have looked silly...so here goes! I do 99% of my running on a treadmill. I have 4 little girls, so I have to do it when they are wathing TV, napping, etc. The 2 times I have gone running outdoors around my house, I have found it very challenging. I had to really work to run a mile, when I could do 3 on the TM with no problem. I ended up walking most of it.

I thought it was just the difference between the treadmill and running outdoors, but when I ran my first 5K last weekend, I did really awesome! I ran the whole way, smoked my treadmills times and really enjoyed it....

So, I wonder if the difference is that all the roads within a few miles of my house are gravel. It made me wonder if the constant minor balance adjustments, etc, made a difference, or if I am just nuts. The only other things that I can think of is the adrenaline, but while I am sure that helped, it just seemed the differnce was too pronounced. I had a energy drink shortly before the race...maybe that was it.

I also wondered about running on the gravel period...how that is for the legs. I could change my route and run from my house to the river. That would be off road on the mowed grass......Any ideas?