Treadmill vs Road

I'm curious about the same thing. I can run faster and longer on a treadmill but on the road it's tough.

Maybe your just in a hurry to get off that thing! LOL :-) :-) :-)

Seriously though. What kind of treadmill program are you running? In order to get a feel for the road, you should run with it with at least a 1% incline. This replicates the wind on an outdoor flat course, which you usually find at the track. Normal road conditions where I'm from in Connecticut are hilly, that would tend to slow you down.

Evelyn

I noticed the same thing and, as a beginner, it was really disheartening when I finally moved outside. I agree: wind and incline. But I also speculate that you're technically not "carrying" all your weight on the treadmill (because the band moves automatically, you don't move it with your feet) and I also found the the surface did not take the toll on my legs that outside surfaces do. I'd be interested in any thoughts you physics wizards might have on the topic...It doesn't take too much to acclimate to outside...not a huge deal. But next winter (I'm in Minnesota) back on the treadmill...good advice about the incline...thanks! That will lessen the shock next spring...

Well, a treadmill keeps the road going, no matter what your legs are doing, so it's easier to go fast. You can take long, bouncy strides on a treadmill, and the machine will keep going underneath you.

For a general rule of thumb, setting the treadmill to a 1% grade is a pretty good simulation of running on the road.

OK,
The incline makes sence, I always just get on and start. I will set to 1% next time. Since i am in Houston, 1% is still a lot LOL. I am about to go and run a lunch, I'll post my time for the same distance (3 miles).
Joe

I've been following this and it really interests me, since I seem to have to opposite sensation. My normal pace outdoors is about an 8:30 mile which I can hold for 5 miles or so. But if I set the treadmill so that I'm doing that same pace indoors, it seems harder. Maybe I just spend so much time looking at the scenery on outdoor runs that it takes my mind off the effort. And 10 minutes on the treadmill goes by a lot more slowly that 10 minutes outdoors. I have to put a towel over the treadmill clock so that I don't keep watching it. It only helps a little bit!

Max

I'm with Max on this one. It might have something to do with the fact that I am 6'5", but I always feel crowded on the treadmill. Plus, one of the neat things about running is that you are going somewhere, taking in the sights and waving at the gawkers as you go.

I have found the one thing that treadmills are good for, and that is intervals. It rained all last week in Houston, so I was forced to run twice (bleck) on the treadmill. The second workout was an interval workout, and the beauty of the treadmill is that you can set the pace to whatever you want, and then you just watch the distance/time as to when to scale it back down.

All things being equal, I would rather run in the rain outdoors than on the treadmill. But I have two little ones that do not enjoy riding in the Baby Jogger in the rain...

I can't do more than 3-4 miles on a treadmill before I go mad. =) However, I find the treadmill very useful for hill work and speed work. The treadmill allows me to be consistent on the grade and allows me to monitor speed progress.

OK,
I ran at lunch. It is VERY HOT and VERY HUMID today. It rained just enough to make the cement steamy. I dried off, changed clothes and have now soaked my second and only other shirt. It has been 25 minutes and cn not stop sweating!!! We are very casual at work, so I can sit at my desk in a t-shirt and shorts, but I feel funny with them being wet. My time was 33m 40s 3.00 miles 11m 13s/mile, compared to 29m 13s 3.00 miles 9m 44s/mile yesterday on the treadmill.
Joe

Go houston! Ok, I'm done. Yeah that treadmil thing always did seem like it would take some of the weight off you making it easier, but I think its timing (at least for me). I think when I run long distances my mind and body tend to trick me on the road because I am not directly monitoring my pace all the time and I subconsciously "cheat" a little by slowing just slightly which seems to add up over distances. When you expect to be this tired after this distance and this speed there can be mental factors. Then theres also the AC that many run in, which for some of you may not be a factor, and all the tiny enviromental factors you just dont have to deal with on the machine like keeping your ankles more trained to avoid the bumps, harder road, and unexpecteds. You know what makes me run faster? Music, with a good mix its 5 miles 40 minutes, with none it about 2 in twenty for me. (*its the eye of the tiger.......no, not really, I'm not that fruity and its not quite that big of a difference but it does sure seem to shave minutes off).

On the treadmill, you control your pace by pushing buttons and you either keep up or get spit out the back. On the road, you have to maintain that pace on your own which isnt alwasy that easy.

Eric

i spoke to a trainner about this and he said this is due to the treadmill effectively doing some of the work for you, that added to no undulation in the route or wind, corners etc. makes for a faster run. also the treadmill surface is somewhat 'springy' i think this may also add to the faster time. however, as suggested a 1% incline should mimic good road conditions and make for a more comparable session.

however, i feel the same as some of you, i am faster on road, it hurts my insteps of my feet a little and i am always scared off flying off the back of it so i run a bit slow i think

a

i'm in the Max camp too.. way faster on the road.

i run 5k on the treadmill i cant break 24mins, but outdoor where the uneven ground and dogs lurk, under 22mins. dunno why.

if i run 22min pace on the mill then i "blow up" after about 15mins and have to slow down, i dont have a HRM but i suspect i'm over range... but outside no problem. can that be possible?

I was going to post this same question/problem today but luckily I found this post before posting the same topic just a few days later!!! I am "in the Joe camp"....
Today I did my version of a brick... spinning class and then treadmill. I ran 2 miles in 20 minutes (19:59, really!) but outside, I average much slower times 10:30-11 minute miles usually and that is without biking first. I know that on the treadmill, I inch up my speed by 0.1mph increments and I don't really feel it. I don't think there is a reliable way to do that outside. I am going to try to move most of my runs outside when I can and really concentrate on my pace (measure out where the 0.5 mile increments are on my route(s) and check my time at each of these points).
Thanks for the question, Joe!

I've found that by setting the treadmill at .5% incline it is VERY close to the same speed as outdoors (from a RPE and HR perspective). Part of it has to do with pushing off. You push off with every stride outdoors, whereas indoors you don't need to push so much as just move your legs underneath you. If you run on a treadmill for a few weeks without running outdoors (or longer), you would notice that your calves are sore when starting up outside again.

Wow,
There are a lot of differant answers here. I was not able to run outside today, so I will go to the Y after work and after my son's baseball game. I will set the treadmill incline to 1% and see how my time differs. This has to be the greatest site on the net!!!!!
Thanks for it all.
Joe

Sorry for the late reply.
I did not get to the Y last night, but I did jog in the neighborhood. I planned on going 3miles, I went 5 instead!!! Not the fastest: 1h 5.00 miles 12m /mile, but it was 5 miles. Today at lunch I jogged 33m 12s 3.00 miles 11m 04s/mile, and swam 1 mile after work 52m 39s 1760.00 yards 2m 59s /100 yards. BTW, I have now lost 53 lbs!!!!!!!
I will tri to get to a treadmill soon to do the 1% incline and see how it compares.
Thanks
Joe

Edited by Freeswimmingfish 2004-05-20 12:28 AM

Jogged at lunch today, It was over 85f. It took me 34 mins to run 3 miles.