So I ran 2 miles..

[IAmYourKidsDad]

on the treadmill at a 2.5 degree incline. Is it true that 2 miles on a treadmill is only equal to 1 mile on a track?

 

[Holden]

with only a 2.5 % incline, I question if you even ran at all????

 

[alden]

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[Ignatius]

It sure as hell doesn't feel like the same thing. To me, running 5 miles on the treadmill isn't as hard as running 5 miles on a track at the same pace. I love having a treadmill at home, but when I do that vs. run outside, the bigger thing to me is the amount of time, rather than the 'distance'...

 

[VYFan]

I'm a casual runner, but recently had built up running on a treadmill much past what I usually do. Went out on a track at a nearby school--nice track, all marked up with lanes and relay starts, etc.--and was clocking laps WAY faster than usual. So, at first, I'm thinking, something about "real" running is making me faster. I keep pondering, though, and finally call over to the Jr. High gym coach and learn that it was a 330 meter oval. Ha! Joke's on me.

 

[JohnnyM]

treadmill running is easier (IMO) because you don't have to propel yourself forward nearly as much. the treadmill is moving, you just have to run enough to not fall down, which sometimes means more of a "running in place" motion than a "move myself forward" motion. on the track you don't move forward unless your feet do the moving.

i don't know, maybe i'm full of ****, but that's the way it feels for me. i hate running on a treadmill (more than i already hate running not on a treadmill).

 

[BigWill]

the real question: if you flapped your arms, could you take off?

 

[notreally]

treadmill < flat pavement < hilly pavement < trail < hilly trail.

 

[l00p]

so to you a hilly trail is the holy grail?

 

[Ignatius]

Over hill, over dale?

 

[Ok_Longhorn]

I don't know if it's "easier" or just "different" in my book. I can run 3 - 4 miles tops on a treadmill but can and have run marathons outside. Difference for me is that I get bored on a treadmill and also feel like I'm constantly going to fall off.

 

[YoLaDu]

i can't remember the number, but i thought by putting the incline at a particular nunber it offset the advantage you get by having no wind resistance on a treadmill.

Could the treadmill possibly seem easier because instead of running in 105 degree weather you might be doing it inside in 78 degrees?

 

[texasbig12champs]

i've ran for about 20 years competitively and not. in and outdoors, treadmills and swimming pools. no doubt it is easier and not the same to run an equivalent distance on a treadmill compared to actual solid ground running. i would say to use about a 2 degree incline to simulate some resistance but still it wont be the same. its just the motion and forces of staying up on a moving belt vs propelling yourself forward on non-moving ground are not the same and will not work your muscles the same. i would say you can get a good cardio workout from the treadmill but you will probably need to crank up the pace compared to your outdoor speed. treadmills are good as a fill in when its 105 or pouring outside but you will get a better workout by actually running. i would compare running on a treadmill to be a similar experience to someone who lifts weights with machines and actual running is using free weights. you still can get a decent workout but it wont have the same results as you would see with the real deal.

 

[alden]

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[Ignatius]

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[alden]

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[Ignatius]

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[alden]

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[grinch]

I agree with most people on here that running "for real" is going to give you more of a workout; that said, I mainly just run 2 miles on a treadmill and call it good

IMO, when you "run" on a treadmill (particularly with a fast pace), the time both your legs are in the air can affect the actual distance traveled since the treadmill speed is constant and your time in the air is not. (though I may be making this up... perhaps b/c i run on them too much, haha..)

 

[notreally]

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[alden]

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[washparkhorn]

I love treadmill threads.

 

[Summerof79]

I think the treadmill is VERY good for cleaning up running form. You have an adjustable speed to control the length of your gait and thus you plant foot. Most people do not realize the impact of the plant foot and it's relationship to the body position is probably the single biggest factor in good running form.

Running on the treadmill is indeed easier because the resistance of treadmill is less on your drive foot because the ground beneath you is already in motion. At least that's my opinion, and I sort of felt like running on a treadmill versus a track was probably a difference of between 5-7 percent less exertion. Judging from my times and heart rate monitor feedback that's what I determined with my running form.

I imagine that a nearly perfect running form might show the least amount of difference in effort between the treadmill and the track.

The great thing about trail running is that the smaller muscle groups are used to a much greater extent.