Treadmill vs outside

[BOOEY]

How come I can run a lot longer without getting winded on a treadmill compared to running outside? It's not like a live in high elevation ... any thoughts?

 

[Synpax]

Cause you are probably going faster outside?

Also, the air quality may be an issue. CO2 (car exhaust) makes your body work harder.

Also, the temperature/humidity could be an issue. If you are in VA, as I am, it's still kind of cold. Ideal running temperature is 60 degrees.

The incline of your outdoor running area may be an issue, too. I barely notice the inclines myself but my running partner once pointed out over a ledge how we had climbed and that does add to the workload - even when it seems to slight to notice.

Some may also say it's easier to cheat on a treadmill but I doubt you are cheating because you'd be aware of it.

Overall, I'd guess that it is a speed issue first and possibly a CO2 or an environmental.

 

[SSpiro]

Good question.. I often have the same question. Seems I can tolerate a little longer indoors then outdoors. Must just be the controlled environment (temperature, TV/radio on, etc)

 

[pintoca]

pace. you have to control your pace, you normally do this outside when youz "zone in"... indoors, the threadmill does it for you.

Get an mp3 player and some punchy music. Bring your feet down with every beat: measure indoor the speed, go running outside with the music. Problem solved.

You only need to find the correct "speed music"...

 

[Timanator]

I find in my long runs(6 miles+) if I were to set the treadmill incline to 1.0 it is very much similer to the outside.

 

[GlobexKevin]

I don t have it now, but I use to have a professional treadmill. I got a better work out on the treadmill. I was able to keep my heart rate steady with the heart monitor. I agree with the comment earliar. The inside conditions are more favorable. But if I am running outside in a park or somewhere where there are people or nice surroundings I get a good run. Keeps my mind on the surroundings.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

wind resistance - even if it is not breezy out, there is still wind resistance

slight terrain changes - it might not feel hilly outside, but there are changes to terrain, slight grades up and down, tread is flat always (obviously)

climate/humidity/temp - as previously mentioned

air quality - as previously mentioned, also, pollen and dust can impact breathing

speed - as previously mentioned, you will almost always go faster outside than on a tread

 

[megamania500]

I, too, notice that I get winded faster outside compared to treadmill. I always figured that it had to do with the difference in the dynamics of the two. Outside, when your foot contacts the ground, your leg has to push back in order to move your body forward. On the treadmill, however, your leg doesn't push back at all. When your foot contacts the treadmill, the belt pulls your leg back. Therefore, that "pushing back" effort that your leg has to do outside is absent during treadmill. Does that sound like a "plausable" explanation, or am I imagining things?

 

[falcon07]

I, too, notice that I get winded faster outside compared to treadmill. I always figured that it had to do with the difference in the dynamics of the two. Outside, when your foot contacts the ground, your leg has to push back in order to move your body forward. On the treadmill, however, your leg doesn't push back at all. When your foot contacts the treadmill, the belt pulls your leg back. Therefore, that "pushing back" effort that your leg has to do outside is absent during treadmill. Does that sound like a "plausable" explanation, or am I imagining things?

That's right. On a treadmill the only work you're doing is picking your legs up fast enough to not fall off the back of the treadmill. Outside, however, you are actually propelling your body forward, utilizing much more effort.

 

[KidnKorner]

Exactly what the last 2 posters said! You are propelling your own body weight. While the other factors due play a part of it, it this that makes the biggest impact. Running on a treadmill has its benefits. You can reduce impact. You can adjust incline and speed to compensate for the lost effort of running on convetional surfaces. You can perform HIIT easier by being able to have control of the treadmills parameters.

I'll take the treadmill versus outside anyday.