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Which is better for your overall stamina and overall fitness? Which is better to lose body fat and which is better for your 1.5 miler at the ADSC?

I would of thought myself outdoor running because its more realistic as to what you are actually going to be doing at the ADSC and RT. But would be easier if you had your own treadmill. because you would'nt have to travel to a gym and you could just use it in your spare time because its right there in your house and more convienient for busy lifestyles.

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I've used both and much prefer the real thing, but they each have pros and cons.

One of the nice things about the treadmill is that if/when you need to stop you are not miles from anyhwere. You can step into the shower, use the phone etc.

Regards fitness etc. The road or the treadmill don't get you fit, you do.

Both are good but I prefer running outdoors myself. As RC said treadmills can be a lot more convinent because it can give you the perfect pace and when you stop you can quickly shower off and continue with your day.

Depending where you live, runnng outdoors is slightly harder. I live in London so when I go for my runs I go in my nearby park as soon as it opens because it just gets busier and busier as the day gos on.

If you live in the country however there are lots of deserted fields and long stretches of road where you will only come across 5 or so cars in the space of a half hour, ideal for running whatever the time.

Had to laugh Just_me, sorry!

I don't suggest anyone goes running in 'deserted fields' in the countryside, the farmers tend not to like it! Stick to marked footpaths.
Running on the road where I live is not a particularly safe option either - you may not see a lot of cars, but the roads being as bendy as they are, the cars don't see you either...

Coxy, as Rogue says, both have pros and cons. Only you can decide if you have a safe route to run outside.

Hyperlithe wrote: I don't suggest anyone goes running in 'deserted fields' in the countryside, the farmers tend not to like it!

Well you are running ! A little extra motivation never hurt.

just_me wrote: Well you are running ! A little extra motivation never hurt.

Not as fast as some#eight game load from a 12 gauge.........
Or the farmers prize bull

I much prefer outdoors and I'd be inclined to say it's probably better for your fitness as well. Try running 3 miles on a treadmill and running 3 miles for real and see which feels harder!
Also on a treadmill, you're not working as hard to actually move your weight forward, as you tend to leave your weight static on the back foot and then transfer it to the front, letting the treadmill do some of the actual moving. Does that make sense, I don't think I explained too well!?

On another note, outdoor running serves to better your stabilising muscles around the joints, etc a lot better than a treadmill. Think of all the small variations in surface angle, grip, etc that you encounter on an outdoors run as compared to a nice smooth unvarying treadmill.

I personally live in a horrible place, all my running has to be on the footpaths alongside main roads, breathing in the diesel fumes and dodging the insults and objects thrown by the local yobs.

Hey there, just thought I'd say that running outdoors is definitely best, I much prefer to get into your own zone without getting distracted by what anyone else is doing on a treadmill next to you, if you can hill reps are always a good way to increase your speed, although a killer they do work!

Science behind why runing out doors on gods green earth is good.


Reason 1 for out doors: You have to carry you're body weight when you run, and use momentum to keep at a pace meaning you're body works harder

Reason 2 for out doors: Good lot of oxygen, nice weather can vary on you're running time.

Reason 1 for NO T.M: You're body weight is carried with the machine thou you still progress in fitness you won't as much as out doors

Reason 2 for NO T.M: Constantly running in the same temperature can cause you're body to become used to that temperature and not others

Reason 3 for NO T.M: You can't vary speed as well as out doors, you cant Pole to pole train or come across obstacles that could and will help you're fitness progress.

Besides running outside is less boring.

Personally i feel outdoor running 'conditions' your body better. But running on a treadmill is great for keeping on top of your own fitness.

Does anyone, like me, find running times improve on a treadmill? Just a thought on why this could be?

You're running time improves because you're not dong as much work as you should be when running, because you're body is almost being helped along on the tread mill you dont use vital energy to improve you're fitness greatly.

So far ever person i've asked who's a PTI about running say when you use a treadmill ADD 1 minute to you're time.

Treadmills ARE a great way to stay on top of fitness and they do get you fit, just not as fast as outdoor running i think this is because you almost see it as less distance in you're mind.. I.E if you know a rout you run out side and wake up one morning thinking you Cant be assed its because you're imagining the rout and thinking it will take you ages, But if you wake up and think you're going to crank out 3 miles on a tread mill no problem you don't find it half as wearing on the brain and you almost see it as a shorter distance.

Just to add my two penneth:

I'm one of these strange guys who actually finds the treadmill harder than running outside. That is to say, if I run outside at a particular pace - say, 15kph - and then run on a treadmill at the same pace, I find the treadmill to be a lot more work. I've found this to be consistent over the years, despite using scores of different treadmills (and paces!).

My own take on treadmills is that they're a great complement to running outside, but shouldn't be seen as a replacement. In particular I've found them useful for breaking through barriers (probably psychological ones) when it comes to maintaining a given pace for long periods - especially so if you can program the treadmill beforehand. For this reason they're also great for interval routines.