Running on Treadmill vs. Running Outdoors: Which is Better for Athletes?

How does treadmill running differ from running outdoors? Which one is simpler and why?

Despite different views, scientific study has demonstrated that, with a few minor tweaks, running on a treadmill is nearly equivalent to running outside.

You can perform some workouts on a treadmill that are superior to those done outside.

What are the differences between treadmill running and outdoor running?

We must determine whether running outside is healthier for us than treadmill running, or whether the opposite is true.

On the one hand, running on a treadmill should be easier because the belt is moving beneath you and there is no wind resistance for your body to overcome.

On a treadmill, you could theoretically hop up and down, and the machine would still record that you were running at the pace of the belt.

Your legs must push you ahead outside while fighting the wind resistance that results (however minor it may be).

Fortunately, scientific studies have shown that setting the treadmill to a 1% gradient accurately matches outdoor running while reflecting energy expenses.

To make running on a treadmill as strenuous as running outside, you can compensate for the lack of wind resistance and the belt moving under you by setting the treadmill to a 1% gradient.

When Is a Treadmill Better Than Running Outside?

When the weather and ground conditions are poor

This is the most obvious advantage of treadmill running, but it is crucial to mention it because different factors influence each runner differently.

When it is hot or there’s bad footing, it is challenging; put me on a clear road on a chilly or rainy day, and it is easy.

Consumption of fluids and carbohydrates

It is vital that you practice taking in fluids and carbohydrates on your runs while following a marathon training schedule to teach yourself how to eat and drink without stopping.

This can be a logistical issue if you do not plan on carrying your water or gels.

Running a treadmill tempo or long run will allow you to practice eating and drinking without slowing down.

While the treadmill will not make eating or drinking any simpler, it will make it more logistically viable.

Indoor racetrack simulation

One of the distinct advantages of a treadmill is the ability to recreate your desired race course.

Many of the more modern treadmills allow you to design your custom course profile that you may use to imitate the precise route you are training for.

You can train on the course any day of the week if you program the machine or, if you do not have that option, manually modify the incline levels based on the course map.

You can now mimic the downhill hammering on your quads and be more prepared for the first miles on race day.

While jogging on a treadmill has some distinct advantages, it can also be damaging to your long-term development if you only run outside to compete.

If you are a regular treadmill runner, here are some things to keep an eye out for:

Pacing is not learned on a treadmill.

It is simple to “set it and forget it” when running on a treadmill and simply lock into a pre-set pace. Unfortunately, this strategy does not teach you how to find and maintain your own pace. As a result, the development of your internal effort and pace instincts is hampered.

You will not have developed the delicate sense of pacing that is required to run a negative split and finish strong on race day when executing racing splits is important.

The treadmill is tedious.

Treadmill running is tedious for most runners.

Without a landscape to distract you and anything to take your attention off the blinking lights in front of you, it is all too easy to check the time every 30 seconds and be disappointed that more time hasn’t passed since your last glimpse.

Similarly, when you are running a tough workout outside, you can “feel” the finish line approaching and have a better understanding of the distance remaining.

On a treadmill, your mind cannot see the finish line, making it difficult to concentrate when the pace becomes difficult and you need to push yourself.

Running on a treadmill, like everything else in life, should be approached with caution, in my opinion.

So, what is the bottom line?

The treadmill may be an excellent training tool and is especially useful for those of us who live in chilly climates.

Did You know? treadmills are also used by Astronauts during their Space mission, to keep themselves fit in zero gravity.