So, at my gym, I set the treadmill to 12km/h which is one of the higher standard settings. I have to take quite big strides to run at this speed and after about 10 minutes I’m pretty tired and have to slow down or stop.
Then, normal running outside: there are a few paths near where I live where there are distance markings, as they are popular running routes. To run, say, 8km in 40 minutes on such a route is a pretty slow pace for me. It’s the kind of speed I do on a bad day, and I’m basically just skipping along.
Which of course doesn’t make sense. Is there a reason it’s more comfortable to run outside or is one of these measurements suspect?
One thought I have is that on a treadmill, you have to force yourself to maintain a constant speed. On the road, you can make adjustments for conditions, like wind, curves, terrain, footing, etc. Each adjustment is a sort of a rest, from an otherwise forced pace.
I’m not sure of the answer. My own experience has been the opposite, the cushioning effect of the treadmill and constant speed allows me to settle in to a rhythm and zone out. Running on the road I find my rhythm is disrupted and I’m slower and tire more easily.
I’ve noticed the same thing on stationary bike vs. real bike, and I assume it’s due to the lack of the breeze. If I put a box fan in front of the stationary bike than I can go much longer without overheating. The difference in heat transfer at running speed vs. biking speed is probably pretty large, but still, it’s got to help.
Two thoughts: does the cushioning of a treadmill make it harder to run, with each step against a yielding surface requiring more effort?
Alternatively, are treadmills simply inaccurate? I used to use a stairmaster, and could do hundreds of flights during a workout. Was a shock one time when our elevators were out and I had to climb 18 flights IRL!
When you’re running IRL, you CAN’T stop until you get where you’re going. On a treadmill, your brain is bound to wake up to your surroundings and notice that you’re already there. So it makes you stop.
I’ve always found the opposite true for myself. And I think it’s primarily due to psychological effects. On a treadmill I have no real sense of running any great distance, it’s just a number on a display. When actually running all I can think about is how far a distance I’ve run, how much farther I have to go, and how tired that makes me feel. The abstract nature of running on a treadmill removes that.
I figure it’s because there is no wind resistance and there is no terrain variation. The regulated speed of the treadmill tends to help as well since on an outdoor run your speed tapers down slowly over time, but on the treadmill you are locked in to a pace.
With that said, if a person can run 6 miles on a treadmill, that same person will do just fine running 6 miles on a footpath. They probably will run slower on the footpath.
I’ve noticed the same thing in a “treadmill” pool. It’s a little more tiring to swim the same amount of time at the same speed than it is in a real pool. Like others here, I’ve assumed it’s the forced pace with no variability that does it.
I would question one or both of your measurements. As other have noted, running on a treadmill with no incline is almost universally considered easier than running outdoors for the same pace.
I think running coach figured it out way up thread - you’re overstriding on the treadmill, which is a killer. When you’re outside, you are probably taking shorter strides at a faster rate, which is the way it is supposed to be done. Like others, I have the opposite experience, running outside is way harder than on the dreadmill, but overstriding would explain your issue.
