Why can I run further on the road than a treadmill?

Sorry for the drive-by thread…

Anyway, on thinking about this, and monitoring my own running, I think the important factor is the fixed speed.

When running outside, I don’t really keep to one speed, not when I’m setting a good pace anyway.
I have some bursts of speed (e.g. when a good track comes on my music player), then I have a “comfort” speed, maybe 9km/h, which I can slow to for a moment and get my breath back. And I can run for a very long time like this.

If I’m just on a treadmill set to 12km/h; I can’t speed up while “buzzed”, I can’t slow down for a moment to get my breath back, and it doesn’t suit my running style.

I always thought the treadmill was easier because the ‘sidewalk’ is moving (requiring less effort from me).
mmm

Easier to achieve takeoff velocity anyway

Because a treadmill can’t run.

Some can. Sort of.

It only requires less effort from you if you hang on to the handrails, otherwise it’s just as hard remaining stationary on a moving sidewalk as it is to move on a stationary sidewalk. The reason it may seem easier to run on a treadmill is to do with the surface you are running on and sometimes the treadmill lying about how fast it is going.

[largish nit]
farther
[/largish nit]

I have a big fan in front of an open window turned up to full blast in front of my treadmill. At 5 am the wind coming off the fan can be quite cold, but soon my body heats up and the breeze feels great.

My warm up, warm down and between intervals inclines are 3% at 5 mph. I do 4 quarter mile intervals at 10% at 5 mph. After about 30 minutes, I’ve burned over 400 calories. This fast walking incline workout burns just as many calories compared to running for the same amount of time, but is easier on my back.

The treadmill allows me to workout no matter what the weather is like outside. Its never too hot, too cold or too windy. And I’m only seconds from my shower. The surface is somewhat padded compared to pavement, so its easier on my joints.

I generally think so* - but on the other hand when I use the treadmill I watch TV. So there’s interest/distraction in treadmill use, but I still find it easier to make a distance on the road than via treadmill.

The boring sameness of the treadmill and being conscious that not watching your step could lead you to trip and fall or get tossed off the back of the thing (even when such an outcome is very unlikely) are both factors that make treadmilling more fatiguing for me. And even with a fan, air circulation isn’t as good indoors. There’s a reason people run better times on an outdoor track than indoors, and fresh air is part of it.

*it’s also “interesting” when you have to dodge traffic, potentially hostile animals etc.