Word on the street is that it’s spring but yesterday I spent four hours outside in rain, wind and 47-degree weather (yay track and field) so I’m not entirely convinced…
Anyways, in honor of spring, first, my favorite color combo- blue and yellow!
Aren’t those Ranunculuses (Ranunculi? What?) so, so delicious?
And second, running. Specifically outside.
My girl Terri at TryAnythingOnce was looking for some advice on transitioning from running on the treadmill to running outside. I’ll be honest, I rarely use it anymore but I used to be a treadmill beast back in graduate school, so I’m drawing from then…
I think that it’s important to ease back into running outside, rather than hit the pavement running (HA!). I am a huge fan of run-walking, so throwing a few 3:00-run/1:00-walk sessions outdoors can help get your running legs back.
Don’t forget, the treadmill is a bit easier than running outside, simply because it pushes you along. There’s less fighting against gravity, so it makes sense that going from the treadmill to the streets might be a tough transition.
Another idea for making the transition to running outdoors is to increase your typical speed on the treadmill- basically, making it *that* much harder and, by comparison, running outside *that* much easier…
For me, running outdoors is one of the perks to being a runner and now that it’s finally getting nice out there, I’m enjoying the lack of layers and warm (ish) temperatures during my runs.
Which do you prefer, the treadmill or outdoor running? Have you had any trouble transitioning from the treadmill to outside?
Aahhhh..okay. I am going to try the run then walk options. I hadn’t thought about increasing the speed on the treadmill. Good idea! I just need to get off my booty and get out there. Thanks!
I greatly prefer outdoor running (well, “running” for me) but it is soooo much more difficult for me!
Hm, I don’t think one or the other is more difficult, just different. I can run faster for longer outside than on the treadmill just because I’m used to it. But I like that I can pump the speed up on a treadmill and force myself to run outside my comfort zone.
Anyway, I just say go for it! when transitioning to outside. Your whole body will hurt because you are using way more muscle to “pull” yourself along but its benefits will soon show!
~Ang
The treadmill belt assists your legs when you propel yourself forward. Outside, it’s all on you. This is usually what disappoints runners once they switch to outdoor running. No worries though. I offset this by setting my treadmill incline to 3%. The belt still does some of the work, but the increased incline helps my body work key muscles that will be needed when you hit the pavement , and the belt is no longer there to assist your legs.
Also, treadmills have a reputation for being extremely inaccurate. My treadmill tells me that I run an 11.20 mile pace, but on the track, I always run a 9.5 to 10 minute mile. If I were to set my treadmill to 6mph, which is a 10 minute mile, I would struggle. If I were to apply a treadmill 6 minute mile pace to the track, I would die. So clearly treadmills cannot be trusted. This is what screws with people. They try to run their treadmill pace outdoors and find that they cannot keep up. I felt as if I was running slower outdoors as opposed to my treadmill, when in fact I was running faster.
I also don’t start the outdoor transition on pavement. I always go to a high school track that is made of rubber. It’s monotonous, but nowhere near as monotonous as a treadmill. You also get fresh air, nature distractions, wind resistance, and a fixed running surface. 30 minutes on a track is heaven compared to a treadmill. Time willl fly. You will find no hills on a track, but the fixed running surface will help your body adjust when you eventually decide to add hills to your runs. I find one week on a track is enough before I am able to comfortably hit the road. Slow down on the road. Long, paced runs are better in the long run than running fast and killing youself. Like many runners, I used to be self-conscious that motorists and pedestrians were judging my running pace. But when I looked around, I realized that most of them were running at about the same speed. So that was all in my head.
Unfortunately, my body becomes more susceptible to injury when I run on pavement, be it asphalt or concrete. So I usually spend most of my time on the track. But hey, it’s better than nothing, or the treadmill haha. Any system that keeps me injury free is a great system.