Ran 4 miles outside but can barely run 3 on the treadmill!!

I started running a little over a month ago and only used the treadmill until recently when I figured out how far a mile is around our neighborhood and started running outside.

Here is the weird thing, I can run 4 miles easily outside but can barely get through 3 on the treadmill even though there are no hills or wind.  And 10 minute miles were very tough for me on the treadmill but I did 4 today outside in 40 minutes!

I am already dreading the winter months and it is only June!  LOL  Is it all a mental thing because I can't figure out what else it might be.

Maybe you get more bored on the treadmill? I know that that's an issue for me - I can ride for 3+ hours on a bike outside, but as soon as I get on a stationary one it's nearly impossible, because the scenery just isn't as interesting to give you that "push."

True and the TV or Radio will not help go outside and enjoy nature.

I am the same way. I think that the constant time and distance monitoring annoys me with nothing to look at. When I run outside I can see the finish line and try and get there as fast as possible. I try and get the tredmill at the gym that faces a window, listen to my iPod and hope for the best. For the winter months, if you have a tred mill at home put it by your TV and get on it during your fav shows, the gym I used to go to had what they called a "Cardio Theater" it was this huge room with a big movie screen and cardio machines, I could run for hours in that thing!

The same thing happens to me.  I can run longer, faster, and in much less pain, when I am outside.  In my opinion, running on a treadmill is simply COMPLETELY different.

For one, when you are outside you can vary your speed whenever you want.  I often find that as a get running I unconsciously start running faster...whereas when I am on a treadmill I run at a constant speed until I decide to speed it up or the program speeds it up for me...it much harder for your body to control how you are running when you are on a machine.

Also, your form most likely changes when you are on a treadmill...running on a moving surface v. running on solid ground can change the way you run more than you think!

undoubtedly its the running at a constant speed that makes it seem harder.  You'll get used to it :-)

I find running on a treadmill completely unbearable for longer than about 5 minutes, but I can run for hours outside.

First, treadmills are boring.

Second, there is little to no air movement when you are running on a treadmill, so i find I get a lot hotter a lot faster.

Thirdly, when you land on a treadmill, the belt is moving the same speed regardless of how you land.  When you run outside, you are the one that is moving, so I think it's a more natural landing for your feet (that sounds silly, but hopefully you know what I mean).  I find treadmills yank my feet back as I run, which is kind of unnatural, I get some pretty intense leg pain from this pulling, and I have met a few other people that also get leg pain when they run on treadmills but can comfortably run outside.

Long story short, it's not weird that you can run longer outside than inside.

running 101...Why do you think Pro athlete Track and Field indoor times are slower than outdoor track times....

You cannot breathe as easy indoors as you can outdoors...plain and simple..

Original Post by eddiepotter:

running 101...Why do you think Pro athlete Track and Field indoor times are slower than outdoor track times....

You cannot breathe as easy indoors as you can outdoors...plain and simple..

This isn't true for everyone. You have to take weather/pollen levels into account.

Right now I run both outside, and on a treadmill. I personally find it easiest to run on a treadmill. Running outside makes my lungs burn.

This is the basic reason it is harder to run inside...screw pollen

omg i am the SAME way!  I'v actually gotton a little better with the treadmill, I can do an hour if I REALLY feel lke it.  This is probably b/c I moved to Boston and running outside is basically not an option in Jan/Feb.  so I got used to it.  but more than a few runs a week on the treadmill gives me wicked shin splints! 

Outside running all the way!

Also, eddiepotter, I agree that running track inside is tougher to breathe, I remember highschool indoor track meets I would feel like my lungs were bleeding after a run!

It's 100 degrees and humid like molasses here, but I'm also bored with the treadmill.

Do you find an indoor track to be easier than the treadmill?

absolutely not...indoor track usually has extremely hot lights so that when they air events it's bright....that plus the fact that it is indoors makes it hard to run.  there are also banked tracks indoors...so around the turn you are actually running at like a 60 degree angle...

i think it might be a mental thing. its just not as fun running on the treadmill, i find it easier but i can run longer outside before i want to call it quits. but i run in a couple of lovely parks when weather permits in this wet country.

Original Post by rindi:

Original Post by eddiepotter:

running 101...Why do you think Pro athlete Track and Field indoor times are slower than outdoor track times....

You cannot breathe as easy indoors as you can outdoors...plain and simple..

This isn't true for everyone. You have to take weather/pollen levels into account.

Right now I run both outside, and on a treadmill. I personally find it easiest to run on a treadmill. Running outside makes my lungs burn.

 my nose burns.

Oh man im the same way! I can run 2 miles out side no problem but if I run on a tredmill I can barely make it 1.5

.. im definitely the opposite

i can run for 30 minutes on the treadmill but i can barely run 10 outside >=(

Well, I made it 4 miles on the treadmill yesterday - I did it by covering everything with a towel so I couldn't see the distance or laps or anything and buying headphones that wouldn't fall off so I could listen to my mp3 player.  :)