Treadmill vs. Running Outside

 Why is it that I can run all day on a treadmill, but I'm dying after running outside for 5min?  I put the treadmill on an incline and run about a 10min. mile (I'm not the fastest girl in the world).  Anyone else have the same problem?  I'd love to run outside, but my body just hates it!

I'm guessing it's because the impact on the treadmill is lower than the impact on the concrete, so your joints and muscle work harder outside than on the treadmill.

But then again, I don0t run outside (yet!) so let's hope someone who does, says something =)

I *think* can answer this one. I run outside all the time because for some reason I hate treadmills, but I do run on them occassionally. I agree that it's harder on your joints, but I think the fact you're running on a moving belt helps you along, as well

 Perhaps its some sort of mental block? I know for me, I can't run without music. I can run about 3-4 miles with my iPod but take that away from me and you barely get me down my street haha. In the same way, sometimes having those numbers on the treadmill can help keep you going (yes! I'll keep running until I hit 200 calories!), yet when you're outside you have to really just push yourself.

Also, weather, self-consciousness, type of terrain you're running on can really make a difference. Oh! Also, do you hold onto the handles when you're running? That can actually make a major difference. I find when I run outside I have to be carry stuff in my hands (not even weights, just my ipod in one and cell phone in the other) or I feel naked.

Well, even if this doesn't solve your dillema or offer any insight...it sure shows my quirky, strange little habits :)

spiro is right; there's much less resistance on a treadmill. 

i also can't stand treadmills, but i prefer to run without music.  with my ipod, i'm very conscious of the passage of time (i'm aware of the number of songs, waiting for the next song, etc.), and i never get into a meditative state.  without it, sometimes i actually forget i'm running.

I find it's also harder to gauge how fast I'm running outside compared to when I'm on the treadmill. So when I think I'm running at 5mph, it's probably more like 6 and then i tire out too quickly. This is why I love my heart rate monitor so I know when I need to slow down a little. And ya, there's less resistance on a treadmill with the belt moving then outside, where there's also wind. Especially if you don't have any incline at all. I can't remember the % but its around 1% to help match outside.

yeah, i agree that's it's easy to start out too fast outside, especially when you're just getting used to it.  one thing that i find helpful is to know my landmarks, so that i can aim for an average speed.  once i'm into the third kilometer, it's not an issue anymore.

i have a couple of other techniques i use to push through when it gets tough.  first, when i start to feel tired, i make myself speed up. mentally, if i know i can go faster, then i know i'm okay.  i'll also ask myself what hurts, and i'll do an inventory of my body.  once i consciously confirm that nothing hurts, i feel stronger.

but i also love to run on the trails, and i've just made up my mind that when i do that, speed doesn't matter.  i'm super slow on the trails, but i don't care (partly because no one's watching ).

i'll be moving outside for the first time all winter. i love running outside, but i live in a big city and won't run outside in the dark (i can only fit running in in the morning). i am not looking forward to it, although i love it, because i know it's easier on the treadmill, i go a lot faster and am not nearly as sore. i like having the distraction of the television and knowing exactly how fast and how far i have run. with the nike+ that i use there are so many variables. BUT, as long as you are breaking a sweat and burning calories, do what you like! 

Original Post by pgeorgian:

 

i also can't stand treadmills, but i prefer to run without music.  with my ipod, i'm very conscious of the passage of time (i'm aware of the number of songs, waiting for the next song, etc.), and i never get into a meditative state.  without it, sometimes i actually forget i'm running.

Same here, for the same reason. That and I'm paranoid. I'm afraid someone is gonna sneak up on me on the somewhat isolated trail and then they'll find my headless, handless corpse because I never saw the crazy person coming at me and there was no one to hear me scream

Seriously.

spiro, my love, you need a dog.  get to the spca poste haste.

I am the total opposite of you, erinspepito!  I clockwatch on the treadmill like crazy and feel like it's taking forever to run the distance I set out for myself (usually 5k), but when I'm outside, I do it without even thinking about how far I'm going.  I have a few defined running routes and I don't concern myself with the landmarks, etc., nor do I listen to music.  I just find that having some different scenery to look at makes the run go by without me noticing how hard I'm working.

No question, running outside is much harder than the treadmill.  I was running 25 minutes on the treadmill (learning to run) when I tried my first outdoor run.  I was shocked that I couldn't run even 10 minutes.  I  WANT the full effort, so I switched to indoor track during the week (I won't run outdoors in the dark) and run outdoors on the weekend.  I love my forest preserve.