Welcome to another installment of the world's most loveable foot! This week we have a question from Nel_G who writes:

"Dear Footnote, The weather is beating me at the moment and I am doing most of my training in the gym on a treadmill. Is this good or bad for me?"

My general reaction to this type of question is to say “stop being soft and get out that door soldier!” However, I just looked out the window and quivered at the thought of going out for a lunch time run with the runner’s evil nemesis: wind and rain!

Of course we would all love to run around the beautiful countryside injury free in nice weather but, for most of us this is hard to come by! Physically you will gain a similar amount of fitness from running indoors as you would outdoors

So who would win in a fight between running outside and treadmill running? There is only one way to find out....... fight!

Round 1: Cushioning/ impact of running

Treadmill: The built-in suspension of treadmills cushion the impact of running and many people experience less pain on joints when they run on treadmills compared to running on road.

Outside: You can however receive the same cushioned effect by running on grass/ soft gravel paths!

Verdict: City folk who are carrying knee injuries may find running on a treadmill a lot more beneficial than the hard impact of road running.

Round 2: What will make me run faster?

Outside: When performing the same paced run, it is a harder workout running outside than on a treadmill. It is said that when running outside your body uses 7% more energy tackling wind resistance. Also when running outside your body is constantly tackling different terrain which is great for your neuromuscular system (which is the combination of the nervous system and muscles, working together to permit movement). This is great because it helps your supporting muscles become strong and actually helps your body avoid many running injuries.

Treadmill Tip:  When running on a treadmill you can increase the elevation by 1%/ 1-level which will make the workout a little bit harder and try to replicate external resistance like wind.

Verdict: Outdoor running will stress your body a lot more doing the same effort on a treadmill. If you want to be a champ you may have to suck it up and “train hard to win easy!”

Round 3: What is better for teaching my body to run more efficiently?

Outside: You obviously don’t travel any distance when you run on a treadmill because the floor moves for you. When you run on a treadmill your body will naturally lean forward and encourage a bouncy stride. This may be a more efficient stride for a treadmill but trains a less powerful stride for a road runner.

Treadmill Tip: Efficiency is key in endurance running and treadmill running does not replicate the same stride efficiency as a run in the park. I suggest you take note of any stride differences, don’t lean forward, avoid bouncing in the air and concentrate on shortening your stride. I also suggest you don’t fall off trying to implement these tips!

Verdict: Running efficiently on road is very different to running efficiently on a treadmill. You can however take note of the advice above and minimise the different stride techniques.

Judges Decision:

Treadmill running is good in that it simulates running outdoors. It is convenient and comfortable when the weather is bad and is consistent in what it offers in terms of surface and effort. It also has its weaknesses that you personally have to way up against the positives.

Are you going on a treadmill because it is the easy option? If the answer is yes and you really want to gain the most out of your run then get outside and burn that rubber.

If you want to nurse an injury by avoiding hard unforgiving surfaces like road then maybe you should introduce treadmill running into your program. If the weather is so bad and it’s a choice between a treadmill run or no run then get to that gym. You will only find out by trying it and see what feels right for your training!

Different strokes for different folks!

What is your opinion on treadmill running? Good for the legs or running for the weak?

Tags: Is running on a treadmill good or bad, treadmill running, treadmill, treadmill bad for you,

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