[Ayrezy]

Hi all, new to the forums and making my first post.....

I've been running for a while now, at the gym on the treadmill, and can cover some good distances (well for me anyway). I can average aroung 6km, sometimes going up to 9km. I usually only run once a week and do other cross training for the rest of the week. Anyway, I've decided that I want to run outside and get away from the monotony of the gym, I went out last Sunday and really struggled to cover around 3miles. Granted is was very hot, which doesn't always help.
I was wondering if it is normally so difficult when you get out in the fresh air, or if I was just having an off day.

[Dave]

Welcome Ayrezy.

I assume your used to the air conditioned gym so fair to say you would have felt the heat.

Stick with it for a while and I bet you learn to love it.

All the best.

Dave.

[JBBury]

It is simply more difficult to run outdoors than on a treadmill. The forces on the body are completely different, and it takes more out of you. it is far better, as a way to exercise, to get outdoors. Times and distance on a machine rarely compare to outdoor running.

[bagpuddycat]

I seem to be the exception to the rule in that I can run much further outside than on a treadmill. I think it's the boredom factor. I'm a very visual person and there's not much less mentally/visually stimulating than staring at the blank wall of a gym, or the might-as-well-be-blank tv screen showing rubbish pop videos or sports (well, football) news, or the sweaty backs of the people on the treadmills in front. I've tried listening to music or to podcasts, but I just seem to need something for my eyes to look at.

I think it is physically harder outside for a number of different reasons - more hills, uneven ground, avoiding obstacles, etc, so you are definitely not alone in finding it much harder outside. But for me the mental difference is so immense that running outside is enormously more enjoyable than running in the gym - which means I can keep going much longer.

[Ayrezy]

Thanks for the replies, I agree that that visual stimulation is much better outside and the sense of running in the open air is much more appealing. I think I just need to get over the initial shock of running somewhere new, and not carrying on with what I'm used to.

I would run outside 3-4 times a week outside but if I try and run that much, on the treadmil, I get bad shin pain. I've self-diagnosed myself as having shin splints and am trying to get them sorted. The reason I've always been confined to the treadmil is thinking that the suface is softer to run on, and eventually they'll go away. I've not had any luck yet. I've had some proper running shoes for a while now and had my gait measured. I'm going to the physio next week to see if they can help me out. It can be an expensive thing if I have to take regular trips to the physio though. Suppose it's worth it in the end if I can get out 3-4 times a week in the open air.

[Singularity]

I've had bad shins for a couple of months now. Its an ongoing battle of resting for a day, stretching everyday and doing strengthening exercises. The shin-spints go away so I go out running and then they come back again if I increase my training. They are getting less severe though so I know that eventually I'll get rid of them completely. Just make sure you do plenty of calf stretches.

[pedestrian]

Although I've never run on a "dreadmill" in my life, I would say that the main difference lies in the fact that when you are outside, the ground isn't being pulled along beneath you, thus making the job the legs have to do that bit harder.
... Then of course there's headwinds, hills (up and down), uneven ground, rain, grass, mud, traffic, dogs/dog owners... etc. That's proper running!

Then there's the fact that if you're running outside and suddenly feel like you've had enough after a couple of miles, you can't just press a button and step off... you've still got to get back to where you set off from. Or maybe that's the advantage that some of the gym "hamsters" are looking for?

OK so I can't compare outside to inside; but I simply can't see the attraction in the dreadmill monotony.

[Singularity]

Originally Posted by pedestrian

Then there's the fact that if you're running outside and suddenly feel like you've had enough after a couple of miles, you can't just press a button and step off... you've still got to get back to where you set off from.

Its amazing how many times I've ended up running when I feel like stopping so that I dont have to walk all the way home.

[Hrun]

Originally Posted by pedestrian

Then there's the fact that if you're running outside and suddenly feel like you've had enough after a couple of miles, you can't just press a button and step off... you've still got to get back to where you set off from. Or maybe that's the advantage that some of the gym "hamsters" are looking for?

I have only ever run on a treadmill and certainly wouldn't say it was better than outside but one of the benefits it has as a beginner is that it drags you on and I maintain a pace and time I would never achieve outside as I would stop at the earliest slope etc.

As for boredom breathing is a challenge and whilst one day the run may get so easy it is boring it keeps me happy for now.

[JBBury]

Originally Posted by Singularity

Its amazing how many times I've ended up running when I feel like stopping so that I dont have to walk all the way home.

Me too. I refuse to ever walk home and in the 2 years I've been running, I've never walked back. Once or twice I've stopped for a couple of minutes, but then returned at normal pace. The day I walk home from a run is the day I hang up my running shoes