Treadmill Running VS Road Running

Treadmill Running VS Road Running

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Many may prefer treadmill running to road running or vice versa. Both have their pros and cons. Research has told us that if you put the treadmill at 1% it will mimic a flat road outside. Let’s look at the good and bad for each.

Treadmill

Pros: 

• Can be set to run hills and follow a race course

• Pace can be controlled because it is easy to track pace and miles

• Convenient

• You can multi-task (read or watch TV)

• The surface is easier on the joints

• Can run alone at any hour

• Weather is not an issue

Cons:

• You can get hurt (injured or fall off)

• Unable to go downhill to train hamstrings for downhill racing outside

• You can’t make turns on the treadmill like you can outside

• Boring

• It is hard to learn how to pace outside because the treadmill forces you to keep a pace

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Outdoor Running

Pros:

• Don’t need a gym

• You can train anywhere if traveling

• Condition body for road races

• Enjoy nature and fresh air

• Builds bones (weight bearing and high impact)

• Burns more calories due to wind resistance

Cons:

• Risk of injury

• Weather

• Hazards of outside including cars, cyclists, dogs

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It is personal preference as to which types of running each of us prefer. Many of us might do a mix of both. The bottom line is to get out there and RUN, whether on the treadmill or the road!

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Happy Running!!!