Every runner has their preference when it comes to the surface and location where they run including the hotly contested debate between running on a treadmill vs running outside. While we may not be able to settle this ongoing debate, we can highlight some key ways in which they differ and some things you should consider when getting ready to go on your next run.
One of the best benefits of running outside as opposed to running indoors is that it can help you get a breath of fresh air. There are plenty of reasons to workout outside including boosting your mental health, burning more calories with varied training surfaces, and relieving stress by taking in the environment.
Another reason that many runners choose to run outdoors is that it can help you feel more engaged on your run. In addition, many runners mention that it’s easier to track and monitor their progress when they run the same route. As an example, many running guides or marathon guides try to encourage you to track and monitor your progress with landmarks along your route because it can potentially motivate you more than the actual distance or time.
For instance, instead of saying that you want to run 500 meters, it might be easier to pick a landmark like running down the end of your neighborhood street and back.
Running outdoors can also help you activate more muscles as you won’t always be running in a strictly linear pattern. While some treadmills now offer different types of running programs or help you follow along different routes with a visual guide, many treadmills still only give you the ability to manually change your incline and pace. When you run outside, you can vary your route and engage more muscles as you meet different levels of resistance, terrain, and natural elements. Even route changes like small turns on a pathway or hills can help you strengthen your muscles and burn more calories as your body attempts to adjust to the ever-changing outdoor path.
Running outdoors also means that you don’t have to think about your run during the middle of it when you have to manually input the incline changes; nature will do the work for you.
When you choose to run outside, no two workouts are the same. Each time you step outside there are new weather elements, route changes, and variables that your body will have to adjust to. This variety in your run can help you stay motivated and give you the break from the monotony that exercising can sometimes create.
One of the leading reasons that many individuals suffer a running injury is because they’re not following their natural running gait. Running injuries can occur when you run on the treadmill because you’re not able to follow your natural running cycle with the treadmill track as it cycles underneath you, your stance isn’t as wide as it should be, or you can’t expand your stride length as long as you’d like. Additionally, treadmills tend to force you to run more upright, which can also change your gait and may predispose you to injuries. When you run outside, you don’t have to worry about adjusting your running gait to match a treadmill’s specs or cadence and can run without having to think about external factors.
Running outside means that you don’t need to pay for expensive gym membership fees or make monthly payments on an expensive treadmill. One of the best things about running outdoors is that you can do so without having to spend any extra money. In addition, you don’t have to worry about when a gym is open, closed, or if there’s a treadmill even available for you to run on during those peak hours.
One of the best ways to prepare for an upcoming race or marathon is to actually get out and run the route. Running the route for the future race can help you prepare for the unique challenges the race will present like the different types of terrain, twists, and turns. With so many things to worry about on race day, feeling confident in the route and your body’s ability to handle it can help you relieve some of those race day jitters.
Being able to run at any time is incredibly convenient when it comes to getting your recommended amount of exercise. When you run on a treadmill, you don’t have to worry about external factors you can’t control like weather and time of day. You can run anywhere, anytime, at your heart’s desire. In addition, running on a treadmill will give you the opportunity to multitask if you want, like listening to your favorite podcasts, music, or watching a television show.
For those runners who need to track their progress and need to get the most out of their training regime, running on a treadmill can provide a controlled environment where they can track every aspect of their progress and benchmark themselves along the way. Running on a treadmill is a great way to measure how your training is coming along and compare it to previous sessions. In addition, runnin gon a treadmill you can ensure that you’re focused on improving your running technique.
When you run on a treadmill, you can set established parameters to evaluate how well you’re running against certain settings like the pace, incline, distance, and more. In addition, running on a treadmill can help you work on the fundamentals of a solid run like ensuring that you’re staying at the same pace and regulating your breathing.
Another benefit of running on a treadmill stems from the controlled environment for training which can also help you avoid future injuries. Running outside can challenge you with a varied route each time, but those routes can also present unseen dangers with slippery surfaces or uneven surfaces which could cause you to injure yourself. When you decide to run on a treadmill, you’re reducing the risk for injury from uneven surfaces and many of the injury risks they present.
Running on a treadmill can also have plenty of health, injury recovery, and rehabilitation benefits. For those individuals who are looking to recover from their injuries, running on a treadmill can provide a softer and cushioned surface for their joints. Treadmills are designed to provide some play with each step so that the impact isn’t as stiff and can give you a little bit of extra protection for your ankles and knees.
Whether you choose to run on a treadmill or outside, running can be a great way to stay in shape and get your weekly exercise in. Our licensed physical therapists at Results Physiotherapy are here to help you get back up to speed and running soon. Our licensed PTs can help you recover from running injuries and a wide array of other running-related pain that you could be experiencing. Schedule an appointment today at one of our nearby physical therapy clinics to address your running-related pain!
