21 replies to this topic

[SirPlod]

Hi Folks,

Question for those of you who do both treadmill and road running as part of your training program. Do you count treadmill running as part of your weekly running kms?

On top of my weekly running, I’ve recently started running on the treadmill a couple of nights a week to top up my running – I usually tend to do about 5km with the incline set to 1.5%.

I’m not really sure whether to count this as part of my weekly mileage or not? Say for example, if I’m doing 25km a week on the road and 10km on the treadmill, that means I’m doing 35km. But is it really 35km, given that treadmill running feels “easier” on the legs? (at the time it feels just as hard in terms of a workout, but the next day my legs feel far better after treadmill running because of the low impact)  

What do you guys think?

I hope this makes sense…

Edited by SirPlod, 12 May 2011 - 04:56 PM.

[aDrain]

I'd say yes while remembering that treadmill kms do tend to be "easier" than those outside, but does it depend on whether you're wearing an iPod

[TheRuns]

In regards to the milage on a treadmill being easier, I managed 6.95km in 33:30 last night (this included warm-up and cooldown). The pace I was aiming for was 4:33/km with a rest every 3km. I had the treadmill set at a 2% incline which subsequently became 1.5% and then 1%. I can knock out a 4:33 pace relatively easily outside, but trying it on a tredmill really seemed difficult. It's only 13.2km/hr. On my run outside today I was able to maintain this pace periodically.
What gives? I thought 2% was ideal to mimic outside running as closely as possible.

Anyway, to answer your question SirPlod, I've recently returned to running on a treadmill but I do not seem to include that in my log. More to the point, I am now 'training' for a 5K fun run, and all my workouts are done outside even if I attempt to do one inside.

[WetWeek]

I'd definitely count TM kms in my weekly total.  Sure they're probably "easier" kms, but so is running with a tailwind, and you'd count those!

[suppliersyd]

For me, I count both, and unless you are a world class athlete, I believe the Tready holds almost as much place in a program as road running....
Personal choice I believe.

[luckyguy]

G'day Ed. I log all my treadmill K's into my diary. In my opinion running is running, whether it's indoors or out.

If you are using the TM to replace and 'on road' workout, then in order to gain maximum benefit, I think it's best to try and simulate the run at perceived effort. This can be achieved by using a H.R.M. or in my case because I've been running many years I've developed a innate intuition about pace and effort. So for instance, I use my TM for speed sessions once a week with an elevation of 3 (and sometimes a 10k easy). Though I've discovered in order to get a 'similar' cardiovascular workout as compared to track work I need to churn out 1 k speed sessions about 20/30 seconds faster.

By the way, the pluses is a faster leg turnover, consistent and enforced pace setting, protection from the weather, lessened impact due to the absorbency nature of the running board (big plus for older/injured bodies), a chance to run with stereophonic music, a bit of extra variety and less travel - and of course, for a family man like yourself, a very convenient form of exercise. Disadvantages, I'm sure there are some but for me the benefits out-way the negatives.

Proof is in the pudding. My recent 5 k times are looking OK. A small test in a couple weeks with a 1/2 at Williamstown.

See you around, Michael.

Edited by luckyguy, 13 May 2011 - 07:43 AM.

[TheRuns]

I've just read an interesting evaluation of the whole incline setting debate for a treadmill to replicate road running. It would seem that It really isn't necessary to set the treadmill at a prescribed incline, rather, as indicated above, base the incline or pace on perceived or measured effort.
Info can be found here: http://www.hillrunne...jim2/id110.html

[DianeE]

suppliersyd, on 12 May 2011 - 07:13 PM, said:

For me, I count both, and unless you are a world class athlete, I believe the Tready holds almost as much place in a program as road running....
Personal choice I believe.

Most elites will do treadmill running - Haile Gebrselassie does a treadmill session every day (but he is running about 200k a week!!)
http://www.ethiopian.../articles/32874 .

[WetWeek]

Thanks for that link, The Runs.  Some interesting reading there, which pretty much confirms my personal thoughts and experiences.

[Tail light Jnr]

I'd count the kms. Maybe restrict your treadmill workouts to one of your easy runs and leave the harder efforts to outside running.

I find running on a treadmill 10 times harder than outside and cannot run nearly as quick on one without tiring easily! Time moves so slow inside

[SirPlod]

Thanks for the responses everybody, some interesting reading.

No, definitely not looking to replace on road miles with treadmill miles – it’s too boring! It’s more a matter of – as Michael pointed out – a handy way to get some extra kms when it’s too dark, cold, wet outside, or when the kids are sleeping and I can’t head out the door.

I’m finding that by mixing up the treadmill and road running, I’m still getting the exercise, but that little bit less time on hard surfaces means my shins and feet feel a lot better come the end of the week.  

Happy to hear that most of you think that even though it’s arguably easier – it’s still considered running.

[rohan]

Tail light Jnr, on 13 May 2011 - 12:45 PM, said:

I find running on a treadmill 10 times harder than outside and cannot run nearly as quick on one without tiring easily!

could be that you have a 'hard' one.

ie one that doesn't give you figures as good as you'd like.. Actual Treadmill speeds vary for the same speed readout.
eg. at the gym I used to use I could only do 16km/h on one brand for about 10mins, whereas on another brand I built up to being hold it for an hour.  Obviously the belt was being rotated faster on one than the other for the same given speed reading.

Count the km, but realize that the readouts may not be 100% accurate.

[runhard]

aDrain, on 12 May 2011 - 05:03 PM, said:

but does it depend on whether you're wearing an iPod

(Just came from another thread)

What if the ipod is pluged into the Tready?

[SirPlod]

runhard, on 13 May 2011 - 03:08 PM, said:

(Just came from another thread)

What if the ipod is pluged into the Tready?

Ok, ok, I confess - I do use an ipod when I run on the treadmill, but I don't think I'm a danger to other runners because nobody's ever passed me on the treadmill. I think it's just because I'm that damn fast.

[abby10]

SirPlod, on 13 May 2011 - 03:33 PM, said:

Ok, ok, I confess - I do use an ipod when I run on the treadmill, but I don't think I'm a danger to other runners because nobody's ever passed me on the treadmill. I think it's just because I'm that damn fast.

I like this response!

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[RunningFree24]

hi, im a bit late.. just registered!

i read somewhere you use different muscles on the treadmill because your being pulled along rather than pushing off on the road..

ive just started on the treadmill but im worried ill neglect certain muscels ill be using in a race..

any thoughts?

[JennyWren]

I count my treadmill km's but make a note where I do my runs so that I can look back at it.

It's definitely easier on the legs to run on the treadmill, but I find it pretty boring. And being relatively
new to running feel like I 'should' be road running. Impossible when I'm only able to train when it's dark so sometimes
you just gotta get there and do it.

[Isthisnametaken]

I count the K's but I too find that the TM is much harder than running outside on the road. I am pretty sure it is so boring and you do not have anything to distract you. Also the fact that you run at a constant speed for any period of time may not help. I am sure that the speed you run outside would vary slighlty over a distance for whatever reason but when you set the speed up on a TM, you gotta stick to it.

[HardnFast]

My opinion is no, treadmill running can not replace 'real running'. A runners drive off the ground generates most of their speed and stride length. I have known so many people that train on treadmills like world champions then, struggle in flat 5K fun runs.

Personally I think too much treadmill training leads to injury because, the belt is moving and places excessive stress on calf muscles.

I am a very keen runner, had little time to train so, about six months back I joined a gym to use treadmills thinking some running is better than nothing. Well, my running form took a huge nose dive and I got injured. I'm now back out doors and starting to improve again.

[run2work]

Treadmill running, to me, is not my cup of tea.

I think it trains the body to run and provides the physiological effects to assist fitness.

But!

It does not give me the experience of flow of movement through an environment changeable by weather conditions, road surfaces, interaction with other runners, cyclists, walkers, dogs, cars etc.

Perhaps the treadmill is real running, but not real to me. Probably more of a point of philosophy than anything else.

r2w

[osmium]

It's running so count it!  In fact I almost feel like counting any TM runs I do as double as it seems so much harder than running outside. I never change the incline on mine as it's hard enough at 0%. I find I run about 30sec/km slower for the same effort on the TM as I do outside. Not the easier option for me. Although, in saying that I did not find it so much harder at the gym so I suspect my home treadmill is a meanie.

[WetWeek]

HardnFast, on 20 May 2011 - 11:57 PM, said:

Personally I think too much treadmill training leads to injury because, the belt is moving and places excessive stress on calf muscles.

That has been my experience too.  However, despite being different to outdoor running I still count treadmill running as "real running".  It still provides the cardio-vascular benefits of "real running", despite the fact it affects my legs differently.  If it's a choice of not running at all or using the treadmill, I'll take the TM anyday - IMO it's a valid training tool and in some cases a necessary evil.