Body Blog: Indoor Vs. Outdoor Running

November 30, 2009 11:00 am     Posted in Body  SR g+ page


By SR

Unless you consider yourself “a runner,” (you know who you are) running can kind of suck. A lot. Sometimes it feels great to feel the wind through your hair and know that you left the equivalent of a 5K in the dust, no sweat. Other times, you barely make it to the end of your block before thoughts of turning home to the comfort and safety of your couch and DVR creep into your head.

And then there’s the whole debate over whether running on a treadmill is the same as running outdoors. Some “runners” will swear up and down that running on a treadmill is inferior to running outside, belittling the 3 miles on the treadmill that you just called your workout as not as hard, not as fast, or not as long as the treadmill said.

Well, here’s your chance to put those people in their place. Studies have proven that treadmill running is just as hard (and good for you) as running outside! Yayyyy! For better or worse, the treadmill and the great outdoors will burn your booty just the same when running is the name of the game.

Although they’ve proven that running on a treadmill is just as good of a workout as running outside, we all know that there are still huge differences in the two! Sure, you can listen to your iPod in both situations, but only inside can you balance Cosmo on the magazine rack in front of you while Britney’s “3″ keeps you working.

Most people have a preference for one or the other, but if you’re unsure of which location is better for you, here are the pros and cons of both:

Running Outdoors:
When you run outside you get lots of fresh air, pretty scenery, and the thrill of exploring new routes. Lovely. But you’re also more at risk for being injured (either instantly by tripping and falling, or later on due to the effect of  the hard roads on your joints) or being attacked. Plus, it’s not always easy to gauge your speed or distance. Oh, and sometimes, the weather can suck.

If you do choose to run outside, you should wear bright and reflective colors, run in well-lit and populated areas, and carry your cell phone with you if possible. (This is one more reason I love my iPhone so much – iPod and phone!! Woooo!).

Running on the Treadmill:
Like I said, magazine reading material is a perk, and when on the treadmill you can see your speed, distance and time all right in front of you. I don’t know about you, but that forces me to push myself a little harder – to run a little faster and further. But while that’s a major perk to gym running, there is the nasty truth that gyms are germy! And crowded – you don’t want to spend your precious time waiting in line to get in a 5 mile run. And let us not forget that the treadmill can be BORING; even if there’s a TV on that badboy, it gets old running in place after awhile.

Both options have their goods and their bads, but wherever you choose to run, it’s the right choice. Running – either indoors or out – is a great form of cardio. The most important thing you can do is find out which works better for you and stick with it. And the second most important thing you can do is add some Miley to your running playlist. She’ll definitely pick you up when you’re feeling down and out and too tired to move on.

19 Comments on "Body Blog: Indoor Vs. Outdoor Running"

  1. Emily says:
    Mon, 30th Nov 20097:11 am 

    i think i'm more terrified of getting injured on a treadmill. I have seen a few people fall on treadmills it looks so painful/embarrassing!

  2. Casey says:
    Mon, 30th Nov 20099:26 am 

    Emily, haha! Those are probably people who either 1. don't know what the heck they're doing (and probably don't really understand what "working out" truly is) or 2. are trying to show off and deserve every bit of the embarrassment lol. But it's not that likely that you'll fall.

    But in regards to the article. You left out that you can change the incline on a treadmill, which is definitely another plus to the treadmill side. I live in Florida, so running out doors is ALWAYS flat. On a treadmill I can make hills and steep inclines that work my muscles more than anything I could do outside here.

  3. Erin says:
    Mon, 30th Nov 200911:01 am 

    I like running outside. I have ADHD so the music and change of scenery keeps me motivated. Also you can look up how far you go with Google map stuff. After a while of listening to the same play list and when you have a good steady pace you can run any where and get a good sense of how far you are running. I also want to add running in the bad weather is dangerous, but there is nothing more tranquil and beautiful than running as it snows and going through the fresh snow fall.

  4. Engineer says:
    Mon, 30th Nov 200912:05 pm 

    being attacked?

  5. Samantha - UC Santa says:
    Mon, 30th Nov 20094:58 pm 

    Yeah! People get attacked by animals or creepers all the time! Sad.

  6. George says:
    Wed, 2nd Dec 20098:48 pm 

    I like run on treadmill more, as I work at daytime and don’t want to run outside at dark night.

  7. Mary- UofM says:
    Sun, 6th Dec 20093:38 pm 

    I'm "a runner" and I just about refuse to run on a treadmill. I run through the rain, the wind, the snow and ice. I mean sure it sucks but I couldn't give up the fresh air and wonderful scenery for anything. Nothing could be better

  8. Lucy says:
    Tue, 15th Dec 200910:53 pm 

    This article is so dumb. First of all, oxygen consumption does not PROVE that running on a treadmill is equivalent to running out of doors. Let's consider Newton's laws: I assume you've heard of conservation of energy/momentum? Considering the treadmill is self-powered, that is to say the machine pushes the runner and not vice versa, the runner automatically exerts less energy than if s/he were running entirely on their own power. Also, treadmills are completely smooth and flat- consider the amount of energy expended when running over uneven terrain, especially in the calves to adjust for minor dips and bumps under your feet. Bogus "studies" are so unnecessary, just use common sense: we all know it's just plain HARDER to run outside on the trails than it is on the treadmill, where you can run for hours and not notice. Other than the stifling muggy gym air and everyone else's nasty sweat germs on everything, treadmill running is a total breeze.

    Oh, and to the bitch who claims people who trip on the treadmill "don't even know what working out is" and "deserve every bit of the embarrassment", I hope karma bites you in the fat ass. You "probably deserve it", saying nasty stuff like that about people you've never even met– you must be bittterrrr about something in your life. Maybe you're lonely cos you're not nice enough to have any friends. Ever heard of the Golden Rule? Well, hopefully running up and down hills in place on the treadmill makes you feel better about yourself.

  9. Lucy says:
    Tue, 15th Dec 200911:01 pm 

    PS Miley Cyrus? REALLY?? She sings about Jay-Z and is stupid enough to tell People magazine she's never even heard a song of his! She's even dumber than Taylor Swift, who managed to get Romeo and Juliet wrong.

    Also, Samantha, since you must make the distinction, maybe I should point out you're a "runner", not a runner. You've only got authority on the treadmill half of this article.

  10. Casey says:
    Wed, 16th Dec 20097:50 am 

    Oh Lucy, with comments like those, how do you think you have any room to call anyone a bitch? And please, don't twist my words. I said people who try and show off deserve every bit of the embarrassment, not the people who fall because they don't know what they're doing.

    And why so defensive? Perhaps because you are one of those people who tries to show off on the treadmill because you think it's sooooooo easy and falls flat on their face, in which case HAHAHAHAHA! You deserve every bit of that embarrassment (bitch!)

    And don't be jealous of my sexy tight ass, there's no need to hate, just learn how to properly use a treadmill and you can have one too. :)

  11. Casey says:
    Wed, 16th Dec 20098:10 am 

    Oh and P.S. My initial comment was to encourage Emily to overcome her fear of running on a treadmill and try something new, so sorry to anyone who thought it was "bitchy", that wasn't my intent.

    But Lucy, what's your excuse?

  12. Amy says:
    Wed, 16th Dec 20094:09 pm 

    Casey-

    Everyone has a first time running on the treadmill, just because they've never done it doesn't mean that they deserve to be laughed at. Lucy never even said that she's fallen off the treadmill, merely that it's mean of you to laugh at those who do. I agree with her that it was a bitchy thing to say.

    Also I'd like to add since Lucy doesn't run on the treadmill which means she's more likely to encounter hills and uneven pavement on her run, she works out her glut muscles more then you do on the treadmill no matter how much incline you add. The key to building muscles is to have differences in your workout, otherwise your body becomes used to the exercise and you don't get your desired results. That's why it is recommended to vary sprints with jogs rather than run the entire time for example. Thus, I think Lucy probably has the better idea of how to work out her body, and thus has a "sexier and tighter" ass than you do. I understand you were just trying to be encouraging, but there are other ways of doing so without trampling all over other people's feelings.

  13. Casey says:
    Thu, 17th Dec 20098:03 am 

    Amy, did you even read Lucy's posts? She was a straight up bitch, to not only me, but other commenters and the author of the post. And I didn't say anything about peoples first time running on a treadmill. I said (for the third time now), THE PEOPLE WHO FALL WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO SHOW OFF DESERVE THE EMBARRASSMENT. NOT the people who fall because they don't know how to use the machine. And I made fun of Lucy for being a bitch, not because she's likely fallen. God you people are dense!

    I didn't say I run on the treadmill either. In fact, due to soccer injuries I don't run at all anymore, I use the elliptical cause it's not so hard on my joints (and it works my ass more than running does, hence my tight sexy ass), but when I COULD run, I always ran outside because I didn't have access to a treadmill, but I have used treadmills before and actually prefer running on them to running outside. And had you read my initial post you would understand why that is, because I live in flat as fuck Florida. So yeah, she's definitely more likely to encounter hills and uneven pavement then me, here in FLORIDA, which is why the treadmill would work better for me since I could do more on them then the actual outside here offers me. And you can sprint, jog, and run on a treadmill, not just run, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

  14. Samantha - UC Santa says:
    Fri, 18th Dec 20093:21 pm 

    Um, really ladies? Really?? OBVIOUSLY running outside over hills and while dodging obstacles is easier. DUH. BUT if your only options are running outside (and it happens to be flat, like Casey said), or on the treadmill, they may be closer to being the same in exertion required than not. Plus, some girls can't run outside in the summer because of the extreme heat. In the winter, other girls can't run outside because of the freezing weather! The treadmill IS NOT EVIL. And neither is Casey, she was making a point about those who try to show off on the treadmill.

    All I'm trying to say is, pick whatever works for you. There are perks to both – (Lucy, did you read the article??). THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FIGURING OUT WHICH WORKOUT WORKS FOR YOU!! THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS NOT YOUR ASS, IT'S YOUR HEALTH!!

    Oh, and FYI when I choose to run, I run outside. Unless I'm at the gym to lift. Maybe I do consider myself a runner, maybe I don't. It doesn't really matter, I'm just getting the info out there for YOU to use.

  15. John Seaver says:
    Wed, 13th Oct 20107:29 pm 

    Running outside keeps things interesting. Running on a treadmill just feels so boring. Remember the sunscreen!

    http://www.homefacts.com/uvindex.html

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