Treadmill vs outdoor running

This is a very common question I am asked by my clients.  Running on a treadmill feels easier as the ground is being pulled underneath you and there is no wind resistance.  Outside you have to propel your body forward stride by stride and there is wind resistance.  To make the treadmill similar to outdoor running put the treadmill on a 1% incline.  Psychologically a treadmill can feel tougher as it is monotonous but watching tv or listening to music whilst on the treadmill soon gets you over that.

For  anyone who has suffered knee injuries treadmills are a great way to get back into fitness as they remove pressure from the joints that you would suffer from on the street as it is high impact.  If your training specifically for a running event on the street then training on the street is much better than a treadmill because your body needs to get used to what you will actually be doing and a treadmill won’t give you that conditioning you need for your event.

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