Can A Treadmill Compete With Running Outside?

Any time I get into a conversation about how much I like treadmill running there always seems to be someone present who is of the opinion that I would be better off if I did all my training outdoors. This may sound like a perfectly acceptable argument on the face of it but for many of us this is not an option for much of the time.

If you live in a part of the world where the weather restricts the amount of outdoor activities you can partake in then you’ll know that running outdoors isn’t a great idea for a percentage of the time. With the threat of extremely cold and wet weather conditions the idea of venturing outside is both unappealing and possibly dangerous as well.

Also, there are some places such as many large cities were running outside can be an unwise choice due to unfriendly neighborhoods and problems with air quality.

Even disregarding the reasons against going for a run in the fresh air there are many advantages to having a treadmill at your disposal.

There may be times when it is not possible to leave the house but you really want to get a workout in. Maybe you have to wait in for a delivery or you need to watch the children.

An added bonus for me with regard to treadmill running is on days when I feel like i can’t face a serious workout but know that I really should. These are the times when I’ll jump into my workout gear do a little treadmill work with the television on.

Distracted by the visual entertainment I find it a whole lot easier to get into the way of my workout and even start to enjoy it after 10 minutes or so.

At the end of the day I still think that the perfect way to get your running training the majority of the time is in the open air. The treadmill is a invaluable tool that my fitness efforts would be hampered without, but running along the beach in the fresh air is a sensation that cannot yet be matched on a treadmill.