I’ve used the treadmill quite a bit this year. I know a lot of people hate running on treadmills, and I was formerly in Team Treadmill Haters. But not anymore.
While a run outside, somewhere scenic would always be my number one choice, sometimes the treadmill is the more realistic option for me. This past week has been HOT in London. We’re talking 30C. That’s not outdoor running weather, especially when you have speedwork to do.
Obviously there’s other ways to get round the rising temperature: run early, run late, slow down. But as my work sees me training other runners early in the morning and later in the evening, this means my own running has to be done in the middle of the day when the mercury is at its highest on the thermometer.
Luckily I have a cheapo gym round the corner, and at midday the 20 treadmills are pretty empty, meaning I get to pick the one directly under the aircon vent. #winning There’s still a fair bit of sweat going on though and at the end of a session my treadmill looks like a front row seat at Seaworld.
This week I did my speed session at the gym – 6x800m at 6:20/mile pace. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have hit that pace outside in the sun. That’s the other thing I’ve found this year – once you punch in the number on the keypad, your legs have no option but to run at it.
Yes, you can still have that internal ‘I can’t do it, I need to slow down’ dialogue but, it involved that extra step of reaching out your hand to press a button. Your hand becomes a third party mediator between your head and legs that says ‘hang on guys, just give it a little more time’.
They’ve been a good tool for me learning a set pace this year too. My marathon-paced runs at the start of the year were a bit all over the place. I’d go off too hard then be struggling in the latter miles which totally messed with my head (and legs). Then I did my last 10 miler at marathon pace on the treadmill a week before Edinburgh. Feeling pretty good throughout built my confidence going into the race and cemented what race pace felt like so I could hit it from mile one of the marathon.
Yes, 10 miles on the treadmill was pretty dull but I came armed with an iPad and a film (my low-cost gym means I bring my own entertainment).
There is a difference between running on a treadmill and running outside. But it’s not as massive as some would have you believe. I think a lot of it is mental, in that you have to push yourself to hit a certain pace outside rather than have the belt force you into it. But knowing that you’ve done it in the gym can give you the confidence to do it outside.
So, if circumstance means that you’re doing a fair bit of your running on a treadmill, don’t worry about it. A run is still a run. If it’s the difference between a good treadmill run and a bad outdoor session (or no run at all), I know what I’d take. But do get outside whenever you can, it’s better for your running and your soul to mix it up a bit and get outside in the fresh air.
I live in the Northeastern United States (Pennsylvania), where it has also been surface-of-the-sun hot, and where snow sometimes prevents me from running outside. On those inclimate days, I turn to the dreadmill and am super happy to have that option. However, I find it hard to maintain the same pace on a treadmill that I do outside. I suspect, but am not sure, that is because I am 6’5″ and thus am forced to shorten my stride on a treadmill. I am also somewhat inflexible and occasionally find that when I attempt speed work on a treadmill, I have Achilles problems afterwards. In light of what I’ve just said, my ode to the treadmill would have to be “In Praise of the Treadmill But Only In Small Doses!” Keep writing and running. Your blog is helping to inspire me to be the best runner I can be.
When I lived in the north of Sweden, where it can be -20cand colder for prolonged lengths of time in winter I’ve done half marathons on the treadmill. It builds ‘pannben’ (I.e. Mental strength) as we would say in Sweden 🙂
Another great post, thanks. I love running outdoors, especially on the trails. But I also love a really good blast on the treadmill – it’s perfect for the discipline of maintaining time and pace during higher intensity training which I would never achieve when outdoors. I also do “fartlek” sessions – with every new tune on the iPod, I change speed and/or incline, and just run with the time countdown display covered up. 🙂 Beats the boredom, and I get a great workout.
Exactly!!! Outdoors runs are awesome but having treadmill for when you can’t get outside is a LIFE SAVER!!!!
I did a lot of speedwork on the treadmill my first marathon training cycle and this time have done most outside and on the track. The other day I took my mile repeats to the treadmill and it was WAY harder than running outside! Haha. There is so little to distract you on the treadmill from looking at your watch/the distance. I think it’s a great tool to use especially for keeping your pace consistent the whole time and actually building mental strength.
Any recommendations for good treadmill movies? I’m finding that the speedwork goes better on a treadmill, but my brain gets so bored with the scenery!
I use iPlayer. You can download programmes and watch them offline (good because there’s no signal at my gym). I watched ‘My Week with Marilyn’ for the 10 miler. They usually have at least one film on there.