I was wondering if I can almost only run on the treadmill during the winter (or about 2-3 months) and keep the same shape I am in right now or be even better. I always get a cold when running outside under 35F even if i am well dressed.
I would be doing speed work/hills twice a week and the other days it would be easy runs. Then I would have like 2 months of training outside in the spring before the start of the competitions. Is it a good idea.
What will hapen if I only run on the treadmill during the winter
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Sounds like an idea someone soft would come up with
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I do almost all my winter runs on my treadmill. I have been a marathoner for 16 years and have been hitting the mill for all of those winters. I don't like the cold and I especially will not run on ice and snow by myself. Don't let people bully you about mill running, or say that you are not a "real" runner.
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"Despite the mild winter this year in New England, Piers still did most—well okay, all—of her training on a treadmill."
Top American at the 2012 Boston Marathon:
https://www.podiumrunner.com/events/top-american-sheri-piers-defies-age/ -
coleiolio wrote:
Sounds like an idea someone soft would come up with
Yeah right except if you live in Canada with a couple of feet of snow and ice all winter and most of the days below 10F. I can run confortly at like 20F without freezing but my nose is weak so I catch a cold every time im back home. I don't even run once a week outside so i was asking if treadmill running is ok. Even at 10F, I would go outside if I didn't get a cold because the treadmill
is soo boring. -
I live in Michigan, and run outside in the winter.
I was mostly joking, run on the treadmill if you want. But your competitors will most likely be out there, in the snow and ice getting their miles in. -
SLoWpacE. wrote:
coleiolio wrote:
Sounds like an idea someone soft would come up with
Yeah right except if you live in Canada with a couple of feet of snow and ice all winter and most of the days below 10F. I can run confortly at like 20F without freezing but my nose is weak so I catch a cold every time im back home. I don't even run once a week outside so i was asking if treadmill running is ok. Even at 10F, I would go outside if I didn't get a cold because the treadmill
is soo boring.
You don't "catch a cold" due to temperature. A cold is a viral infection that lasts several days to weeks and you might get one or two of them during the winter whether you run on the treadmill or outside. -
I do my workouts on the treadmill and easy days outside.
I like to think I get more quality from that instead of fighting with the snow, ice and wind. -
You'll continue to build or maintain fitness probably. I do the same mostly in the winter when in Ohio. I've moved now but will probably do the same since it is getting darker earlier and earlier and it isn't well lit or safe to run at night where I'm at.
Just run your paces, get faster on the treadmill, and when it is time to go outside you'll adjust. There isn't anything to get excited for race wise coming up so there isn't some insane necessity to always be outdoors and miserable. -
It will make you mentally strong. I'd go crazy doing all of my runs on a treadmill.
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I live in Ohio for reference and the only time I run on the treadmill is if there is over 6-8in of uncleared snow with nowhere to run, if there are over 30mph winds or if the temperature is under -5. Otherwise I run outside everyday. I might do the occasional morning shakeout on the treadmill cause I dont feel like its worth getting bundled up to jog 15min
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You could make the Olympics like Christine Clark:
https://alaskasportshall.org/inductee/chris-clarks-olympic-trial-victory/ -
Mostly it should be completely fine, it is quite possible that you will train better than those outside. However, I think it is good to try to run outside once or twice a week or so, to keep your body used to the impact, and also for reasons of specificity: though very similar, the general consensus is that the mechanics are not 100% the same on a treadmill; psychologically it is a little different; it is good to maintain pace judgement; etc. If you're training for a marathon, I'd try to do the long run in particular outside fairly regularly if you can.
