The treadmill is really weird.. I put it up to 7 mph and was running on it, and it felt like it was moving very fast.. I saw myself in the mirror and it looked like I was going pretty fast as well. But.. this is only like 9 minute pace... when I run on the roads at like 7-8 minute pace, I feel slower (or feel like I look slower) than I was on the treadmill.. what gives?
Treadmills are crazy. They are last resort types of things.
Last resort...?
I notice it too. I normally run ~7:20/mi outside or around the indoor track (which I've been doing a lot of lately--I live in Wisco), but when I set the treadmill at that pace, it feels like I'm working so much harder. Maybe cuz we're not used to the biomechanics of it and certain muscles (I find my hips/stabilizing muscles tend to get sore from treadmill running) get overworked compared to outdoor running.
I use the treadmill alot.
I have told people for years that SLOW pace on the treadmill feels faster than the road. Whereas FAST pace on the treadmill seems easier than the road.
That is my experience and most people don't seem to agree with me.
I agree so I tell the kids I coach to focus on the amount of time they run and not miles or pace. At least they are running something.
Weird.. wrote:
The treadmill is really weird.. I put it up to 7 mph and was running on it, and it felt like it was moving very fast.. I saw myself in the mirror and it looked like I was going pretty fast as well. But.. this is only like 9 minute pace... when I run on the roads at like 7-8 minute pace, I feel slower (or feel like I look slower) than I was on the treadmill.. what gives?
Treadmills must be constantly calibrated to be accurate and your impression is correct; you know when your effort level is high. Don't be fooled into pushing toward an injury.
I've used them for years - and I totally agree with you.
5 minute pace on the treadmill (12 mph) is easier than on the track, but 7 minute pace on the treadmill feels alot faster than 7 minute pace outside.
I put treadmill speed into the same accuracy category as your car's trip computer mpg rating, the bank's temp reading, a random scale and your weight fluctuation, or what your wife believes she spent towards her fun money budget.
Yep... wrote:
Maybe cuz we're not used to the biomechanics of it and certain muscles (I find my hips/stabilizing muscles tend to get sore from treadmill running) get overworked compared to outdoor running.
Interesting observation. I've noticed some tightness and soreness in my hips and glutes recently, but attributed it to either trudging through snow on trails (say 1-3" of snow on top of a crusty base), or overtraining. I've also been doing a lot more treadmill running than usual, including most of my faster training. Have other people noticed glute and hip tightness from treadmill running?
gg wrote:
Treadmills must be constantly calibrated to be accurate and your impression is correct; you know when your effort level is high. Don't be fooled into pushing toward an injury.
How do you calibrate a treadmill? Also, has anyone compared their heartrates (outdoor vs. treadmill set at 1%)? I'm going to agree that mechanically, it feels easier running really fast or really slow on the treadmill, and not so great in the middle. Is it a matter of adapting to the slightly different muscle usage??
I don't know how to calibrate them...presumably it's in the owner's manual. I do know that my gym has four of a certain brand that I like (and about eight I can't stand) and of those four, one has a speed reading that consistently elevates my heart rate to a higher level than the others for a given pace. I spoke to the management about it.
OldXCguy wrote:
Yep... wrote:Maybe cuz we're not used to the biomechanics of it and certain muscles (I find my hips/stabilizing muscles tend to get sore from treadmill running) get overworked compared to outdoor running.
Interesting observation. I've noticed some tightness and soreness in my hips and glutes recently, but attributed it to either trudging through snow on trails (say 1-3" of snow on top of a crusty base), or overtraining. I've also been doing a lot more treadmill running than usual, including most of my faster training. Have other people noticed glute and hip tightness from treadmill running?
I have experienced hip/glute sorenesss and attributed it to the impact. Try wearing a new pair of trainers and see if that helps. Worked for me.
Treadmills are weird. 7mph does feel faster then it should and 12.5 mph (fastest they go at the gym) does not feel that bad, or at least not as bad as it should. Plus I always feel like I am overstriding on them for some reason.
I don't think I've ever ran more then 2 miles continuously on a treadmill, I usually bag it after a few minutesand lift weights or hit the road instead.
In regards to the hip/glute soreness issue, it could be a shoe issue, but it is likely a mechanical issue-strengthen up the glutes and stretch the hip flexor or a piriformis could be on the way. Treadmills probably do activate the running muscles in a different way then running, but since you mentioned running on a slippery surface, that is probably what did it. Running through slush is what did it for me at least.
Weird.. wrote:
The treadmill is really weird.. I put it up to 7 mph and was running on it, and it felt like it was moving very fast.. I saw myself in the mirror and it looked like I was going pretty fast as well. But.. this is only like 9 minute pace... when I run on the roads at like 7-8 minute pace, I feel slower (or feel like I look slower) than I was on the treadmill.. what gives?
I've just recently (For the first time in my life) done a little bit of treadmill running (well, I'd been on there a couple times in the distance past), and I agree 100%. I set it real easy to warm up, and it feels a lot faster than the pace I am supposedly going. I think it is....
1) the speed reading on the treadmill may not be entirely accurate, and
2) let's face it, running while not moving forward is an entirely different experience for the brain than normal running. When you are actually moving forward you get entirely differently visual cues, and you know what that feels like at a certain speed. But running in place, with no forward movement, until you get used to it (I guess), is a different experience with no visual cues of forward speed and this feels different (faster) at a slow pace for some.
Treadmills are not accurate. I measured a 1/2 dozen of them quite a few years ago, and only one was accurate, a $5000 trotter. The rest of them were way off, including the one I have now.
You measure them by marking the distance for one revolution with duct tape, then counting the # of revolutions for a certain distance by time.
Did you find them to be faster or slower than what they show?
OldXCguy wrote:
Yep... wrote:Maybe cuz we're not used to the biomechanics of it and certain muscles (I find my hips/stabilizing muscles tend to get sore from treadmill running) get overworked compared to outdoor running.
Interesting observation. I've noticed some tightness and soreness in my hips and glutes recently, but attributed it to either trudging through snow on trails (say 1-3" of snow on top of a crusty base), or overtraining. I've also been doing a lot more treadmill running than usual, including most of my faster training. Have other people noticed glute and hip tightness from treadmill running?
Just this last Friday a PT did a running analysis on me (he was trained to specialize w/runners). After he evaluated it, it appeared that I was rotating my hips different and my foot struck the belt out in front of me (not under my hips...thus my ankle injury). My left hip weakness caused the ankle to take a lot of pressure. They suggested that I do hip flexor, and ITB strengthening exercises. Some of this may be my own biomechanics, but I do think some of this was from a LOT of treadmill running (bad weather...)
Good luck
treadmill running feels really unnatural, it seems like you can easily run faster by pushing yourself upward more so that the belt runs more while you are in the air. not really the same as running outside.
Mentally, I cannot stand running on treadmills, it just seems to last forever. I have been living in the midwest all my life and have encountered only a handful of days where it was bad enough weather to not be able to run outside.
completely ridiculous.
if your uncoordinated and awkward...then you may have trouble running on a treadmill. do you know why it feels faster at a slower pace...? because you're running slower OUTSIDE than you think you are. How many people THINK they are running 7 minute pace on their home route, when in reality it's more like 7:30...
The treadmill is just tellin you like it is...
Running is EFFORT based. If you are running on a treadmill and it's too easy...go faster. I'm guessing you'll discover it can be very very very uncomfortable...