Treadmill vs. real life dichotomy

If those are easy day runs, you are working too hard whether you are outside or on the treadmill. That is more like a tempo run effort. On your every day runs, try to keep your heart rate around 140 and build your volume. As an older guy, you'll be amazed how slow you have to run to keep your heart rate at the appropriate level but you will also rediscover what it's like to run easy. I think a lot of older guys keep running what used to be easy pace but it's no longer an easy effort for them.

raise the height of your treadmill if its at zero you should put on 1 or 2% incline

Joe, Thanks for the reply. As an inveterate sprinter (I love speedwork)sadly, I think you're right.

What the the treadmill does is force me to go at a more even pace and it makes me nervous to go too fast on that thing. But once I get outside, I'm trying to do sub 8 minute miles two miles in.

The really difficult thing is going slow enough to keep my heart rate down.

Jeff

I was the same way - I could achieve and hold higher HRs on treadmills than outdoors at a similar subjective effort. I think it is because my specific biomechanics aren't as much of a detriment on a mill (I don't care what the LetsRun physics wannabes say - treadmill biolmechanics are different - less pushoff and different muscle use).

FormCoach wrote:

I feel like I could virtually go on forever on the treadmill.

Opposite for me.

I can't run as far or for as long on a treadmill than on an outside run.

In a way you are comparing apples and oranges. For a better comparison you need to wear the same clothing, run indoors and outdoors at the same temperature, and run on a track to eliminate uphill and downhill.

Treadmill calibration is not perfect, so don't have full confidence in the pace on the display. Better to run based on effort whether it is outdoors or on the treadmill.

For me the advantage to treadmill running is convenience over the winter, and less pounding on my legs compared to running on pavement.

and of course outdoors the ground isn't moving for you. on a treadmill all you have to do is rearrange your limbs. outdoors you have to propell your body

Dear All,

I want to thank you all for the feedback. It's fascinating how we all seem to have a somewhat different reaction to the treadmill.

But in the end, I think my basic issue is that my asthma is not as under control as a I thought it was. And I discovered that while doing some promo's for my small radio show.

Just a couple of 30 seconds takes and I was out of breath. A couple of hits of proventil and I was fine. And that symptom is exacerbated by the radical Midwestern spring weather and mitigated by the indoor treadmill.

It's amazing how you can get used to, and even somewhat thrive with, a lower oxygen level.

It's time to see the doc to get the breathing under control.