Treadmill vs Track
 

I have to train to run 1 mile in less than 10:49 by next month, I'm not too worried about it and can do the time with a minute to spare on a treadmill on a daily basis, but what I'm wondering is if anyone has noticed a difference between track running and treadmill running..

It seems like its the same thing, when I test myself but I need to be sure. Any runners out there that can help?

I'm not much of a runner, but from my experience I've found that the treadmill and the track are two very different beasts.

I'd have to say that the treadmill's easier to run on - I guess partly because it does half of the work for you. On the road there's nothing to push you forward like there is on a 'mill. I can easily go for half an hour at a decent pace and incline on the treadmill - it's a totally different story when it comes to road-running.

I have had the same experience. When I'm dieting, my excersize is walking, and I always feel like I have done more after actually walking somewhere compared to doing the same time/distance on the treadmill. Plus the scenery actually changes.

Well, if your test is on a track then you should run on a track. Like they said above, treadmills are very misleading in that there isn't as much resistance as running on a track.

It differs for people. I know that I can run much farther on a treadmill than a track. I have some friends who are the opposite.

But like Carno said, it doesn't matter which is better for you. Since your test is on a track, go run on the track!

BTW what is this test for?

Logic says that the track is moving under your feet. All you have to do is pick up your feet and put them down - you're not having to move your body along. Plus, the surface is has more spring compared to a hard track.

Practice on a treadmill would be fine as long as you time yourself here and there on the actual track to make sure you can handle it. I only say this because you're saying your test is only a mile. Plus, you can walk a mile in 15 minutes or less so 10:49 is only 27% faster - not a lot. And, you'll probably be geeked up to run for the test and blow that time out of the water!

Its for the Police Academy in Las Vegas, for inquiring minds.. I'm not too freaked about the run, just want to train right and the crappy part is the weather where I live, when I get off work now at 0700 its like 15 degrees so running outside isnt very appealing

Depending on your physical condition, of course:

I run every day, and have used a tredmill quite a few times. I've noticed a definite difference between the two in favor of not using one. When you're running outside you can wind-sprint, and develop better stabilizing muscles from running on uneven ground. Though that can be negligible. I prefer running in a forest because of the changes in pace, trail inclination, direction, and the fresh air for instance. Any outdoor running beats a tredmill. Also, tredmills are the single greatest waste in money I've ever seen. Why spend $600-$3000 on one when you can get a great pair of running shoes for $70?

Goodluck. Run the track.

Yeah, basically what I've started doing is running the track as often as possible. Then just kind of light jog on the treadmill on my work breaks.. I'm not horribly out of shape its just been a while, fortunately I've always been athletic so gettting back to things shouldn't be to big of a thing, just need to stay motivated more than anything.

Does the treadmill you work out on have a digital pace indicator? If so, you could try to set the pace for 10:00 min/mile and see if you can keep up. I often find that keeping the pace on the treadmill is harder that keeping the same pace on a track.

I have seen more than one relatively young person wind up with an artificial joint from too much running. There are movies around that show, in slow motion, the incredible impact sustained by the foot and ankle during running.

Those who run a lot might want to consider alternating runs vs. a stair climbing machine, stairstepper, or exercise bike.

Just sayin'.

I hear you! I use a Norodic track or an Arc Trainer. Less stress on the knees and back.

magictoy i agree with you there, but JT isnt a serious runner who does 10 miles a day for the past 10 years nor does jt plan on keeping it up for the rest of his working life.

i just say pace yourself, but dont overtrain yourself because you could end up with stress fractures if you dont ease yourself into training.

i used to run seriously, but now do it more of a hobby. try track running. set the pace to say 10min/mile (1600m). a quick stroll will usually get you 1min/100. so in saying that you should be able to walk 400m in 4 minutes.

if you run at a pace of 10min/mile, thats basically 400min in 2.5mins which is quite easy to do. go to a local track and just time yourself for the first lap, and try to keep the pace, while keeping an eye on the time.

keep your fluids up, and eat well. a body with no fuel will burn out, so have a decent meal the night before if the test is in the morning.

training on a +1 incline on the treadmill is supposed to help replicate outside conditions.
i trained for and ran a marathon last year and i found running outside quite a bit easier because i didn't get bored by my surroundings, i was also getting to hate the sound of the running machine and also the fresh air outside was nicer than the air con in the gym...also i reckon that training outside is better for your legs because all the slight variations in the road surface work all the wee stabiliser muscles and you can avoid RSI problems.

good luck with your run!

thanks guys, all advice is really helping.. I just find the hardest part of all this is to stay motivated to train..

And do you know exactly what caused these joint replacements? Was it the joint just wearing out from too much running, or was there some other kind of injury involved?

I saw this thread just before I was about to call an old professor/coach who teaches Kineseology (study of the movement of the body). He said that there is a measurable difference in the muscles being trained on a treadmill than the ones that make you run on a immobile surface whether its a track or a road or a beach. He said that the major difference tends to be in the calves, which propel the body forward at the end of the stride. The quads push the body forward to some extent, but the majority of the motion comes from lower down. The hamstrings pull the lower leg into a recovery position so that the hip flexors can move the whole assembly back to the starting position. On a treadmill, the brain quickly realizes that the firing of the calves isn't moving the body forward in relation to the rest of the room and that lessing of the energy used won't cause any dimunition of speed. Since the body gradually finds the most efficient way to accomplish any physical task, it slowly shuts down the calves until they're only working at about 35% of what they would outdoors. As for people that feel that they work harder on treadmills, he said that it's probably either mental or they have a different gait.

Running definitely creates an impact, and lots of people get stress fractures, etc. However, running is joyful. That's why I do it (or did when I had the time).

one thing that can cause joint injury is improper running form... which can be encouraged by the running shoes.

proper running form you land ball-heal-ball and the arch of your foot is used to absorb the impact.

running shoes with a lot of padding in the heal allow you to land heal-toe comfortably which puts a lot more impact on the ankle and knee joints. Try running barefoot on smooth cement, it should be comfortable if you have proper toe-heal-toe form

read Running fast and Injury free by Gordon Pirie Chapter 3 is the main one that talks about footwear and running form
heres a pdf link... it is available for free http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/P...ook_040104.pdf

and heres the website about him http://www.gordonpirie.com/

hmmm... maybe I should make a running form thread here... prolly warrants a discussion of its own...

I for one would be interested.

I've never run that much - but it seems to me that if you run outdoor, there's a lot more balance involved, what with bumps and avoiding stones etc. I'd imagine that this causes a lot more small muscles to come into play.

My thinking on this is coming from having done minor ankle rehab, where I had to balance one legged on unstable platforms with my eyes closed (1-5min at a time). Amazingly, just the act of balancing uses a lot of muscles.

So yeah. Back to the running - I was thinking that all these other maneouverings and balancing activities must add up, when compared to the treadmill.

When I was working out alot, I always found the treadmill much more difficult then running on a track. I could do 5-8 miles at 6:15 per mile on a track without issues, but 3 miles at the same pace on a treadmill would wear me out.
I had the same issue when riding a stationary bike. I rode faster on my bike on the road.
I tend to get bored on a treadmill or stationary bike. But, I think that if your test is on a track, you should run on a track at least once a week to prepare yourself for the test.

track is better to get a feel for different terrain. also, you have much more air and you can see the scenery.

When I run on a tread mill I can run three miles in about 27 minutes with a peak pace of about an eight minute mile or 7.5 mph for about a mile. When I run outside on a track I can run three miles in about 28 minutes with a peak pace of about 7.5 mph for about a quarter of a mile. I can usually get back to 7.5 after recovering at a slower pace. I use a GPS watch when I run outside.

When I run outside I find the wind is a big issue. Running against the wind to me seems more of a drain than running with the wind is a bonus. Also, cold weather lowers my times outside. Real hot weather affects my endurance, the last half of mile is a killer when its hot. I am pretty consistant on a tread mill. When I run outside, if other people are running for some reason my times a usually better.

If I were you I would train in the conditions you will face when you take the test, just to be safe.