Hey mate. Just wondering if you’ve done any all out efforts on a treadmill, and if so, how they compare to your outdoor times? Context: I’ve got a treadmill that was calibrated 3 months ago, and I set it to a 1% incline for all my runs. I recently did a 5 km in 19:37 and a 1 k at I think 3:17. However, my outside running is absolute rubbish. If I try to keep my 5 k pace on a (cambered) bitumen road, it’s a struggle just to hold it for 1 km! Doable, but certainly not easy. I’ve only spoke to 1 or 2 other people about it, and experiences seem mixed. So I guess I was just wondering what your experience was since you seem to find outdoor running a lot easier than I do.
From my experience, there's a massive difference with treadmill and road running. The biggest thing, from my understanding, is that the human body is so good at adapting. Your body gets used to what you run on. That's why I'm so good at running on a concrete path. Put me on a dirt trail and I'm exhausted and slow. Put me on a treadmill and it's easy to get to pace but my mind tires so quickly. This is why most coaches and runners will seek as much variety as possible. 1% on a treadmill is the best road simulation you can get, but it is still lacking the harshness of road and the unevenness. You are also assisted and don't need to drive your legs/use your glutes and hamstrings in the same way you do no road. If you can, try changing up just one run a week to road or path. It'll feel terrible for a few weeks but you'll be surprised by how quickly you adapt.
Woah I didn’t realise I’d signed up for the vulnerability package. Thanks for sharing mate.
Um, did you enter a credit card number? If so, you've done it wrong again.
Hey mate. Just wondering if you’ve done any all out efforts on a treadmill, and if so, how they compare to your outdoor times? Context: I’ve got a treadmill that was calibrated 3 months ago, and I set it to a 1% incline for all my runs. I recently did a 5 km in 19:37 and a 1 k at I think 3:17. However, my outside running is absolute rubbish. If I try to keep my 5 k pace on a (cambered) bitumen road, it’s a struggle just to hold it for 1 km! Doable, but certainly not easy.
I’ve only spoke to 1 or 2 other people about it, and experiences seem mixed. So I guess I was just wondering what your experience was since you seem to find outdoor running a lot easier than I do.
From my experience, there's a massive difference with treadmill and road running. The biggest thing, from my understanding, is that the human body is so good at adapting. Your body gets used to what you run on. That's why I'm so good at running on a concrete path. Put me on a dirt trail and I'm exhausted and slow. Put me on a treadmill and it's easy to get to pace but my mind tires so quickly. This is why most coaches and runners will seek as much variety as possible.
1% on a treadmill is the best road simulation you can get, but it is still lacking the harshness of road and the unevenness. You are also assisted and don't need to drive your legs/use your glutes and hamstrings in the same way you do no road.
If you can, try changing up just one run a week to road or path. It'll feel terrible for a few weeks but you'll be surprised by how quickly you adapt.