Good morning!
I have a question and found answers! Here ya go!
I have a question and found answers! Here ya go!
Question: What's the Difference Between Running on a Treadmill and Running Outside?
Answer: Running on a treadmill feels somewhat easier physically because the ground is being pulled underneath your feet and there's no wind resistance. Running outside demands more from your body because you're propelling your body forward stride for stride. Many treadmills are padded, making them a good option if you're overweight or are injury-prone (especially with knee issues) and want to decrease the impact. You can better simulate outdoor running by setting your treadmill at 1% incline.
Mentally, you may have a tougher time dealing with the monotony of the treadmill. (Here are some tricks for beating boredom on the treadmill.) It's easier to distract yourself when running outside. The bottom line: If you're training for a specific outdoor race, try to train outside as much as possible to get prepared for race conditions.
Answer: Running on a treadmill feels somewhat easier physically because the ground is being pulled underneath your feet and there's no wind resistance. Running outside demands more from your body because you're propelling your body forward stride for stride. Many treadmills are padded, making them a good option if you're overweight or are injury-prone (especially with knee issues) and want to decrease the impact. You can better simulate outdoor running by setting your treadmill at 1% incline.
Mentally, you may have a tougher time dealing with the monotony of the treadmill. (Here are some tricks for beating boredom on the treadmill.) It's easier to distract yourself when running outside. The bottom line: If you're training for a specific outdoor race, try to train outside as much as possible to get prepared for race conditions.
When you first think about it, it makes more sense that exercising outside would be more beneficial to you than exercising inside. True, you could get close to the same workout in, but being outdoors has other benefits as well. Being outdoors can revitalize you in ways that a gym cannot. It is commonly linked to greater feelings of increased energy, and there is typically more positive engagement than exercising indoors. I know that I sometimes run “faster” on a treadmill than I do outside, but I still feel like running outside gives me more of an authentic workout.
I have always thought that exercising in an natural environment was better for you than in a gym, but more and more studies have been conducted to prove that hypothesis. One of the more recent studies was done by a team at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. This team analyzed existing studies and decided that exercising in the outdoors not only has physical benefits, but mental as well. In this study they analyzed 11 trials (833 adults) that compared physical or mental well-being outcomes for outdoor exercise with indoor exercise.
Overall, the study found that those who exercised outside had results that were associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement. Not only that, but they also experienced decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Plus, the people who went outdoors for their exercises stated that they had a lot more fun and that it was more motivating to go outdoors instead of to a gym. Most of the study was focused on the mental benefits. From this study, there was not enough information to declare that exercising outdoors has many more benefits over exercising indoors. None of the studies measured the effects of physical activity on physical well-being. The team also did not study effect of natural environments on exercise adherence. However, the mental benefits certainly provide me with enough reason to make the extra effort to run or bike outside instead of at the gym.
It's Wednesday and I couldn't be happier! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I will be back Monday with more news and reviews. Get outside and enjoy yourself! You deserve it!
-Heather
I have always thought that exercising in an natural environment was better for you than in a gym, but more and more studies have been conducted to prove that hypothesis. One of the more recent studies was done by a team at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. This team analyzed existing studies and decided that exercising in the outdoors not only has physical benefits, but mental as well. In this study they analyzed 11 trials (833 adults) that compared physical or mental well-being outcomes for outdoor exercise with indoor exercise.
Overall, the study found that those who exercised outside had results that were associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement. Not only that, but they also experienced decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Plus, the people who went outdoors for their exercises stated that they had a lot more fun and that it was more motivating to go outdoors instead of to a gym. Most of the study was focused on the mental benefits. From this study, there was not enough information to declare that exercising outdoors has many more benefits over exercising indoors. None of the studies measured the effects of physical activity on physical well-being. The team also did not study effect of natural environments on exercise adherence. However, the mental benefits certainly provide me with enough reason to make the extra effort to run or bike outside instead of at the gym.
It's Wednesday and I couldn't be happier! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I will be back Monday with more news and reviews. Get outside and enjoy yourself! You deserve it!
-Heather
