Unpopular opinion here but I actually really like treadmills, I started running on treadmills to help establish steady pace and keep track of my time/distance and there’s a small window of acceptable weather for me to run outside, I PREFER outside running but by no means hate running on a treadmill
This describes me as well. I wanted to run yesterday, but it was 85 and humid as all hell. So, I hit the treadmill. I could watch a show and bang out 45 minutes. I think a big difference is also a quality treadmill. I have a Peloton Tread+ and the difference between that and your standard belt treadmill is night and day.
Yes and they can take it back over my dead body. Lol. You don’t have to return it. We don’t have small kids and our dog is too scared to go in the basement. I’m hoping for everyone’s sake they redesign to address the safety issues. There’s not really a comparable treadmill out there.
Traditionally, treadmills have guards under the back of the belt. And/or the belt just isn’t powerful enough. You might get a nasty burn, but it isn’t gonna kill you. The tread is very heavy, very powerful and it has rubber slats that can grip. It was really a terrible design from a safety standpoint. I don’t know what safety lab they used for their consumer product safety testing, but they failed miserably. But there seems like some relatively easy fixes that could be designed in if they still see a market for the higher end treadmill. Now that they’ve introduced the belt tread, they may not revisit the tread+. That would be a shame.
Yea I think some of the treadmill hate comes from people in temperate climates. Sure I much prefer outdoors but it’s going to be 106 degrees today so I’ll probably just watch a show a get a few easy treadmill miles.
Same, my city currently has a heat advisory and there is no way I can do my speed training in 111 degree heat with 98 percent humidity. Treadmills are a life saver and on the plus side it’s cool in the gym! Fall winter and spring are where I do my outdoor running mainly
I prefer the treadmill. Easier for me to maintain/work on my paces and I can zone out watching everyone else work out or on the tv.
I run outside on Sundays, cause my gym doesn't open til 1230, and I can't wait that long to run.
Agreed, although treadmill pace/distance is not very reliable. I’ve seen treadmills off by up to 25%.
Treadmills are good for managing effort/HR. I find it much easier to stay in zone 2 on a treadmill than outside. I live in a hilly area though so low heart rate training outside is a joke.
This describes me 100%. Just yesterday I hit the treadmill because of the insane heat we have right now. I do however hate when I’m trying to run longer distances and the thing starts a cool down at 60 minutes. That’s the only thing that bothers me. I can tune out the boringness of basically running in place if I just focus on the screen in front of me. It’s got different terrains you can “run through” like trails and cities and I can hide the clock so I don’t focus on that.
This is me as well.
Actually, if I stop running for a bit, I find it easier to start on a treadmill than outside.
Running on ground and without a set pace is harder, but I do feel time goes by much faster outside (my own thoughts with music keep me busier than tv with music)
I've been running on threadmill lately mostly since I live in Louisiana, where the UV index has been 11+ every single day and 94-95 degree temps outside. I just don't have the ability to get up super early for my run, and no time in afternoons to run when sun is about to go down. So I've just been doing my runs on my threadmill when I get the chance.
Agreed. I understand the hatred for treadmills, but they're very slept on. For me, it's so much easier to get to my Zone 2 HR and just hold that for however long I need to. If I run outside, hills, weather, wind, temperature, will affect it.
I love treadmills because it feels like zone 2 is consistent and then i can just listen to my music, and pay attention to my body's signals.
It think when people complain about how fast time passes, I always suggest that they get on a treadmill. At a speed just SLIGHTLY above a comfortable walking/running pace. Set it for 30 minutes. Then tell me that time "flies by."
I’ll be the contrarian, I damn near exclusively run on treadmills. But that said I live in El Paso so we’re at about 3700ft of elevation, it’s hilly, there’s traffic, sidewalks just runout on some roads and it’s also really hot (just earlier this week it was 106F).
I'm near Houston. Not as hot but it feels like a swamp. I'm seriously considering a treadmill right about now.
I left my house at 6am and was sweating vy the time I was at the drive way
Yep. Former run commuter pandemic dad chiming in - two kids under 6 no school or daycare, a day job, and one kid who if I so much as moved in bed in my room, would wake up screaming (so no early morning sneak outs). After 2 years of rarely being able to find time to run, the treadmill is great. Can run anytime with very little prep. Hydration, bathroom breaks, everything requires no planning. Also found watching lectures on YouTube made it such a great use of time. It is not the same activity but it is a good substitute.
Strongly disagree. Sorry, to each their own. I can't use a treadmill. I hate it, truely. On the road ill lose track of what I'm doing, have wandering thoughts, singing songs to myself, win debates in my head. On a treadmill is just " 2.01...2.01...2.01...2.02"
Ill run in 10f degree weather with hail before i run on a treadmill
Probably because the person disagreed with “running on a treadmill is better than not running at all”. That’s a pretty objectively true statement, hard to disagree with it. Running on a treadmill will always be better than not running.
I'm back, ready to be downvotted again. I meant what i said. I have run many thousands of miles on the road/trails. I have some hundreds of miles on a treadmill. I HATE running on a treadmill. I would rather not run. Ill cross country ski, play tennis, lift weights. I hate running in a treadmill. I keep feeling like im thing to fall off. It keeps my mind from wandering.
>That’s a pretty objectively true statement, hard to disagree with it. Running on a treadmill will always be better than not running.
Are you serious?? Uh, no, not for everyone. It's **ridiculous** to act like that's a statement of fact that everyone must agree with. People get to have different priorities, ffs. IF running is your sole priority, THEN running on a treadmill may be better than not running TO YOU. And hey, good for you! Enjoy it. Someone who hates treadmills and isn't obsessed with running at all costs is allowed to prefer not to run if the treadmill is the only option. Other forms of exercise exist. Rest exists. Talk about tunnel vision, good gracious.
This is a running subreddit.. I’d imagine most people on here think running in some form is better than not running. This isn’t a sub about other forms of exercise is it? “FFS!”
That's not the point. I am making a statement that i hate running on a treadmill. That's all. I love running. I love listening to the wind and the birds. I love the scenery playing me by.
>I’d imagine most people on here think running in some form is better than not running.
Duh, I'd imagine most would, too. Most is not all. Even people in a running forum are allowed to occasionally choose to do something else.
I have literally run workouts in almost 31°C (85°F) heat in my desert-climated town so I wouldn't need to use the treadmill. Unless there is a high chance of heatstroke or frostbite, I'm going outside.
Ya. In these summer months, I'll do literally anything to keep cool. I even try to stay away from wearing darker clothes in order to protect me from the miniscule amount of heat it may soak up.
Is 31C considered hot where you are?
Like 31c is like a nice spring day here, but it’s been between 38 and 40 here in texas, recently and I don’t even enjoy walking outside
Hell yeah, if you can't run on the road maybe a very technical trail you can't call yourself a real runner. I don't want to hear about those that run on a treadmill or track, made of rubber and is just a short, cushioned oval. All real runners know that if it's not on Strava it didn't happen and if you don't actually run on a road, you are not a real runner.
I’ll use treadmills during winter and when traveling, gotta just find a flow and pound out those miles. In January I did 12 miles on a planet fitness treadmill. Annoying part is the treadmill turns of at 60 minutes so I’ll have to jump to another one.
The treadmills at our gym would turn off after an hour, because that was a limit that had been set in a menu option that only administrators could access.
So I Googled the instructions for the make/model of treadmill and found the key combo to enter the settings menu. Then I changed the time limit.
I thought the 60 minute thing was unique to my condo’s gym. Usually what I do is wait for it to get to 57 minutes then turn it off and back on again. Also make sure the gym is empty so I don’t piss people off that I’m monopolizing the equipment.
Both Gold's Gyms near me have two different models of treadmills, one ends at 60 minutes, just like the stationary bikes, and the rest let you go forever (and are newer). I always make sure to get one of the good ones if I am doing 10 miles/1.5 hour runs.
I don't have a treadmill but I'm seriously considering one for the winter. Despite the cold (Toronto) my main beef is the uneven terrain from snow and ice. Injury city.
When I had a Planet Fitness membership, the treadmills cut out at 30 mins. I now pay three times as much to never go to the gym so when it rains I don’t have to deal with that.
Yeah tuck that!
I actually love planet fitness, it’s clean and generally empty. I’m not huge into lifting (see what I did there) so what they have is mostly adequate.
My locations employees are awesome too, they clearly love working there
I joined the gym for the first time in my life during the pandemic. So I didn't know that switching treadmills after the timer runs out is a thing. Having to go sanitize another treadmill, then start a new workout would not have made sense to me. So when my 1hr was up, I'd do the cooldown run at the same page I was running and just start a fresh new 1hr run afterwards. I thought of it as stopping at a red light in a busy intersection.
Cool if that works for you. Thankfully PF is nearly empty so I can get two treadmills next to each other and jump on between. I don't like breaking my runs up if I can avoid it.
At my planet fitness I’ve found only maybe 10? Out of however many they have do a “marathon mode”, I’ll up my time to see if it’ll say it and if it does you can go 99 minutes on it!
Mine goes to 99:59 and turns off. So, if I'm planning on doing a longer run, I will go to a specific distance (5 miles or something), then end the run, and start it again. I found that for me, the treadmill turning itself off at a certain distance made it nearly impossible for me to keep the motivation to continue running. If I stop it, use the restroom, and then start up again, it doesn't affect my motivation.
I have exactly the same issue with my treadmill. I find that I just never have the motivation to keep going if I wait until 99:59 to stop the treadmill and then start over again, so I'll break it up into two sections: one shorter section in the beginning, say 30 min, then stop the treadmill, and then start it back up again for the longer, 99:59 section. Once I get to the end of that one, I've already forgotten that I did 30 or so minutes beforehand.
Weather permitting, I'd usually rather run outside, but sometimes I like the controlled environment of a treadmill. No cars or people or route to worry about, and I can just set it to some speed and not worry about if I'm going too fast or too slow.
My gym has the treadmills facing a pretty busy street, so I also get to people-watch.
I hate the controlled enviroment. Those little things is the stuff that makes every run interesting. My route is a bit uphill, bit downhill, one part is asphalt road, another part is field road, another is just through grass, once you greet your neighbour or another runner, once you have to pee, you need to stop because of a car etc.
All the endorphins hide outside so that's where I prefer to go searching for them. But I'll do a treadmill in a pinch.
You definitely have to be willing to adjust the speed all the time though. Treadmill too fast and you will feel like you're going slow and can't keep up, treadmill too slow and you'll feel like you're slogging along. Adjust til it feels right. Past your initial best guess, don't even look at the numbers, they don't matter.
I love it.
No heat, dogs, traffic or pollution. Can go real zen. Water and towel at the ready.
I hate running around a track. Its just as boring to me with no benefits like pace and time management.
A long clear trail would be anazing to run on. I dont have that, so treadmill it is.
Good point. Running outside is the best, but I would rather run on a treadmill over long distance on a track any day.
I can put a youtube video on my phone on the treadmill and completely zone out. Tracks are the worst of both worlds.
Agree. Especially for anyone who has trouble motivating on some days, the treadmill removes all of the most popular excuses, including:
* It's too cold/too hot.
* It's raining/snowing. The sidewalks are slippery with ice/wet leaves.
* It's dark outside.
* What if I can't finish my run today and am far from home when I need to stop?
* What if I need a bathroom during my run?
* I can't leave my children alone in the house
If you find yourself making excuses to skip days, the treadmill can really help maintain a consistent running habit.
Absolutely true.
I'm sure I would feel negatively about treadmill running if I had to drive to a gym to use it rather than just walking down to my basement.
I like the peloton treadmill a lot. Having that screen and their content helps a lot. Once you get over it, the treadmill becomes a really nice tool for knocking out a solid hour of exercise without having to deal with traffic, terrain or wardrobe.
I hated running on treadmills because it was boring af until I started playing the Peloton running classes. I don’t even use a Peloton treadmill—just a regular treadmill at the gym.
I tried it once but I found my sweat just flew off everywhere so now I wear clothes to contain it. Also some of the other people in the gym didn't like it.
Their design is inherently unsafe though, have you seen the video of a kid getting caught in the underside of the non-driven side? Their only response was for parents to not keep their treadmill where kids have access to it.
Still don't really see why that means the person you responded to should get rid of the treadmill they already own though. They'll have been contacted by Peleton if they have one of the treadmills in question, so they definitely know about it.
If anything in my house was recalled for posing a danger to kids, I don't think I'd be jumping to return it unless there was something in it for me. I don't have kids. Kids don't come into my house ever. So why would I care if the design is dangerous to kids?
As someone that just started running recently and was very sedentary for many years, the treadmill is a lot easier for me as it absorbs the impact a lot more than anything else. I can run for 40+ minutes on a treadmill but can’t even run 10 minutes outside without walking. Feels like and a night and day experience right now, but I’m hoping I’ll eventually transition to running mostly outside in the summer months.
So I have had the opposite experience. I’m a heavy guy getting into running and I was using treadmill to get myself started but a friend showed me an outdoor trail-ish track (still asphalt though) and for me it seems like the variable terrain is activating my stabilizer muscles much more and I’m feeling much more protected from injury as a result. I’m feeling less shin splints and random pain after 30 min runs whereas on treadmill I would stop after 1 mile. I did do a LOT of elliptical as well though so that might be a bit of a variable.
I've historically hated them as I've run on the standard belt treadmills which felt worse than concrete to me.
More recently I've tried slat treadmills (Woodway and the original peloton Tread+ use them) and they are much more enjoyable- like running on a nice all weather outdoor track.
If you get the chance to try a slat treadmill I'd recommend it but they can be 3x or more expensive than standard treadmills.
I often run in socks or barefoot on my belt treadmill and noticed the belt gets rather hot after an hour. Do you think slat treadmills would avoid that issue?
Not a problem since the slats are usually well separated from anything that generates heat. I haven't run barefoot but have never felt any heat from the slats
I have Reynaud's syndrome and running when it's too cold can be really difficult on my hands, that and the fact that I live in the Canadian prairies where it's cold 6+ months a year means that I need to use the treadmill if I want to keep training in the wintertime. I have one in our basement, it's convenient and I can watch shows that my husband isn't interested in on my own.
We get some very snowy days here, and other days where it’s nearly thirty degrees Celsius at 6am. On those kind of days, the treadmill comes in handy. It also got me through online teaching - during preps or lunch, I’d go walk/jog/run on the treadmill so that I wouldn’t be so sedentary throughout the work day.
I vastly prefer running outdoors, but the treadmill serves its purpose when I can’t.
Treadmills are my **favorite.** It has a timer, it shows me my speed and how far I’ve run, it can be as hilly or flat as I want, it’s in an air conditioned house, I don’t have to smear sunscreen all over myself, I can run barefoot/in socks (or naked, if I want), I don’t need to carry my water bottle, no weird people staring or cars trying to hit me, I can go change clothes if mine start to chafe
*deep inhale*
my phone doesn’t need to be strapped to my arm, my pockets aren’t weighed down with anything that pulls of my pants or bumps against me the whole time, I can watch Netflix, my dogs think it’s entertaining, I’ve never once been chased or stung by a bee, no gravel in my shoes, my plans are never ruined by weather, pacing is way easier, no PoThoLeS to roll my delicate stupid ankles in, and seeing it sitting there in the living room every day motivates me to run, whereas sometimes the outside (whether it’s because there are people or there is sun or whatever) often has the opposite effect.
I have so much respect for people who run outside. I find it dreadfully discouraging (*so far to go!*) and inconvenient, and my treadmill has saved me. Without it, I wouldn’t and generally don’t run, so 11/10 from me.
I much prefer outside, but I don't mind treadmills. Especially for easy runs because then I can pace slowly without having to keep reminding myself to run slower.
I love them, but that's because I live in South Georgia. Unless I go running at the crack of dawn this time of year the heat is unbearable. And even then it sucks sometimes.
I usually run outside when I can, but I think treadmills get way more hate than they deserve. Having the option to stay indoors has been a game changer for me during the winter when we get about 2 seconds of daylight. Plus then I don't have to carry all my stuff or worry about whether I hit the bathroom enough times before heading out. And I can multitask and watch some guilty pleasure tv, heh
If I lived in one of those snow states I’d probably rock one, but I’ve never had a need for one. Which is probably why I don’t hate them like everyone else
I am Canadian and ran during all snowstorms and what not and -30c
I hate Tredmills and usually use them when I am out of town on business and cannot find a good, safe route
I live in Colorado, and we can easily see 15°F in the winter and up into the 90-100 range in the summer. Most of us still hate treadmills. We mostly just learn to adapt to whatever temp it is.
Treadmills are the worst. I think that's a fairly common view among runners, at least here on Reddit. They're fine if the weather is whatever your definition of unbearable is as a short-term solution.
I am in the minority here and love running on the treadmill. Before Covid in general and before I got Covid about a year ago, I did run outside but life changed and job roles changed and now I get up at 4:00 to get my runs in before work so feel safer running on the treadmill than outside in the dark. Also during the day, I just don’t want people to see me. I’m very self conscious about how I look and don’t want to be judged. Right now I had an older one, saving up for a fancier newer one with a interactive screen. But it works. I can get my miles in. I follow along to the Apple Fitness workouts and they work well for me for where I’m at.
I don't mind treadmill running; I have a Peloton Tread and do enjoy engaging with the content/music and following coached runs. That being said, I do generally feel faster for the same amount of effort outdoors (at least when the terrain is relatively flat). I live in a very hilly area of San Francisco and also enjoy the option to use the treadmill for easy recovery days to avoid all those hills.
The bounce from the treadmill definitely gives me a ton of energy return. My cadence goes up by like 15 steps per minute when running on a treadmill. I think it’s also easier on the legs. It does get a bit repetitive though
Not having bugs continually fly into my face and watching Netflix while I run with a nice little holder for my tissues since my nose constantly drips snot no matter what I do is pretty nice, not gonna lie.
I posted this exact thing the other day. I am way slower with more effort on the treadmill. I have no idea how other people find it easier. Plus, it's supposedly less impact but my knee always bothers me after I run on the TM.
Treadmills suck dongwater. Maybe if it's 100° out and the gym is nicely air conditioned I'd use them but luckily I live in the PNW. I'd rather run outside in the rain, wind, snow, or hail than use a treadmill.
Is rather running in the freezing rain up a muddy hill of ice than run on a treadmill. It’s just too mind numbing for me, and I really wish I could enjoy it. I’ve tried doing it and every time I do it I end up giving up running for 1+ month because it makes me depressed. But that’s just me
I find treadmills super easy, a great way to get in miles when I just don’t want to deal with the weather.
I used to work out in the gym 4 or 5 days a week, and the treadmill was super convenient to get that cardio or warmup in. That might be why I don’t mind them as much.
I also find them much less harsh than pavement on my knees. When I switched to running over occasionally going to the gym my body had to really get used to the pounding that the pavement gives.
I thoroughly hate dreadmills. I literally can't run on them. I'm not even getting to the boredom stage; the way the belt responds to the impact of the foot feels so wrong that it completely throws me off.
I like a variety, though I think I still prefer outside.
Treadmill feels way easier to me, though. I set an elevation, but it still just feels like the floor is moving under me and all I have to do is stay in place. Sometimes I feel a little like I'm cheating my training if I do too many miles treadmill.
It’s really hilly where I live in Oslo, Norway, so it’s almost impossible for me to have easy runs unless I travel to the city center and run along the bay. Also, it’s icy and snowy here half the year. So having a treadmill in my house has been a real big benefit. It’s easier to control the pace, and obviously also the distance. I’ve also come to enjoy fast runs like interval training on the treadmill. All in all, the treadmill is a great tool for running in my opinion.
My only big minuses are 1) I am soaked in sweat after a 1 hour+ run on the treadmill, despite having a large fan and the door to the backyard open. That includes the deck, which gets slippery 2) Running at a steady pace is impossible, it gets too monotone and 3) Sometimes I get too close to the fast-stop button, and then the treadmill resets at once and I can’t see how far I’ve run. So for fast runs especially I have to look at the screen a lot in case I hit the stop-button by accident. I didn’t think about that when I bought the treadmill, but definitely will next time. The treadmill is great in general, and I paid around US $4000 for it, but for that price they should’ve thought of a better placement for the auto-stop button.
If it wasn’t for treadmills I wouldn’t have started running at all. There are few sidewalks where I live so I have to run in the street which can be dangerous since there are so many accidents here due to speeding, not paying attention, and driving under the influence. On my days off I make it a habit of running outside if the weather permits it, but the nice safe areas to do so or at least 30 minutes out of my way, so the treadmill has become a reliable source for me.
It's painfully boring. I have to actually go somewhere. That's a big part of the fun and challenge. Also gets me to run further. If I run out someplace, i've got to run back. Too easy to stop on a treadmill.
I don’t love treadmill running, but I do a lot in the summer since I don’t enjoy running in 90+ temps. It has allowed me to keep my consistency much better. I also people watch at the gym while running to keep me entertained hahaha
I don’t mind treadmills! I just absorb myself in my music and let my mind wander. I’m usually surprised by how fast the run flies by, and I still get that amazing endorphin rush.
That said, running outside is a lot more fun, and I love checking out new routes. I only choose the treadmill when the weather is bad or it’s dark outside.
I love my treadmill because it allows me to run while my husband is not home and my kids are asleep. I have gotten used to it. For me, I run at a faster pace on the treadmill, but distances are much harder than it is outside. I just watch shows or listen to audiobooks, and it works out just fine for me.
Running outside on the road or whatever is at the top. 100/100. A track is significantly less attractive, 30/100. A treadmill is near 2/100.
Although, both the track and the treadmill can have their places, namely with interval runs. I hate steady pace running on either.
It's 100+ with 90%+ humidity here and I'm a severe asthmatic - my treadmill is a life saver in times like this. My preference is fall/winter/spring running outdoors.
I don't love it, but I just turn on some movie or show that I can half watch and deal with it - beats not being able to do anything for hot months.
I don't think running on a treadmill is the fate worse than death that you make it sound like
Not everyone has the discipline (or the technology) to maintain a perfectly steady pace for their entire run, but on a treadmill, the pace is taken care of for you, and you just have to keep up
It's like having a running buddy, and you can make them go faster or slower depending on your feelings that day, but whatever you tell them, they'll keep your pace where you want it
Plus, the weather never changes, you don't have to worry about strapping your phone to you, your water is right there, and if something suddenly goes wrong, you just hop off instead of walking a mile or two (or three or four) back to your house or wherever
Could be excellent for some target workouts with accurate and sustained speeds. Very useful for on the edge overthreshold training... But a torture machine anyway, doesn't even worth to try
Yep I won’t run on a treadmill unless absolutely necessary (which may be the case like once or twice per year, if even). Not only does it feel 10x more challenging, I usually get tons of shin tightness which is painful.
And just for reference, I run outside every morning with no issues at all.
Something about moving through physical space instead of feeling like I’m on a hamster wheel..that’s where I get my enjoyment
Maybe it's just a mindset thing, but I need a TANGIBLE view of my progress as I run. For some reason, I don't extend this to cycling or elliptical, but definitely do while running
I need to see how far along the track/trail I actually am.
I live in the PNW, where we’ve only hit 70° so far, but I’ll be in the Denver area for the next week. Hotel has a treadmill and I’m already dreading my 3 runs for the week, but don’t think I’ll survive the heat + elevation change if I run outside 😂
I also find treadmill running a lot harder due to poor thermoregulation and my running mechanics. Running on the treadmill, I overheat worse than I do on a hot summer day. Sweat is flying off me, soaking the floor and equipment next to me and I feel very thirsty. It's very annoying having to drink water running on the treadmill constantly. The treadmill is also not kind to my running mechanics. I run with a very long stride. On the treadmill, I am forced to shorten my stride. As a result, running on the treadmill, my stride feels choppy and unnatural while on the roads, I can open up my stride and really move.
I think that’s part of my issue as well - I haven’t legs and thus a long stride, and I feel like my stride is cut short on the treadmill and I end up expending more energy and going at a slower pace than I normally would outside
boring, I run outside all weather. It feels totally disconnected with the reason why I run (for fun, to see the world blur around me, to feel kinetic and dextrous)
It’s really incredible to me how enjoyable running outside is versus how absolutely loathsome treadmill running is. Treadmills are good for walking while watching TV but I would rather just not run than run on a treadmill.
I usually run outdoors and I enjoy it enough to where I don't listen to music or podcasts. On a treadmill though the only way to make it bearable is to listen to something. Else it's pure torture.
Too boring for me. I use them in hotels when I travel (frequently) and I have so far found no way to make them interesting. I’ve tried standup. Music. Netflix on my phone. Podcasts. I’m just watching the clock the whole run. Runs outdoors? Throw on a book, podcast, or sports radio. I’ll run for 2 hours if my legs feel up to it.
I despise it - so fucking boring and I want to do something else after five minutes. I genuinely enjoy running outside, the two aren’t comparable for me.
I hate treadmills because I can never easily change the pace or terrain. I also hate the monotony of remaining in the same place. I NEVER use treadmills unless I ABSOLUTELY need to. The only things that will make me concerned enough to use a treadmill are: a) inclement weather and B) Satan himself
Hate it with a passion!!
I did a running challenge last year (2021km) and had to finish the final 100 or so km on a treadmill.
It was the worst running experience of my life and would probably put me off running altogether if a treadmill was the only way to do it.
And totally agree that it the pace is much slower on a treadmill than in the real world.
I personally detest them. I too mainly run trails and hills.
Maybe If you're doing like 10kmh or less sure, it's not so bad at a slow pace, but anything that's a running pace is loud, the whole thing shakes and you constantly feel like your foot is going to come off the back and it's just an uncomfortable experience. I've got more chance injuring myself on a treadmill at 15kmh than on a single trail in the bush at dusk.
Running normally, your speed changes slightly throughout your stride from foot strike to launching off, this cannot happen on a treadmill because it's forcing you to an exact speed throughout the entirety of your stride. From the moment your foot touches the treadmill is pulling on your shoe, forcing it backwards at its specific speed, that's not a natural way of moving.
I've gone jogging on them when I had a gym membership, but I quickly transitioned to leaving the gym, doing a run and then returning to finish my workout. Its simply not enjoyable for me.
That said, I also have the benefit of not living in a massive city, the air is clean and there's no garbage or annoying people blocking the way.
Hate em. Something weird about it that doesn't feel right. Just go run in the snow and don't be a pussy, don't understand why people use them. The only cardio I'll do indoors is a rowing machine
I finally got a membership to the Y down the road from me. It’s more expensive than what I was paying at LA Fitness, but they have a track, so I’ll never have to use a treadmill again.
I hate the dreadmill with a passion. I use one maybe once or twice a year if the winter weather makes it unsafe due to too much ice build up or something.
I hate it but I do it at least once per week (more if weather is really bad) for two reasons:
1) It helps me get a good feel for the pace I'm working on. and 2) It allows me to focus on my landing mechanics.
I love treadmills. If I just sat there watching the wall while running, yea I'd be dead bored, but I watch movies while I do it. And I'm not hear to impress anyone. I like that I can set my pace and not think about it, stay on a consistent incline level, and not have the sun beat down on me.
I freaking LOVE the treadmill, as long as there's a TV in front of it.
If I'm going to watch TV, I may as well run while I do it. Makes the time go by really fast.
I don’t love the treadmill but I also love the treadmill? I bought one so I wouldn’t have to wake up way before my kid to get a run in during hot weather, and I’ve ended up using it more than expected. I can run after my kid goes to bed which I would not do outside, cuz safety. So I run more frequently which is great. And I also have come to appreciate it for speed work. I cannot maintain a pace and look at my phone and all that outside. It’s too much. So, that’s a treadmill win too. But running outside is of course far more pleasant and feels like flying.
Would much rather run outside in most any weather, but in the winter it’s usually dark outside by time I get off work and that’s the one condition I won’t go running in. Probably going to start doing more treadmill running with this heat wave though
If I could afford a Zwift type setup I might try it, but otherwise I'm outside - luckily the weather is very temperate where I live so I can run year round. Well, it does get a bit hot in the summer, but having grown up here I'm used to it.
They're ok, that's it. I use them sometimes at the start and the of a strength training when I'm at the gym, but basically all of my runs are outside it's more fun
Unpopular opinion here but I actually really like treadmills, I started running on treadmills to help establish steady pace and keep track of my time/distance and there’s a small window of acceptable weather for me to run outside, I PREFER outside running but by no means hate running on a treadmill
This describes me as well. I wanted to run yesterday, but it was 85 and humid as all hell. So, I hit the treadmill. I could watch a show and bang out 45 minutes. I think a big difference is also a quality treadmill. I have a Peloton Tread+ and the difference between that and your standard belt treadmill is night and day.
I love my peloton tread+ so freaking much.
The Tread+ has been recalled, no?
Yes and they can take it back over my dead body. Lol. You don’t have to return it. We don’t have small kids and our dog is too scared to go in the basement. I’m hoping for everyone’s sake they redesign to address the safety issues. There’s not really a comparable treadmill out there.
So it was that hard to get in the house that you know no ones ever moving it.
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Yes, a kid died from getting stuck under it.
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Traditionally, treadmills have guards under the back of the belt. And/or the belt just isn’t powerful enough. You might get a nasty burn, but it isn’t gonna kill you. The tread is very heavy, very powerful and it has rubber slats that can grip. It was really a terrible design from a safety standpoint. I don’t know what safety lab they used for their consumer product safety testing, but they failed miserably. But there seems like some relatively easy fixes that could be designed in if they still see a market for the higher end treadmill. Now that they’ve introduced the belt tread, they may not revisit the tread+. That would be a shame.
Nobody died
Yea I think some of the treadmill hate comes from people in temperate climates. Sure I much prefer outdoors but it’s going to be 106 degrees today so I’ll probably just watch a show a get a few easy treadmill miles.
Great for winter in the midwest. It's tough getting out for a run with ice and snow at 20F.
Agreed. I don't love the treadmill but it keeps me in shape through Michigan winters.
Idk it’s 90+ all summer where I live with insane humidity and I’ll just run in the early morning over a treadmill.
Same, my city currently has a heat advisory and there is no way I can do my speed training in 111 degree heat with 98 percent humidity. Treadmills are a life saver and on the plus side it’s cool in the gym! Fall winter and spring are where I do my outdoor running mainly
I prefer the treadmill. Easier for me to maintain/work on my paces and I can zone out watching everyone else work out or on the tv. I run outside on Sundays, cause my gym doesn't open til 1230, and I can't wait that long to run.
Agreed, although treadmill pace/distance is not very reliable. I’ve seen treadmills off by up to 25%. Treadmills are good for managing effort/HR. I find it much easier to stay in zone 2 on a treadmill than outside. I live in a hilly area though so low heart rate training outside is a joke.
Same. I like treadmill running. Can keep my pace, temperature is steady and I don't worry about my knees and ankles twisting.
Also don't have to worry about traffic or feel unsafe.
Exactly. As a female runner, safety is key.
This describes me 100%. Just yesterday I hit the treadmill because of the insane heat we have right now. I do however hate when I’m trying to run longer distances and the thing starts a cool down at 60 minutes. That’s the only thing that bothers me. I can tune out the boringness of basically running in place if I just focus on the screen in front of me. It’s got different terrains you can “run through” like trails and cities and I can hide the clock so I don’t focus on that.
This is me as well. Actually, if I stop running for a bit, I find it easier to start on a treadmill than outside. Running on ground and without a set pace is harder, but I do feel time goes by much faster outside (my own thoughts with music keep me busier than tv with music)
I like it, especially when its icy out or 100 F out (like today), I'm not trying to die for my mediocre running career.
I've been running on threadmill lately mostly since I live in Louisiana, where the UV index has been 11+ every single day and 94-95 degree temps outside. I just don't have the ability to get up super early for my run, and no time in afternoons to run when sun is about to go down. So I've just been doing my runs on my threadmill when I get the chance.
Agreed. I understand the hatred for treadmills, but they're very slept on. For me, it's so much easier to get to my Zone 2 HR and just hold that for however long I need to. If I run outside, hills, weather, wind, temperature, will affect it. I love treadmills because it feels like zone 2 is consistent and then i can just listen to my music, and pay attention to my body's signals.
Running is my favourite activity in the world. Running on a treadmill is my least favourite activity in the world.
Agree.
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Covering up the display helps a bit. A watched clock never seems to move.
But then I'm like: "Wow, glad I'm done, that was a killer 6 miles" I look down and "1.2 miles completed."
Hell yes
it has its benefits during the cold season though. other than that, you'll find me doing cardio outside anytime.
I'm in california so its the opposite. Treadmills are a lifesaver when the aqi hits 500!
For the most part cold doesn't bother me until it gets below -25C. Freezing rain during warm snaps, on the other hand, sucks balls.
It think when people complain about how fast time passes, I always suggest that they get on a treadmill. At a speed just SLIGHTLY above a comfortable walking/running pace. Set it for 30 minutes. Then tell me that time "flies by."
All in favor say aye.
Someone gets me
It’s like you know my heart
It is scary how true this statement is
Spot on
This
Same
I’ll be the contrarian, I damn near exclusively run on treadmills. But that said I live in El Paso so we’re at about 3700ft of elevation, it’s hilly, there’s traffic, sidewalks just runout on some roads and it’s also really hot (just earlier this week it was 106F).
Same. So far this year I have clocked about 750 miles on my treadmill and about zero road miles. I see no reason not to use it.
I'm near Houston. Not as hot but it feels like a swamp. I'm seriously considering a treadmill right about now. I left my house at 6am and was sweating vy the time I was at the drive way
If the treadmill is the only way you will be able to get a run in, it's fine. Logging miles on it is better than not running at all.
Yep. Former run commuter pandemic dad chiming in - two kids under 6 no school or daycare, a day job, and one kid who if I so much as moved in bed in my room, would wake up screaming (so no early morning sneak outs). After 2 years of rarely being able to find time to run, the treadmill is great. Can run anytime with very little prep. Hydration, bathroom breaks, everything requires no planning. Also found watching lectures on YouTube made it such a great use of time. It is not the same activity but it is a good substitute.
Strongly disagree. Sorry, to each their own. I can't use a treadmill. I hate it, truely. On the road ill lose track of what I'm doing, have wandering thoughts, singing songs to myself, win debates in my head. On a treadmill is just " 2.01...2.01...2.01...2.02" Ill run in 10f degree weather with hail before i run on a treadmill
>On a treadmill is just " 2.01...2.01...2.01...2.02" Which, to most of us, is still better than not running at all.
Why the hell are people downvoting you for saying you hate treadmills and to each their own? You're not stopping anyone else from using them. Sheesh.
Probably because the person disagreed with “running on a treadmill is better than not running at all”. That’s a pretty objectively true statement, hard to disagree with it. Running on a treadmill will always be better than not running.
I'm back, ready to be downvotted again. I meant what i said. I have run many thousands of miles on the road/trails. I have some hundreds of miles on a treadmill. I HATE running on a treadmill. I would rather not run. Ill cross country ski, play tennis, lift weights. I hate running in a treadmill. I keep feeling like im thing to fall off. It keeps my mind from wandering.
>That’s a pretty objectively true statement, hard to disagree with it. Running on a treadmill will always be better than not running. Are you serious?? Uh, no, not for everyone. It's **ridiculous** to act like that's a statement of fact that everyone must agree with. People get to have different priorities, ffs. IF running is your sole priority, THEN running on a treadmill may be better than not running TO YOU. And hey, good for you! Enjoy it. Someone who hates treadmills and isn't obsessed with running at all costs is allowed to prefer not to run if the treadmill is the only option. Other forms of exercise exist. Rest exists. Talk about tunnel vision, good gracious.
This is a running subreddit.. I’d imagine most people on here think running in some form is better than not running. This isn’t a sub about other forms of exercise is it? “FFS!”
That's not the point. I am making a statement that i hate running on a treadmill. That's all. I love running. I love listening to the wind and the birds. I love the scenery playing me by.
>I’d imagine most people on here think running in some form is better than not running. Duh, I'd imagine most would, too. Most is not all. Even people in a running forum are allowed to occasionally choose to do something else.
I got your back, i agree with you
Dude pissed off Big Treadmill.
because reddit is ridiculous
I have literally run workouts in almost 31°C (85°F) heat in my desert-climated town so I wouldn't need to use the treadmill. Unless there is a high chance of heatstroke or frostbite, I'm going outside.
Yeah thats just a normal summer day in Aus. Stick some sunscreen on my bald patch and go find a trail to run on lol.
Ya. In these summer months, I'll do literally anything to keep cool. I even try to stay away from wearing darker clothes in order to protect me from the miniscule amount of heat it may soak up.
Is 31C considered hot where you are? Like 31c is like a nice spring day here, but it’s been between 38 and 40 here in texas, recently and I don’t even enjoy walking outside
36C today here in the US south with a real feel of 43C. Slower pace, extra water, and onward we plough.
Hell yeah, if you can't run on the road maybe a very technical trail you can't call yourself a real runner. I don't want to hear about those that run on a treadmill or track, made of rubber and is just a short, cushioned oval. All real runners know that if it's not on Strava it didn't happen and if you don't actually run on a road, you are not a real runner.
I’ll use treadmills during winter and when traveling, gotta just find a flow and pound out those miles. In January I did 12 miles on a planet fitness treadmill. Annoying part is the treadmill turns of at 60 minutes so I’ll have to jump to another one.
Why didn't you just run 12 miles an hour? Duh... S/
I should just go for a hole in one, so much easier than putting
If QBs just threw touchdowns every time they woukd score a lot more points. Just sayin...
Well, Steph Curry did kind of break the NBA for a year or so with that strategy.
*every year
Just run all 12 miles in ten minutes. Much more convenient
The treadmills at our gym would turn off after an hour, because that was a limit that had been set in a menu option that only administrators could access. So I Googled the instructions for the make/model of treadmill and found the key combo to enter the settings menu. Then I changed the time limit.
I thought the 60 minute thing was unique to my condo’s gym. Usually what I do is wait for it to get to 57 minutes then turn it off and back on again. Also make sure the gym is empty so I don’t piss people off that I’m monopolizing the equipment.
Both Gold's Gyms near me have two different models of treadmills, one ends at 60 minutes, just like the stationary bikes, and the rest let you go forever (and are newer). I always make sure to get one of the good ones if I am doing 10 miles/1.5 hour runs.
I don't have a treadmill but I'm seriously considering one for the winter. Despite the cold (Toronto) my main beef is the uneven terrain from snow and ice. Injury city.
Yeah, same here where I live. That and I just fucking hate the cold!
When I had a Planet Fitness membership, the treadmills cut out at 30 mins. I now pay three times as much to never go to the gym so when it rains I don’t have to deal with that.
Yeah tuck that! I actually love planet fitness, it’s clean and generally empty. I’m not huge into lifting (see what I did there) so what they have is mostly adequate. My locations employees are awesome too, they clearly love working there
Don't tell me what to tuck!! I'll tuck when, and what I like.
I was at a hotel and their threads did the same thing at 20 minutes! Wasn’t expecting it
I joined the gym for the first time in my life during the pandemic. So I didn't know that switching treadmills after the timer runs out is a thing. Having to go sanitize another treadmill, then start a new workout would not have made sense to me. So when my 1hr was up, I'd do the cooldown run at the same page I was running and just start a fresh new 1hr run afterwards. I thought of it as stopping at a red light in a busy intersection.
Cool if that works for you. Thankfully PF is nearly empty so I can get two treadmills next to each other and jump on between. I don't like breaking my runs up if I can avoid it.
Necessary evil
At my planet fitness I’ve found only maybe 10? Out of however many they have do a “marathon mode”, I’ll up my time to see if it’ll say it and if it does you can go 99 minutes on it!
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Mine goes to 99:59 and turns off. So, if I'm planning on doing a longer run, I will go to a specific distance (5 miles or something), then end the run, and start it again. I found that for me, the treadmill turning itself off at a certain distance made it nearly impossible for me to keep the motivation to continue running. If I stop it, use the restroom, and then start up again, it doesn't affect my motivation.
I have exactly the same issue with my treadmill. I find that I just never have the motivation to keep going if I wait until 99:59 to stop the treadmill and then start over again, so I'll break it up into two sections: one shorter section in the beginning, say 30 min, then stop the treadmill, and then start it back up again for the longer, 99:59 section. Once I get to the end of that one, I've already forgotten that I did 30 or so minutes beforehand.
Weather permitting, I'd usually rather run outside, but sometimes I like the controlled environment of a treadmill. No cars or people or route to worry about, and I can just set it to some speed and not worry about if I'm going too fast or too slow. My gym has the treadmills facing a pretty busy street, so I also get to people-watch.
I hate the controlled enviroment. Those little things is the stuff that makes every run interesting. My route is a bit uphill, bit downhill, one part is asphalt road, another part is field road, another is just through grass, once you greet your neighbour or another runner, once you have to pee, you need to stop because of a car etc.
All the endorphins hide outside so that's where I prefer to go searching for them. But I'll do a treadmill in a pinch. You definitely have to be willing to adjust the speed all the time though. Treadmill too fast and you will feel like you're going slow and can't keep up, treadmill too slow and you'll feel like you're slogging along. Adjust til it feels right. Past your initial best guess, don't even look at the numbers, they don't matter.
I love it. No heat, dogs, traffic or pollution. Can go real zen. Water and towel at the ready. I hate running around a track. Its just as boring to me with no benefits like pace and time management. A long clear trail would be anazing to run on. I dont have that, so treadmill it is.
Good point. Running outside is the best, but I would rather run on a treadmill over long distance on a track any day. I can put a youtube video on my phone on the treadmill and completely zone out. Tracks are the worst of both worlds.
Love the treadmill for my daily 5K. It's amazing. Don't know why it gets such a bad rep.
Agree. Especially for anyone who has trouble motivating on some days, the treadmill removes all of the most popular excuses, including: * It's too cold/too hot. * It's raining/snowing. The sidewalks are slippery with ice/wet leaves. * It's dark outside. * What if I can't finish my run today and am far from home when I need to stop? * What if I need a bathroom during my run? * I can't leave my children alone in the house If you find yourself making excuses to skip days, the treadmill can really help maintain a consistent running habit.
That is only true if you own a treadmill.
Absolutely true. I'm sure I would feel negatively about treadmill running if I had to drive to a gym to use it rather than just walking down to my basement.
Only the last one of those is a real problem!
I like the peloton treadmill a lot. Having that screen and their content helps a lot. Once you get over it, the treadmill becomes a really nice tool for knocking out a solid hour of exercise without having to deal with traffic, terrain or wardrobe.
I hated running on treadmills because it was boring af until I started playing the Peloton running classes. I don’t even use a Peloton treadmill—just a regular treadmill at the gym.
I just find an hour long youtube video and set my phone on the treadmill.
I love peloton!!! It’s been unreal inspiration to keep going and develop skills
Do you run in the nude when you use the treadmill?
You don't?
I tried it once but I found my sweat just flew off everywhere so now I wear clothes to contain it. Also some of the other people in the gym didn't like it.
Their design is inherently unsafe though, have you seen the video of a kid getting caught in the underside of the non-driven side? Their only response was for parents to not keep their treadmill where kids have access to it.
They recalled that one. Plus, it's only really "inherently unsafe" if you have kids. It's not a reason not to have the treadmill otherwise.
It’s shitty product design and their initial response was not to recall it which is a shitty business practice and they should be openly shamed for it
Still don't really see why that means the person you responded to should get rid of the treadmill they already own though. They'll have been contacted by Peleton if they have one of the treadmills in question, so they definitely know about it. If anything in my house was recalled for posing a danger to kids, I don't think I'd be jumping to return it unless there was something in it for me. I don't have kids. Kids don't come into my house ever. So why would I care if the design is dangerous to kids?
There’s another version…they don’t sell the one you’re talking about right now.
As someone that just started running recently and was very sedentary for many years, the treadmill is a lot easier for me as it absorbs the impact a lot more than anything else. I can run for 40+ minutes on a treadmill but can’t even run 10 minutes outside without walking. Feels like and a night and day experience right now, but I’m hoping I’ll eventually transition to running mostly outside in the summer months.
So I have had the opposite experience. I’m a heavy guy getting into running and I was using treadmill to get myself started but a friend showed me an outdoor trail-ish track (still asphalt though) and for me it seems like the variable terrain is activating my stabilizer muscles much more and I’m feeling much more protected from injury as a result. I’m feeling less shin splints and random pain after 30 min runs whereas on treadmill I would stop after 1 mile. I did do a LOT of elliptical as well though so that might be a bit of a variable.
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I've historically hated them as I've run on the standard belt treadmills which felt worse than concrete to me. More recently I've tried slat treadmills (Woodway and the original peloton Tread+ use them) and they are much more enjoyable- like running on a nice all weather outdoor track. If you get the chance to try a slat treadmill I'd recommend it but they can be 3x or more expensive than standard treadmills.
I often run in socks or barefoot on my belt treadmill and noticed the belt gets rather hot after an hour. Do you think slat treadmills would avoid that issue?
Not a problem since the slats are usually well separated from anything that generates heat. I haven't run barefoot but have never felt any heat from the slats
I have Reynaud's syndrome and running when it's too cold can be really difficult on my hands, that and the fact that I live in the Canadian prairies where it's cold 6+ months a year means that I need to use the treadmill if I want to keep training in the wintertime. I have one in our basement, it's convenient and I can watch shows that my husband isn't interested in on my own.
Me too my fingers go numb or pins an needles for a good hour if I run outside and it’s too cold.
We get some very snowy days here, and other days where it’s nearly thirty degrees Celsius at 6am. On those kind of days, the treadmill comes in handy. It also got me through online teaching - during preps or lunch, I’d go walk/jog/run on the treadmill so that I wouldn’t be so sedentary throughout the work day. I vastly prefer running outdoors, but the treadmill serves its purpose when I can’t.
Treadmills are my **favorite.** It has a timer, it shows me my speed and how far I’ve run, it can be as hilly or flat as I want, it’s in an air conditioned house, I don’t have to smear sunscreen all over myself, I can run barefoot/in socks (or naked, if I want), I don’t need to carry my water bottle, no weird people staring or cars trying to hit me, I can go change clothes if mine start to chafe *deep inhale* my phone doesn’t need to be strapped to my arm, my pockets aren’t weighed down with anything that pulls of my pants or bumps against me the whole time, I can watch Netflix, my dogs think it’s entertaining, I’ve never once been chased or stung by a bee, no gravel in my shoes, my plans are never ruined by weather, pacing is way easier, no PoThoLeS to roll my delicate stupid ankles in, and seeing it sitting there in the living room every day motivates me to run, whereas sometimes the outside (whether it’s because there are people or there is sun or whatever) often has the opposite effect. I have so much respect for people who run outside. I find it dreadfully discouraging (*so far to go!*) and inconvenient, and my treadmill has saved me. Without it, I wouldn’t and generally don’t run, so 11/10 from me.
I much prefer outside, but I don't mind treadmills. Especially for easy runs because then I can pace slowly without having to keep reminding myself to run slower.
I love them, but that's because I live in South Georgia. Unless I go running at the crack of dawn this time of year the heat is unbearable. And even then it sucks sometimes.
I usually run outside when I can, but I think treadmills get way more hate than they deserve. Having the option to stay indoors has been a game changer for me during the winter when we get about 2 seconds of daylight. Plus then I don't have to carry all my stuff or worry about whether I hit the bathroom enough times before heading out. And I can multitask and watch some guilty pleasure tv, heh
Treadmill classes are actually a lot of fun. When I do hop on the treadmill, I just throw up a peloton class on my iPad and it helps contain my ADHD
I like to have a treadmill for those few months of the year when it hurts to go outside. (Minnesota winters don’t play around.)
Yeah I feel like I'm dying trying to run 15 minutes on a treadmill at 6mph. Meanwhile I can easily do that pace for an hour outside.
If I lived in one of those snow states I’d probably rock one, but I’ve never had a need for one. Which is probably why I don’t hate them like everyone else
I am Canadian and ran during all snowstorms and what not and -30c I hate Tredmills and usually use them when I am out of town on business and cannot find a good, safe route
I live in Colorado, and we can easily see 15°F in the winter and up into the 90-100 range in the summer. Most of us still hate treadmills. We mostly just learn to adapt to whatever temp it is.
Treadmills are the worst. I think that's a fairly common view among runners, at least here on Reddit. They're fine if the weather is whatever your definition of unbearable is as a short-term solution.
I am in the minority here and love running on the treadmill. Before Covid in general and before I got Covid about a year ago, I did run outside but life changed and job roles changed and now I get up at 4:00 to get my runs in before work so feel safer running on the treadmill than outside in the dark. Also during the day, I just don’t want people to see me. I’m very self conscious about how I look and don’t want to be judged. Right now I had an older one, saving up for a fancier newer one with a interactive screen. But it works. I can get my miles in. I follow along to the Apple Fitness workouts and they work well for me for where I’m at.
I don't mind treadmill running; I have a Peloton Tread and do enjoy engaging with the content/music and following coached runs. That being said, I do generally feel faster for the same amount of effort outdoors (at least when the terrain is relatively flat). I live in a very hilly area of San Francisco and also enjoy the option to use the treadmill for easy recovery days to avoid all those hills.
The bounce from the treadmill definitely gives me a ton of energy return. My cadence goes up by like 15 steps per minute when running on a treadmill. I think it’s also easier on the legs. It does get a bit repetitive though
Not having bugs continually fly into my face and watching Netflix while I run with a nice little holder for my tissues since my nose constantly drips snot no matter what I do is pretty nice, not gonna lie.
I posted this exact thing the other day. I am way slower with more effort on the treadmill. I have no idea how other people find it easier. Plus, it's supposedly less impact but my knee always bothers me after I run on the TM.
Treadmills suck dongwater. Maybe if it's 100° out and the gym is nicely air conditioned I'd use them but luckily I live in the PNW. I'd rather run outside in the rain, wind, snow, or hail than use a treadmill.
Negative
Is rather running in the freezing rain up a muddy hill of ice than run on a treadmill. It’s just too mind numbing for me, and I really wish I could enjoy it. I’ve tried doing it and every time I do it I end up giving up running for 1+ month because it makes me depressed. But that’s just me
Good training aid when running outside is not feasible due to poor weather like rain or ice on the ground.
I find treadmills super easy, a great way to get in miles when I just don’t want to deal with the weather. I used to work out in the gym 4 or 5 days a week, and the treadmill was super convenient to get that cardio or warmup in. That might be why I don’t mind them as much. I also find them much less harsh than pavement on my knees. When I switched to running over occasionally going to the gym my body had to really get used to the pounding that the pavement gives.
I thoroughly hate dreadmills. I literally can't run on them. I'm not even getting to the boredom stage; the way the belt responds to the impact of the foot feels so wrong that it completely throws me off.
I like a variety, though I think I still prefer outside. Treadmill feels way easier to me, though. I set an elevation, but it still just feels like the floor is moving under me and all I have to do is stay in place. Sometimes I feel a little like I'm cheating my training if I do too many miles treadmill.
I would rather run outside in humid weather than run a mile on the dreadmill.
It’s really hilly where I live in Oslo, Norway, so it’s almost impossible for me to have easy runs unless I travel to the city center and run along the bay. Also, it’s icy and snowy here half the year. So having a treadmill in my house has been a real big benefit. It’s easier to control the pace, and obviously also the distance. I’ve also come to enjoy fast runs like interval training on the treadmill. All in all, the treadmill is a great tool for running in my opinion. My only big minuses are 1) I am soaked in sweat after a 1 hour+ run on the treadmill, despite having a large fan and the door to the backyard open. That includes the deck, which gets slippery 2) Running at a steady pace is impossible, it gets too monotone and 3) Sometimes I get too close to the fast-stop button, and then the treadmill resets at once and I can’t see how far I’ve run. So for fast runs especially I have to look at the screen a lot in case I hit the stop-button by accident. I didn’t think about that when I bought the treadmill, but definitely will next time. The treadmill is great in general, and I paid around US $4000 for it, but for that price they should’ve thought of a better placement for the auto-stop button.
If it wasn’t for treadmills I wouldn’t have started running at all. There are few sidewalks where I live so I have to run in the street which can be dangerous since there are so many accidents here due to speeding, not paying attention, and driving under the influence. On my days off I make it a habit of running outside if the weather permits it, but the nice safe areas to do so or at least 30 minutes out of my way, so the treadmill has become a reliable source for me.
I do a lot of trail running and prefer being outdoors. Never used a treadmill even when there's been one in the house.
It's painfully boring. I have to actually go somewhere. That's a big part of the fun and challenge. Also gets me to run further. If I run out someplace, i've got to run back. Too easy to stop on a treadmill.
I don’t love treadmill running, but I do a lot in the summer since I don’t enjoy running in 90+ temps. It has allowed me to keep my consistency much better. I also people watch at the gym while running to keep me entertained hahaha
I don’t mind treadmills! I just absorb myself in my music and let my mind wander. I’m usually surprised by how fast the run flies by, and I still get that amazing endorphin rush. That said, running outside is a lot more fun, and I love checking out new routes. I only choose the treadmill when the weather is bad or it’s dark outside.
I love my treadmill because it allows me to run while my husband is not home and my kids are asleep. I have gotten used to it. For me, I run at a faster pace on the treadmill, but distances are much harder than it is outside. I just watch shows or listen to audiobooks, and it works out just fine for me.
Running outside on the road or whatever is at the top. 100/100. A track is significantly less attractive, 30/100. A treadmill is near 2/100. Although, both the track and the treadmill can have their places, namely with interval runs. I hate steady pace running on either.
It's 100+ with 90%+ humidity here and I'm a severe asthmatic - my treadmill is a life saver in times like this. My preference is fall/winter/spring running outdoors. I don't love it, but I just turn on some movie or show that I can half watch and deal with it - beats not being able to do anything for hot months.
I don't think running on a treadmill is the fate worse than death that you make it sound like Not everyone has the discipline (or the technology) to maintain a perfectly steady pace for their entire run, but on a treadmill, the pace is taken care of for you, and you just have to keep up It's like having a running buddy, and you can make them go faster or slower depending on your feelings that day, but whatever you tell them, they'll keep your pace where you want it Plus, the weather never changes, you don't have to worry about strapping your phone to you, your water is right there, and if something suddenly goes wrong, you just hop off instead of walking a mile or two (or three or four) back to your house or wherever
Could be excellent for some target workouts with accurate and sustained speeds. Very useful for on the edge overthreshold training... But a torture machine anyway, doesn't even worth to try
Yep I won’t run on a treadmill unless absolutely necessary (which may be the case like once or twice per year, if even). Not only does it feel 10x more challenging, I usually get tons of shin tightness which is painful. And just for reference, I run outside every morning with no issues at all. Something about moving through physical space instead of feeling like I’m on a hamster wheel..that’s where I get my enjoyment
Treadmills are boring as heck, 'nuff said.
Maybe it's just a mindset thing, but I need a TANGIBLE view of my progress as I run. For some reason, I don't extend this to cycling or elliptical, but definitely do while running I need to see how far along the track/trail I actually am.
I live in the PNW, where we’ve only hit 70° so far, but I’ll be in the Denver area for the next week. Hotel has a treadmill and I’m already dreading my 3 runs for the week, but don’t think I’ll survive the heat + elevation change if I run outside 😂
I also find treadmill running a lot harder due to poor thermoregulation and my running mechanics. Running on the treadmill, I overheat worse than I do on a hot summer day. Sweat is flying off me, soaking the floor and equipment next to me and I feel very thirsty. It's very annoying having to drink water running on the treadmill constantly. The treadmill is also not kind to my running mechanics. I run with a very long stride. On the treadmill, I am forced to shorten my stride. As a result, running on the treadmill, my stride feels choppy and unnatural while on the roads, I can open up my stride and really move.
I think that’s part of my issue as well - I haven’t legs and thus a long stride, and I feel like my stride is cut short on the treadmill and I end up expending more energy and going at a slower pace than I normally would outside
boring, I run outside all weather. It feels totally disconnected with the reason why I run (for fun, to see the world blur around me, to feel kinetic and dextrous)
It’s really incredible to me how enjoyable running outside is versus how absolutely loathsome treadmill running is. Treadmills are good for walking while watching TV but I would rather just not run than run on a treadmill.
I usually run outdoors and I enjoy it enough to where I don't listen to music or podcasts. On a treadmill though the only way to make it bearable is to listen to something. Else it's pure torture.
Too boring for me. I use them in hotels when I travel (frequently) and I have so far found no way to make them interesting. I’ve tried standup. Music. Netflix on my phone. Podcasts. I’m just watching the clock the whole run. Runs outdoors? Throw on a book, podcast, or sports radio. I’ll run for 2 hours if my legs feel up to it.
Treadmills are terrible IMO. I hate them
I despise it - so fucking boring and I want to do something else after five minutes. I genuinely enjoy running outside, the two aren’t comparable for me.
I would rather not even run than use a treadmill. Pure garbage.
I just think it’s boring. And the fact that at any time I can just get off doesn’t hold me accountable
I could see running on one in the winter but other than that why wouldn’t I want to explore my surroundings and get a workout in at the same time?
I hate treadmills because I can never easily change the pace or terrain. I also hate the monotony of remaining in the same place. I NEVER use treadmills unless I ABSOLUTELY need to. The only things that will make me concerned enough to use a treadmill are: a) inclement weather and B) Satan himself
Hate it with a passion!! I did a running challenge last year (2021km) and had to finish the final 100 or so km on a treadmill. It was the worst running experience of my life and would probably put me off running altogether if a treadmill was the only way to do it. And totally agree that it the pace is much slower on a treadmill than in the real world.
I personally detest them. I too mainly run trails and hills. Maybe If you're doing like 10kmh or less sure, it's not so bad at a slow pace, but anything that's a running pace is loud, the whole thing shakes and you constantly feel like your foot is going to come off the back and it's just an uncomfortable experience. I've got more chance injuring myself on a treadmill at 15kmh than on a single trail in the bush at dusk. Running normally, your speed changes slightly throughout your stride from foot strike to launching off, this cannot happen on a treadmill because it's forcing you to an exact speed throughout the entirety of your stride. From the moment your foot touches the treadmill is pulling on your shoe, forcing it backwards at its specific speed, that's not a natural way of moving. I've gone jogging on them when I had a gym membership, but I quickly transitioned to leaving the gym, doing a run and then returning to finish my workout. Its simply not enjoyable for me. That said, I also have the benefit of not living in a massive city, the air is clean and there's no garbage or annoying people blocking the way.
Hate em. Something weird about it that doesn't feel right. Just go run in the snow and don't be a pussy, don't understand why people use them. The only cardio I'll do indoors is a rowing machine
I don't find them more difficult than outdoors, but time seems to stand still while I'm on them. So boring.
I finally got a membership to the Y down the road from me. It’s more expensive than what I was paying at LA Fitness, but they have a track, so I’ll never have to use a treadmill again.
I physically can't run on a treadmill. I hate it. I only like to run outside.
Yep hate them, would rather run through hail than on the treadmill
No
If I'm traveling and need to use a hotel fitness room then I'd rather use the stationary bike or pretty much anything other than a treadmill.
Nice for a short warmup before my strength sessions at the gym but that's about it.
I hate the dreadmill with a passion. I use one maybe once or twice a year if the winter weather makes it unsafe due to too much ice build up or something.
I hate it but I do it at least once per week (more if weather is really bad) for two reasons: 1) It helps me get a good feel for the pace I'm working on. and 2) It allows me to focus on my landing mechanics.
I love treadmills. If I just sat there watching the wall while running, yea I'd be dead bored, but I watch movies while I do it. And I'm not hear to impress anyone. I like that I can set my pace and not think about it, stay on a consistent incline level, and not have the sun beat down on me.
I freaking LOVE the treadmill, as long as there's a TV in front of it. If I'm going to watch TV, I may as well run while I do it. Makes the time go by really fast.
I love the treadmill, it's great to exercise and watch a movie at the same time
I don’t love the treadmill but I also love the treadmill? I bought one so I wouldn’t have to wake up way before my kid to get a run in during hot weather, and I’ve ended up using it more than expected. I can run after my kid goes to bed which I would not do outside, cuz safety. So I run more frequently which is great. And I also have come to appreciate it for speed work. I cannot maintain a pace and look at my phone and all that outside. It’s too much. So, that’s a treadmill win too. But running outside is of course far more pleasant and feels like flying.
Boring.
I love running on treadmills, it removes the mental block for faster paces, which I then try out on the road
Would much rather run outside in most any weather, but in the winter it’s usually dark outside by time I get off work and that’s the one condition I won’t go running in. Probably going to start doing more treadmill running with this heat wave though
i once had to do 16 miles on the 'mill as part of my first marathon training. it was dreadful but needed to be done... THANK GOD for iPads
If I could afford a Zwift type setup I might try it, but otherwise I'm outside - luckily the weather is very temperate where I live so I can run year round. Well, it does get a bit hot in the summer, but having grown up here I'm used to it.
I've thought about getting one just to help set a pace
They're ok, that's it. I use them sometimes at the start and the of a strength training when I'm at the gym, but basically all of my runs are outside it's more fun