Active Community: Message List - Will treadmill training hamper me during actual 5k?

Re: Will treadmill training hamper me during actual 5k?

guest — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:16:52 GMT

I agree with Runningman, but dang that is a horrible font to read.

I trained the better part of winter on a threadmill because I was working out of town and I didn't have the proper running atire. Now I am having problems with the heat and other aspects of summer when running, which is some what a personal issue.

I ran my first 5K and I used the treadmill up to the week before. My main recommendation is that a week or two before your race run at least a 5K outside and see how everything feels. The real world, unlike a treadmill, is not perfectly flat and it took me a while to get use to the different road cambers. By running the distance a head of time will give you a gauge as to how fast you can run and prove to yourself you can do it. I also picked up a Garmin Forerunner 305 to track my speed, heart rate and other things since that was how I trained. Not having he screen in front of me was really hard.

Re: Will treadmill training hamper me during actual 5k?

guest — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:24:23 GMT

The treadmill is a great training tool, but it cannot be your only means of training.

If you've ever played a sport, than you've probably heard the quote "you practice like you play"...it's true. Unless you are going to run your 5K on a treadmill, you will not be completely prepared. There are alot of factors that can effect the way you run outdoors compared to a treadmill (wind, humidity, running surface, etc.). You need to get out on the road and log some miles to really get a feel for what it's like. Don't get me wrong, I think the treadmill is a good tool, it teaches you how certain paces feel, it gives you an alternative to dealing with winter weather, etc. but you have to hit the road at some point. If your race is in April, you'll have plenty of time to get outside.

Good luck, I hope this helps and just get out there!

Re: Will treadmill training hamper me during actual 5k?

guest — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:29:41 GMT

I usually find that I run a little faster on the treadmill than I do outdoors.

You definetely want to run outside a few times to give your body a chance to adjust to running outside, because it it different than running on the treadmill.

The first time you run outside, you will think you are going to die and then after you adjust you will do just fine.

I usually find running with an incline of 1 or 2 helps with the adjustment to running outside.

You did not mention the course is this a hilly course you may want to run with an incline of 3 or 4 instead of one or two to train.

I hope I have been of some help, running on the treadmill is not the same as running outside, but it is a great training tool and you need to run outside a few times before you race to allow your body to adjust to running outside.

I have started a blog dedicated to my journey from an overweight, out of shape couch potato to a marathon runner. I would appreciate any and all comments, suggestions, critiques, questions and constructive criticisms as my goal is to make this a really good runner's blog.

Getting Fit at Fifty

http://fitatfifty-art.blogspot.com/

Will treadmill training hamper me during actual 5k?

guest — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:10:38 GMT

Due to the hectic schedules within my household, I am only able to fit in a workout after hubby leaves for work and kids are in bed for the night. This means I cannot leave the house. I have been doing the Couch to 5K program on my treadmill. Since the treadmill is pretty old - it only does an incline if I get off & screw the legs up higher manually - I'm curious if I should be adjusting any part of my "training" to prep me for the actual outside run. It is winter time here and even if I could take the kids out for a run with me, there are not any safe areas nearby. My actual 5K is not until April. Can anyone tell me if I should be worried about my ability for an outside run versus my ability on the treadmill?