Treadmill Running versus Track Running
Treadmill running is not the same as track running. But you may be considering as a runner whether it could be worthwhile to train on each. To help you to decide when to use which approach, here is a discussion of several differences between these two approaches to runner training.
Balance
Treadmill running forces you to maintain your balance because you must stay upright, whereas you can lean left or right while running on a track.
Camaraderie
If a track is secluded and little-known whereas your treadmill machine is in a gym, then treadmill running can give you more camaraderie. If a track is popular whereas your machine is at home, then track running will give you more camaraderie.
Coaching
If you are looking for a running coach, you are more likely to find one on a track. But sophisticated machines include computerized coaching.
Concentration
Treadmills require high concentration (or you will fall off!) whereas you can let your concentration drift on a track.
Convenience
Convenience is debatable. If your treadmill is in a gym instead of in your home, then a track could be just as convenient, if not more so (if you live close to a track).
Cost
Access to a gym treadmill requires gym fees + your driving costs. Using a home unit has purchase, maintenance, and electricity costs. Running on a track mostly requires driving costs (plus the cost of extra clothing for inclement weather).
Curves
You can use a track to practice running on curves, which is impossible to practice on a treadmill.
Cushioning
If you are going to race on a track, training on a treadmill cannot match training on a track. But a treadmill’s unique cushioning can help you to train longer for road races.
Fresh Air
If you like to be outdoors in fresh air, then treadmill training is not for you. But, if you live where weather is often bad, then track training may not be for you.
Humidity
Running indoors frees you from worrying about humidity challenges that you can face when running on a track. But a drawback of training indoors is that you may not prepare yourself to deal with race-day humidity levels.
Incline
If you are using a treadmill to prepare for track racing, then you do not need a treadmill’s incline feature. But this feature is great for preparing you for hilly road races.
Maintenance
If you have a home treadmill, then you are responsible for maintenance. Gym treadmills and tracks free you from maintenance work.
Multitasking
You may like to multitask — such as watch an inspiring running video — while training on a treadmill. You cannot multitask on a track.
Pacing
It is hard to beat a treadmill for forcing you to run at one pace or another. But it is hard to beat track training for giving you repeated feedback about your self-determined running pace.
Placement
Buying a treadmill forces you to find space in your home for it. But a gym unit or a track frees you to dedicate your home’s square-footage to other needs.
Peace
A treadmill is noisy relative to a track. But you may prefer the peace you get from a machine’s white noise to the peace that you can get from being outdoors in nature.
Strength
A treadmill that has been steeply inclined can force you to strengthen muscles that get little workout on a flat track. But the curve of a track will force you to strengthen muscles that will get no such conditioning on a unidirectional treadmill.
Temperature
Running indoors means a predictable ambient temperature. Running outdoors on a track means that the ambient temperature is at the mercy of the weather.
Visualization
Sophisticated treadmills include video displays that can stimulate your creative-visualization skill as a runner. But track running can give you the solitude to stimulate creative visualization, too.
Wind
Other than perhaps an electrical box-fan blowing strongly against you, training on a treadmill means no wind. This can be good when you want to focus on other aspects of your running. But it will not prepare you as well as a track will for handling wind gusts, tailwinds, and headwinds that you can experience when racing outdoors.
Do you mix these two types of running? Please leave a comment here. Thanks!
