Which Is Better, Running Indoors, Or Running Outdoors?

If you enjoy running, chances are you have tried running both indoors and outdoors. Running indoors can be done on either a treadmill or an indoor track, which can be done at your local college.

Running is a fantastic way to shed extra pounds, tone your muscles, and release stress and anxiety from the day. Whether you run indoors or outdoors is completely up to you, but both come with advantages and disadvantages.

Treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of cardiovascular exercise equipment both at home and in the gyms. Most health clubs have rows of treadmills all lined up, two- or three-deep, like little soldiers, typically facing a similar row of televisions.

For the thousands of health club runners and walkers, the treadmill is a good friend. And while you may have been known to use a treadmill when the weather turns dark and cold, chances are you generally prefer to do your running workouts outside on trails or pavement.

However, is outdoor running better than the treadmill? Well, here are pros and cons to each.

In general, you will get a fairly comparable workout on a treadmill as you do outside as long as you maintain the same effort level. You can usually judge this based upon your heart rate or your rating of perceived exertion.

If, however, you run the same pace on the treadmill as outside on flat pavement, you will expend less energy on the treadmill. This is due to the lack of wind resistance, terrain changes and because the treadmill belt helps propel you along.

In order to compensate for the treadmill's momentum, studies have found that simply raising the treadmill incline to one percent will better simulate the energy expenditure of walking or running on flat pavement outdoors. If you are training for an event, you may want to consider which method of exercise will be better for you.

If you are training for an outdoor running or walking event, obviously, you will want to train for the race conditions, which means getting outside. It is fine to do some of your training on the treadmill, but try to do at least sixty percent of it outdoors in order to train your body for the real deal.

You will be much more prepared for the demands on your muscles and joints by running on varied terrain if you run outdoors. You will also become accustomed to running in varied weather conditions and learn what to wear for different temperatures.

Another important consideration is that the treadmill does not have any way to simulate downhill running, which is essential if you are running an event that has uneven, or varied terrain. Similarly, there are not turns on a treadmill, which is another important adaptation your body needs to make if you plan to run outside.

There are, however, a few great reasons to use a treadmill as a part of your training. To begin with there are no weather, temperature, or terrain issues-this is particularly important if you live in an area which experiences more extreme variations in weather.

You can also stop anytime you need or want to, and not have to worry about timing your return home. You can grab a phone call if you need to, or check on the sleeping baby easily.

It is also a great benefit to be able to watching TV or a movie while you workout. This can more easily help you to lose track of time, helping you to workout harder and for a longer period of time.

It isn't hard to find movies or show with great fast paced music, and exciting scenes to help keep you motivated. There is also a more smooth and cushioned surface for your feet, which is easier on your joints.

You also do not need to worry about personal safety. If you live in an area with a high crime rate, this can be particularly important to you.

However, running outdoors comes with its benefits as well. For one, you can run anywhere you like.

If is also much more functional for daily activities. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery, get some fresh air, notice the beauty of the changing seasons and weather, and enjoy connecting with nature.

It is generally more challenging, with the change in terrain, which can equal more calories burned. It is also likely to be more motivating, as the beauty and distance keeps you trying to complete a distance goal.

As you can see, there are clear benefits to you. What you choose is up to you, just be sure to consider both options!

Jack R. Landry has been writing about the exercise and health industry for years. He recommends (http://www.workoutwarehouse.com) for great deals on treadmills.