When you are training for a race, one of the big questions that come up is what the best way to train is, running outside or going to the gym and running on a treadmill. Each type of training has its own benefits; however there are many different factors to consider when you are choosing the method of training.

Outside is Harder

You will find that when you run outside it take more physically because you actually have to propel yourself forward where a treadmill takes care of that, you just have to keep up. If you want to add the challenge of propulsion to a treadmill, you can do that by adding incline, however if you are simply running at no incline on a treadmill, it is much harder to run outside.

Mentally Though…

While running on a treadmill may be easier from a physical standpoint, it can be much more challenging mentally. When you run outside the scenery is constantly changing and you can actually see yourself making progress in your run, you get the hamster wheel effect on a treadmill so it can be harder to focus on anything other than how tough a run is getting. However, it has been said that running is 90% mental and the rest is physical, so if you can master running on a treadmill, mentally running outside should get easier.

It’s Best To Train…

It is best to train in the element that you are going to be running in. If you are training for a race that is outside, it is best to simulate your training as close the actual race as you can get. Think about it like this, you would want to train for a race in the water by practicing swimming in the water, not simply by training your upper body to be strong enough to swim, practice with a simulation that is as close to the real thing as you can, it's the idea behind running outside rather than on the treadmill when training.

The treadmill is a great tool to practice your running, but there is nothing like training to run outside. If you are simply running as a way to get fit and you are just starting to run, the treadmill is a great option to help you keep pace and get you going, but if you are going to be training for a race the best thing you can do is lace up and get outside, simulate the experience as closely as you can to get the best results on race day.