I am off to Vietnam for 6 weeks and I am unsure as to whether I will get a chance to run outside due to temperature, humidity and work. So I am going to assume that I will be hitting the treadmill to get my miles in. I have a race booked for 3 days after I return and I want to make sure I can at least keep things together before then.
My concern is that I understand treadmills are easier on the feet for running, but on the flip side, will I potentially lose something by training on treadmills for 6 weeks and then going straight back to the same mileage on my normal runs. Should I perhaps drop the mileage when I get back and build it back up over a few weeks/month?
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. The last thing I want to do is come back and gain an injury.
Good luck in vietnam. Get some good music because treadmill running can be boring. Treadmill running can be a good tool to get your turnover rate going a bit fater as it forces you to keep pace with the treadmill. It can be a bit harder then running ouside at first but once you get used to it a lot easier to manipulate… Try to stay centered in the dreadmill while running ot a bit forward on the track. Try running at a 1-3% grade to mimic the outside a bit more.
There is no reason that you can’t get some workouts done outdoors ,yes you may have to get used to some heat and humidity but you can run at night…Find stairs,find a hill, go to a football pitch and do speedwork and drills…Don’t give up so easily…
To answer your main question,the treadmill will more than likely give you false distance and speed readings and make for a harsh reality check when you try to run outside after extended use…Treadmills are eaiser on the legs so you may find that you lose some running strength but on the upside you can increase your leg speed…I have no doubt that there will be conflicting info coming from others so take what I say as just one guys opinion based on my experiences with mine and others use of T-mills for training and rehab.
I usually run on a treadmill most of the winter cuz I’m a wimp and hate the cold. My first run outdoors in the spring feels so great when I’m running, but my legs get really beaten up from the pounding on the pavement. I’m really, really sore after my first long run. Although 6 weeks isn’t the same as 3 months, you might lose some leg strength during that time.
As per my Polar stride sensor i to notice i have a longer stride then normal taining conditions oitside. It is however same stride length as when i am racing and pushing my boundries. Only it is a lot easier for me to keep a race pace on the treadmill then outside. I am actually faster on the dreadmill. No revelation there… it is much easier running like a hamster then running like a cheetah :0)
Yes, that was my concern, losing strength. As far as speed and distance are concerned, I have my foot pod for the 910 xt and that works well.
I am hopeful that I will be able to run outside, but I also have to take ‘care’ of a work colleague and she for sure will not want to join me for hot, sweaty runs. Evenings or early morning may be an option, need to get there and see what options I have.
I am staying in serviced apartments right next to West Lake in Hanoi. Looks nice and the fall back of the gym and pool is great.
IMHO expect to be faster when you return to running outside. Been running for 20+years and the quickest gains I have made in running where from the treadmill…my guess it forces me to run at a faster pace and not dog it.
Maybe just keep an eye out for leg soreness, due to the impact - if transitioning to running on concrete. Though this normally happens when first introduced to running, but I recall when I first started running on the treadmill and transitioned to concrete, I use to get shin splints, but these have since gone. Stretching on a regular basis will help out here.
IMHO expect to be faster when you return to running outside. Been running for 20+years and the quickest gains I have made in running where from the treadmill…my guess it forces me to run at a faster pace and not dog it.
This has been my experience as well. A couple years ago I was forced to do all my running on a treadmill for 3 months, then went out and ran a PR marathon. It can be a very effective training tool.
IMHO expect to be faster when you return to running outside. Been running for 20+years and the quickest gains I have made in running where from the treadmill…my guess it forces me to run at a faster pace and not dog it.
Increased leg turnover…I once did a huge amount of T-mill training for a very long run and hell I was even walking faster…
I reckon old fuckers like me should do all their speedwork on a T-mill.
Must be increased leg turnover or something like that…got my stand alone 13.1 down from 1:35ish to below 1:30 in less than 6 months…now my 70.3 half marathon time is lower than what my stand alone half marathon time was…
I will be able to confirm this with good accuracy when I return. I had a race just a few days back and would have done 95% of my running between then and next race on the treadmill.
Thanks for the replies. At least it seems only a possible soreness on return, which I kind of expected.
I have a race booked for 3 days after I return . . .
How about this notion that you’ll be racing just 3 days after returning from SE Asia? To me, the inevitable lingering fatigue would be more of a concern than the treadmill/pavement variation. That said, good luck with travels, the training and the race!
Some treadmills provide a lot of bounce and some do not. I would take a new pair of shoes that you would use for racing and do a lot of your running in them if you have a really flexy/bouncy treadmill. It will probably help your transition back to roads when you get back. Maybe even try some of the minimalist shoes like the Altra Instict. I love those shoes.
Chad
A lot of the awesome that cones from serious tm training over long periods is that it keeps you honest about workout pace. You set speed and then have to keep it up - most runners not on tm slow in the final miles but on a tm theres none of that. Its a erg mode for runners.
I train mostly outside but when i go into serious tm mode for winters or rain im always surprised how strong i am when back outside. This assumes u push the pace on the tm of course.
