[User101]

So, I've been doing couch to 5K and am up to week... 5? 6? the one where you run 25 minutes straight. But I've been doing it at the gym, on the treadmill, usually at a 1.5 incline at between 4.2 and 4.5 mph. And I could go the 25 minutes. Not easily, mind you, but I could do it.

Today I went and ran at the park and could only do a mile, and I had to walk a little bit of that. By the end, I felt like I was actually having trouble breathing, and I didn't want to even try the second mile.

Now, I do have cold-induced asthma. It wasn't cold, but I wondered if running outside could trigger the same sort of thing? Or I could be picking up the cold everyone else has. Regardless, I was wondering why running outside was so much more difficult than running on the treadmill. I honestly expected the opposite to be true.

 

[bec]

Running outside is MUCH harder than running on a treadmill. The deck of a treadmill is softer, compared to cement or asphalt. The surface is very even, whereas, outside you have to contend with uneven cement, pot holes, sticks, dog poo, slight rises and falls in the topography, etc. Outside isn't going to be a constant grade, and that takes a toll on legs. It isn't bad, just something to get used to. Also, a treadmill propels itself, and you are really just along for the ride. You just need to pick your feet and legs up and down at a given rate. Outside, you are propelling yourself, not the ground. You are doing more of the work. Add to that wind, weather, sun and shade, and you have a much more demanding exercise outside.

While it may take some getting used to (it's all right to slow down a bit on your pace), it is so enjoyable to run outside! There's new things to look at to keep you interested, the breeze in your face (really nice when you are feeling warm!), and a sense of really having traveled somewhere when you run outside. Keep plugging away at it, and you will, eventually get used to it.

I started running outside at about the same point in the couch to 5k, and thought I was about to die! But, you get used to it fairly quickly! Congratulations on your accomplishment, btw!

 

[User101]

Thanks, both for the explanation and the encouragement.

Next nice day, I'm going to go and try it again.

 

[NewDirections]

I've read that when you run on the treadmill it's a good idea to have the incline at 1-2%. Due to the treadmill belt being motorized it pulls you along a little bit. When you have a slight incline on the treadmill, it is then it is more similar to running outside, but as the previous poster mentioned it is still not the same.

 

[tjsmama]

It's probably a combo of things...the impact of running on the ground is a lot different than a treadmill, the air quality could throw things off, and as bec mentioned...curbs, cracks, etc. throw things off a bit. You probably just need to get used to the transition. Maybe if you can find somewhere to run that's grass or dirt, it may be a bit more like the treadmill than running on hard pavement.

I rarely run on the treadmill, and when I do, quite honestly...I dread it. I get SO bored running indoors. And I know a lot of people say they can run faster on a treadmill, but I actually struggle to run a pace on the treadmill that's easy for me outside.

WTG on the c25k! You're doing great!