Comments on: Running Outdoors Rocks!

By: Carl U

Carl U — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:22:42 +0000

It is great to run outdoors in the mornings especially

By: Mik Cowans

Mik Cowans — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:05:05 +0000

I love the term “run with a view”
To be inspired by the sights and people on the way – beats a wall or mirror.
The random terrain, for me, gives a far superior workout to that achievable with the limited incline on treadmills.

By: tryingfitness

tryingfitness — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:11:52 +0000

@Jason – congratulations on your weight loss and your success with running outdoors. Crossfit looks awesome. Their workouts look tough!

@Tom – I do like cranking up the speed on the treadmill when I am doing intervals.

By: Tom Parker - Free Fitness Tips

Tom Parker - Free Fitness Tips — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:27:30 +0000

I like outdoor running for building up my stamina and totally agree with you Eartha – it really does allow your mind to open up, particularly when you do it early in the morning and it’s just you all alone.

However, I find treadmills are still useful for speed work. I can never make myself run as fast outdoors but if I crank the treadmill up I have to run faster.

In combination these two methods can really help improve your overall running technique.

By: JTurnage

JTurnage — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:16:58 +0000

Also, if you want to try something other than just running for fun/general fitness and want to give yourself a whole different way to train and get in shape, try http://www.crossfitendurance.com. It’s more of a hardcore training regime, but one that anyone can do and will get you in serious shape. I’m not affiliated in any way, just have been following their workouts for a few months now (and their headquarters crossfit.com). Just something to try if getting out and running with no targets/goals gets old or you think you’re plateauing and it start getting discouraged.

By: JTurnage

JTurnage — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:10:39 +0000

Glad you’re liking it Eartha. Outdoors is the way to go. I started on a treadmill at the beginning of the year, overweight. Tried doing it outside one day in the early spring cause of one nice day and I never went back. Dropped 40 pounds, down in my “recommended weight range” within a short time of starting that. I’m lucky because we have a nice public paved trail in through a nature area within walking (er.. running) distance of my office and is perfect for a lunchtime workout. Plenty of parks and trails near my house, and my neighborhood is extremely low traffic (though no sidewalks) and is exactly 1 mile so I know my distances (even though I never go out without my Garmin 305). I also try to hit new neighborhoods from time to time too, just to make it interesting – somewhere I can park at the entrance at a public spot or at a store or something. I absolutely DREAD getting on the treadmill anymore. I’ve been at around 30 miles a week give or take since the summer and frequent local races for the motivation and goals – and training for races is hard to do on a treadmill, training on surfaces similar to what you’ll be running on is the way to go.

Good luck!
Jason

By: tryingfitness

tryingfitness — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:30:16 +0000

@Tom – it’s definitely more interesting running outdoors. A lot more to look at.

@Grounded Fitness – lol, you are right, you have to make it home. I pick up the pace once I know I’m getting closer to home.

By: Grounded Fitness

Grounded Fitness — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:55:05 +0000

Not only is it good to shake up your routine, but i dont get as bored as easily when i run outside. Plus, you can’t really give up cause you gotta get home somehow!

Kelly Turner
http://www.groundedfitness.com

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:47:08 +0000

Agreed, outdoors is far superior and way more interesting than inside on a treadmill. Now if it didn’t rain in this part of the world so often I could enjoy it more.