What is it with the treadmill??

[luvsTink]

Hi all,
I have been preparing to prepare for the Disney half. My "official" training plan to walk the half started today. Now, My goal for the half is not to be "swept". So, I have to maintain a 16 minute mile or better (for those of you in shape I know that sounds absurdly easy, but for a coach potato, chunky girl like me this is HUGE). Last week I did my first 5K and my official time indicated a 16 minute mile. Cool! I was amazed, because on the treadmill the best I could do was a 20 minute mile (I kid you not). Anyway, so today it was rainy, so I dutifully went to the y to do my 2 miles called for in my training plan and what was my speed? 19 minute miles. and I SWEAR I worked as hard or harder then I did last week at the 5K. What is the deal?????

Anne

 

[fashionista311]

first off - congrats on the race, that's awesome! a few things could be going on here. usually in a race, you end up going faster than your training pace - its a combo of the adrenaline of being in a race, running/walking in a group, etc. that being said, are you wearing any sort of heart rate monitor when you race and train? a heart rate monitor is the best way to measure your exertion. my guess is that you feel like you are working hard on the treadmill and you are much more aware of the work since a treadmill run/walk is pretty boring and you don't have the same distractions as you would in a race. another factor to consider too is the temperature. your body is most comfortable running in about 50 degrees, and for every few degrees that is it warmer, your body has to work a little harder. you usually don't feel the extra effort until you hit the 70s. but if you are racing in cool weather, versus walking on a treadmill in a hot gym, there's def a difference there. i'm sure similar stats apply to speed-walking as it does running. also before every walk make sure you are hydrated and fueled correctly because that could also affect your perceived effort.

however, something to keep in mind while you are training is that walking/running on a treadmill is generally a little easier than walking/running outdoors. the belt makes legturner over a little easier, and softness of the belt is a little easier than the pavement of the road. plus you don't have to deal with the elements of the road.

for what it's worth - my suggestion would be to invest in a heart rate monitor (you can get a basic one for around $50-100 i believe...you don't need a fancy one with the gps, pace, etc if you aren't ready to invest in one) and make sure you are really working as hard as you can be. keep logging your miles and you will get there...you are ready on the right path with the 5k. good luck!

 

[ghoulishgirl]

Congrats on your first 5k! I would chalk it up to what we like to call " race day magic" I'm sure you were excited at your 5k and even though you were working hard, it didn't feel like it because there is so much to look at and it is all new and exciting. Then you go out to your regular walking route and you feel like you are busting your hiney and you are slower! There is nothing to concentrate on except how you feel. Keep at it, you'll get faster without even knowing it! Is there a chance you can sneak in some slow running, 30 seconds to a minute per mile? My mom ( see signature) is 66 and can't walk a 16 minute mile for any length of time, so she shuffles along to beat the sweepers! Good luck with your training, and have fun!

 

[timmac]

I have no basis for this beyond my own opinion, but I can say I've experienced the same thing to some extent. I occasionally use the treadmill when weather is inclement (by that I mean there's ice on the road and it's dangerous, anything less and I'm outside), and I usually do speed-work. In some ways the mill is a bit easier, since you're more "keeping up with the belt" than you are "propelling your body", but either way, it's just that it's different.

My own theory is two-fold. On the road, you have differences in terrain, like the hills, even on a small scale, is enough to vary the muscle usage just enough that it's not as repetitive. Along the same lines is pacing. On the mill, you're stuck at exactly the same pace, every single step. This leads to quick muscle exhaustion. On the open road, you can pace yourself, and your mind and body make micro-adjustments to your pace, even just a step or two at a time, changing stride length or cadence just slightly for whatever reasons... all things you really can't do on a treadmill.

 

[dislvr74]

If I go by the display on my treadmill, i am ALWAYS faster when I run outside. Once the days start getting shorter, I do my short runs inside and my long runs outside and there is a significant difference in pace. I think that the distraction factor helps, but I know that most treadmills are usually a little "off" when measuring time and distance. The timer on my treadmill is just slightly slower than my stopwatch (my stopwatch will say that 30 seconds have elapsed while the timer on the treadmill will say 29 seconds). I'm also not convinced that it is measuring a mile correctly. Anyway, I;ve just learned to ignore the timer on my treadmill and shoot for an effort that feels the same as my effort outside. By doing my long runs outside (even in nasty weather) I have a weekly check on my true pace.

 

[JoanneNC]

This is exactly why I try and avoid tm at all costs except for hills/intervals......I can run sub 8 mm miles outside but 11 min miles on the treadmill feels like I am about to fly off.. I am sure its mental but it doesn't change how I perceive/feel it..lol

 

[westcliffemom]

After my son & myself complaining about the same thing, I googled calibrating treadmills. We did what was described online, and we found that the speed of our treadmill was off. We were really going faster than the treadmill says. It may be the same with yours.

 

[ShortyNBug]

Maybe that's what I need to do because I know I'm not going as slow as my tm says.

 

[disykat]

My treadmill is off as well. When I walk IRL I do 4 miles an hour pretty easily, but if I do 4 mph on my treadmill it's a jog. I generally walk 3.5 on my treadmill and consider it to really be 4.0.