Running Outside vs. Treadmill: Which Is Better?

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When it comes to exercising, running is the popular choice. However, is there a difference between running outdoors and doing it on a treadmill?

Running is one of the best ways to lose some weight and keep fit but aside from the physical benefits, it's also a great way to keep every part of the body healthy. Active published an article about the many benefits of running like improving health, preventing disease, boosting confidence, relieving stress and eliminating depression.

Now that the benefits of running are established, the next move is to choose whether you will stick to running outdoors or on a treadmill. While both are beneficial, there are some slight differences in the results.

Effort

BBC journalist, producer and presenter Michael Mosley weighed these two options. Those who prefer running outdoors claim that it uses more energy. This is due to the wind resistance, which you don't get when you are inside the gym. However, gym fans say this is not true.

In a study done by Exeter University, they gathered male runners and divided them equally to run outdoors and on the treadmill. What they found in the study is that runners who prefer exercising on the treadmill can compensate on the extra effort of running outside by setting their treadmill to a 1% gradient.

Speed

It turns out that when you are running on the treadmill, you overestimate the pace you are going. A study from Singapore that asked volunteers to run outdoors and match its speed on the treadmill concluded that when people use the treadmill, their pace becomes slower. Scientists explained that although runners think they are going fast on the treadmill, running indoors doesn't give a visual hint of how fast you are actually going.

Well-being

It is obviously better for the well-being to run outdoors, close to nature, than to use a machine inside a confined space. A study concluded that doing exercises outdoors generally promotes a greater feeling of being revitalized. People who ran outdoors said the results give them decreased depression, tension, anger and confusion. They also said that they enjoyed it more and will likely do it again. There is also a higher chance of being exposed to sunlight, which gives a natural dose of Vitamin D.

Conclusion

There are clearly more advantages in running outdoors than in using the treadmill. However, choosing between the two still depends on the person's ability and lifestyle. For those who are just starting to run, the best advice is to pick one that you would enjoy and something that will likely fit the schedule.