It may not be feasible to run outdoors year round, especially here in Minnesota, but research has shown that running outdoors compared to running on a treadmill has numerous benefits. That said, running on a treadmill is certainly a great way to stay in shape. So how do the two workout techniques stack up against one another? We take a closer look at the two running situations in today’s blog.
Treadmill Vs. Outdoors
According to research out of Exter University, people unknowingly preform better outdoors compared to a treadmill. Researchers say it has a lot to do with the fact that people can see tangible numbers in front of them on a treadmill. They may see a number like 7 miles an hour and think, “Yup, that’s the best I can do,” when in actuality, they can run faster.
Researchers confirmed this belief while conducting a small study among nine male runners. Each participant was asked to run on a treadmill and outdoors for a set period of time. After tracking both sets of runs, researchers found that runners pushed themselves farther and harder on the outdoor run because they viewed the numbers on the treadmill as their physical limit. Researchers said participants should increase their treadmill speed at least 1 percent to simulate the speed of an outdoor run.
Additionally, Professor Andrew Jones, who conducted the running study, said his team noticed that treadmill running has an increased likelihood of contributing to joint and ligament damage because each step stresses the exact same areas of the leg. When running outdoors, you’re often striding on parts of the ground with slightly different pitches and you turn around corners, down paths and up hills, all which stress different areas of the leg. This inability to fall into a steady running rhythm is actually beneficial for your body.
But the benefits of outdoor running don’t stop there. According to Professor Jones and colleagues, outdoor running is beneficial because:
- People who run in the open air feel more energetic and positive.
- It helps reduce tension, anger, confusion and depression.
- It provides you with Vitamin D from the sun.
- Outdoor runners report higher feelings of happiness and satisfaction.
In the end, it’s important to get your regular exercise in one way or another, but outdoor running might have a few more benefits!
