Gym or Street ? - Beginners

Rhino

14/01/2003 at 00:06

Hi all, I'm a complete newbie to all this, so i plan to follow the walk a bit/run a bit progression, untill i can do a 30 min run. Is it better to do all this on the gym treadmill or all out on the roads, or, a bit of both ?

alan.

14/01/2003 at 00:08

wherever you feel more comfortable
personally I'd hit them streets asap
good luck

14/01/2003 at 00:40

The title of this was "Street or Gym" or something like that ? The answer is "STREET" unless the recent snow means it's too slippy to run there - it can never be just too muddy or too cold (not in England/Britain - are you in England/Britain ? ) - do it in the street unless there is a good reason for doing it somewhere else (being too DARK could be a valid reason for doing it somewhere else by the way)

Ciao, ciao

Mikie

Colchester Coyote

14/01/2003 at 00:44

If you can hack the cold, then go for the Street, the treadmill does not use the same muscles as normal street/road running, and so the sooner you take the plunge the better.

Best wishes, NN

Velociraptor

14/01/2003 at 06:53

Agree - definitely better to take to the road as soon as possible.

It is much easier to walk/run on the road where you simply have to change the speed your legs are moving at than on the treadmill where you keep having to adjust the speed of the belt and where you always have half an eye on the console.

It's also far more interesting being out and about. And, as NattyNoodle has already said, treadmill running does not provide quite the same training for your legs as road running.

Enjoy!

Johnny J

14/01/2003 at 08:00

Road running a.s.a.p. but make sure you've got decent road running shoes.
JJ

Longlegs

14/01/2003 at 08:43

Definitely Street!!

MikeSmith

14/01/2003 at 09:13

Well I will play devils advocate and disagree a little. If you are already a member of a gym then by all means use the treadmill to gain some experience of running. Put it on a 1 degree incline and away you go, also treadmills are generally a bit gentler on the legs.

BUT treadmills are no substitute for getting outside, so do this when you are feeling more confident.

Oh, and get some decent running shoes whether running outside or on a treadmill.

ultra meerkat

14/01/2003 at 09:40

Hi Rhino - I agree with everyone who's said 'street'...it's much more interesting, I think, that running on a treadmill. BUT I'd qualify that by saying if you'd rather start on a treadmill, just to get you going, then go for it.

Devious

14/01/2003 at 09:55

Again, I do agree that street is 'better', but for a real newbie, I think a treadmill (being easier), is perhaps the best place to start building aerobic and cv fitness levels.

Then move onto the street when you feel more confident about achieving the distance/time you wish to do on a certain run.

S.

Dragon Breath

14/01/2003 at 11:20

Both.

Treadmill can be useful for judging pace and building on your CV work. Also, whilst at the gym you can do a bit of cross training and resistance work. I find the gym useful when my marathon training says "2 miles fast" because i can't be bothered to get changed to just do 2 miles so I go to the gym and do the mileage on the treadmill and then chuck some weights around or use the rower.

Street, well you really just can't beat it, unless you use trails as well. You get to see other runners and there's always somewhere to spit. Plus, it's more interesting, gives your legs a better all round test and makes other people realise that you can actually run. My favourite time to run is about five o'clock at night so I'm moving faster than all the sad commuters stuck in their car. makes me glad to be alive, even when it's raining.

Rhino

14/01/2003 at 11:56

Thanks 4 all this advice. It's given me a bit more confidence to get out there earlier than i otherwise might have. Think i'll try day runs outside and night sessions in the gym.

Clearly Nuts

14/01/2003 at 14:11

I'm an opinionated old b*gg^r but I would go straight for the street myself. I tried the gym first off and couldn't get on with it at all, weights etc., great, but running no.

The street is much more interesting and serves to keep your motivation up even on a slight negative eg.

Running on treadmill, feel like stopping = stop and get off!

Run a mile or so from home, feel like stopping = you've still got to get home and whether you walk or run it's still good exercise!!

And in the confidence stakes, (just read you other thread re weightloss) don't forget;

You could easily be fitter than most of the people you see out there even if you've just started

Not all slim people are fit, they just like to think they are

Most of those you see max exercise is a walk to the station

If other runners see you, they'll be as pleased as the people on the thread that you are doing something!!

Go get em

CN

Finn Mortensen

14/01/2003 at 21:04

Rhino--it all depends on how good the totty is in your gym. If there's loads, stick with the treadmill. If not, head out . . . !

Ahem. If you're already going to the gym, or the weather is inutterably vile, run in the gym. If not, run outside. You'll soon find out which you prefer (and it'll probably be outside).

I used to find treadmill running much easier than running outdoors, til I realised I was going at half the speed on the treadmill because I was afraid of falling off! So I could go twice as far. In theory treadmills do teach you how to run at exact speeds, 6 min mile or 8, or whatever, so they are useful for that too.

Happy running!

robert fleming

14/01/2003 at 21:36

I hear what everyone says about Streets being the best. But personally as a beginner I have found treadmill a much better start. FOr me anyway...not having done ANY exercise for years and with zero running experience...I found the treadmill better in terms of a) removing uncertainty re: which routes to run on the street b) it was bit easier physically c) I could carefully monitor speed and distance.

This is the problem I still have with streets running (the little I have done)...I have no clue whatsoever re: how fast I am going (I like to aim for a specific speed to maintain) and I have no clue re distance run.

Rhino

14/01/2003 at 22:27

Just come back from my gym running sesion. As far as i've found, the benefits of this are;
I get to watch totty while running
I can watch tv while running
I can run plugged into my walkman and not get mugged
I can tell exactly how quickly i'm going
The downside;
I have to pay for the pleasure
It's dam hot

Still the main thing is i ran, i enjoyed it and i plan to run again

Vickster66

15/01/2003 at 09:45

I've just tried a treadmill for the first time, (I usually run around the streets). It was completely knackering even at a lower speed than I usually run. I'm also very stiff!
Either I had the incline on without realising or running outside hasn't made me as fit as I thought!
I think running on the road allows you to subconsciously alter your speed to suit your knackeredness rather than having to run at a constant speed.
If that helps!

ultra meerkat

15/01/2003 at 09:55

Rhino - great stuff. As you say, the main thing is you ran and enjoyed it...that, in the end, is the bit that matters.

supervet

15/01/2003 at 11:16

If you are going to run outdoors try and run off road,grass is more forgiving on the joints than tarmac.

Angela

15/01/2003 at 13:06

Hi Rhino

When I started running, I did a bit of each: treadmill, roads and grass. But definitely outdoors now!! But as beginner, definitely start off slow, I used to run too quickly and I was knackered after 10 minutes. This put me off and I didn't run for ages because I thought I was too unfit to run! Two and half years on, I just love it, I can't believe that I can run over 10 miles CONTINUOUSLY, I'd never think it would be possible....once you get used to the outdoors, spring and summer will be a good time to do outdoors, you'll never go back to the treadmill, unless you really have to!

Happy Running!

Angela.