Running machines v Road running

[matt_london]

<PRE>I am trying to work out if running on a running machine takes less energy than running on a road. I believe it is less as the the machine moves the pavement for you where as if you are running on the road, you have to move over the pavement. Plus, a running machine has a power supply which doesn't just power the electronic display, so therefore the amount of energy i use on a machine has to be : What I use on the road less the power the machine takes from its own power supply. Am I right?</PRE>

[Loosehead]

The treadmill uses energy to turn the belt it does not assist the runner at all in fact it is designed so it makes the runner work to stay on the machine. Although the process on the road is different I would venture it takes just as much energy to run to stand still as it does to run over the real ground.

[qapmoc]

On the machine you are using a very smaller amount of energy equivalent to the loss of the wind resistence of movement.

[xrayspecs]

A machine is better for your knees than a road as the machine surface is flexible so absorbs some of the impact that would transfer up your legs to your knees when running on the hard road surface. a car is less hassle allround!

[johnlambert]

You will burn more calories if you run on the road, ie the colder the weather, the more calories you burn off in order for your body to maintain its optimum temp

[snook]

Don't forget to take into account boredom. Road running is interesting (if you lose interest you could get run over!), while running on a treadmill tends to make you feel like an overgrown hamster. You'll know if you're doing too much on the treadmill if you start to get unnatural urges to store your food in your cheeks and make a nest out of newspapers behind the couch.

[MrPahoehoe]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that people who run on a treadmill tend to develop a stride/action that will offer less resistance, as humans tend to do. I expect it has something to do with spending more time in the air than propelling yourself forward, as this will convientently cheat the machine. Also as you are not moving forward then air resistance does not apply.

Having said all this, when I have access to a treadmill I am far more likely to go running, yet I very rarely go running on the road, so I prefer a treadmill.

[bazwillrun]

up until 4 years ago i used to do marathons and half marathons. i used to do between 100-120 miles in training a week on the road or on grassland. If the weather was particularly bad rather than do nothing i would use the running machines in our gym at work. I would always do extra miles as the machines were far easier. 10 miles on a machine was far easier than on the road. for a start there is less joint impact no oncoming winds. To maintain a 5min.50sec mile pace on the machine would take a lot less effort. The only way to try and make it the same would be to use the incline, but its just not the same as being out on the road. Dont get me wrong 10 miles on a machine is still a damn good run. As to how much power is used i havent got a clue !

[landie]

There's no wind resistance on a treadmill. It, therefore, makes sence that less energy is used, by the runner, per unit distance.

[landie]

sorry gapmoc, didn't spot your answer.

[stevie21]

snook - overgrown hamster!! Brilliant.
I need to go for a run (on the road) right now but it's Sunday morning and I'm trying to put it off as much as possible.

I'm sure I'll have images of hamsters with puffed out cheeks now!

Incidentally, is the running machine moving under you really any different from the earth rotating and spinning under you (apart from wind resistance) ?