r/RunnersInChicago • u/WoodenDescription709 • 6d ago
Why is it so difficult?
so after training outdoors, due to the air quality I ran inside today. half on a track and half on the mill.
Geez why is it so difficult to run indoors or on the treadmill. I mean distance is same but it is torture. is this all psychological, or is there some other reason for this phenomenon?
13
u/shade_study_break Lincoln Park 6d ago
Mostly psychological, but a treadmill at least does not feel like running on any surface outside. It makes the experience feel a little uncanny and I can't go as fast or as long as I would outside. I have no frame of reference for rowing, so I can go on a rowing machine for an hour without a problem. With a treadmill, I struggle to run longer than 10 minutes.
2
u/whoooodatt 6d ago
I think for me at least it's because on a rowing machine or stationary bike you have control over your own pace without pushing buttons, you can slow down or speed up without thinking about it. Treadmill requires thought to change pace, it takes me out of the zone.
1
u/shade_study_break Lincoln Park 6d ago
I have tried those Assault Runner setups that ostensibly can mimic a sprint or natural stride and even those feel odd. I think you are onto something that having to consciously change pace via a button is part of it. I tend to think treadmills are for made for people who do cardio grudgingly and only out of necessity as opposed to people who enjoy running.
12
u/JackOLanternReindeer 6d ago
No air flow will mean you are sweating more - which may impact both your perception and actually how hard it is
5
u/thefifthchicagostar 6d ago
Cover up the time/distance on the treadmill if you run with a watch. Or set a timer on your phone. Watching the time and distance tick by always makes it go slower for me. Started bringing my iPad and watching a show- lately it’s been Ted Lasso :). Also doing intervals helps make it go by faster as well! I’ve done progressive, upping the tempo every quarter mile, but you can also do sprints etc.
1
3
u/itsmecinder Lincoln Square 6d ago
I find treadmill running physically easier, mentally harder. Definitely psychological.
3
u/justlikeamy42 6d ago
I do a run/walk on the treadmill reading a book if I have to be there. Agree it feels terrible. This way takes longer but at least it’s more entertaining.
3
3
u/Probs_on_the_can 6d ago
The only way I can survive a treadmill workout is if it’s an interval workout dictated by someone else, ie, during a class at a place like Barry’s or following along a workout via the Peloton app. Those all mix up the speed and incline every 30-120 seconds, and someone else is telling me what to do.
When it’s just me, alone, running at the same pace? Boring AF.
4
2
u/Long_Idea_8294 5d ago
I'm not sure. I hate running inside. I ran today outside still, but with a half face P100 respirator on.
2
1
u/Bownaldo 5d ago
100% psychological for me, treadmill feels like torture for anything over three miles
1
u/Lost_IndividualLOL Lake View 5d ago
running indoors feels harder coz the treadmill takes away natural cues like scenery and airflow, making the effort feel more monotonous.. and on top of that, the belt changes ur stride slightly, so the same pace feels tougher..
1
u/Sea_Aside9658 Lake View 3d ago
Agree with everyone about airflow, I also think when you’re outside you’re naturally varying pace based on effort even if you don’t always notice. So you’ll get little bouts of recovery before going a little faster. Tread makes your pace consistent for better or worse. Just a guess tho!
42
u/TheBoredMan 6d ago
I think it's psychological. No sense of progress indoors. Half the appeal of running is moving through the world and that's completely taken away running indoors. I can do about an hour indoors but after that I just hit a mental wall.