Running is great for fitness; it can help keep your body and mind in shape. In addition, many people find running is a great way to destress after a long hard day. There are generally two approaches to running, the first is road running, done outside on the road or pavement, and the second is treadmill running; this type of running uses a machine and can be done inside your home or at the gym. In this article, we take a look at both of these approaches to running, and their benefits, so you can decide which works best for you or if you need to include both in your workout routine.
Advantages of a treadmill
There are many advantages of using a treadmill for running, which is why they appeal to so many people. First, you have complete control over the environment that you’re running in; no matter what the weather, you will stay dry and at the right temperature. Treadmills can be used at home or at a local gym; this offers convenience for people looking to work out with very little spare time. You don’t need to worry about working out your route and ensuring you get home with enough time. Many treadmills also have digital programmes that can help you personalise and make the most of your workout. You can set a time for how long you want to run or use the distance feature. In addition, treadmills accurately track your activity, how far you’ve run, your heart rate and other important information. This information can be used to measure and improve your performance over time. The surface of the treadmill is designed to help cushion your joints and minimise the risk of injury; you can also add an incline to many treadmills to imitate running up a hill. Generally, treadmills are great for convenience and running in all weather conditions.
Advantages of road running
Despite all of the advantages of treadmill running, road running still has some advantages that treadmills can’t offer. The first and most obvious advantage is the cost of running on the road is completely free. When you use a treadmill, you’ll either need to purchase your own or visit a gym where you will pay a monthly or yearly membership fee. Running on the road has none of these associated costs; you simply need your running gear and nothing else. Running on the road can also be a great way to experience the outdoors and nature; there are lots of routes that are visually appealing and enjoyable to run around. If you’re training for an event such as a marathon or half marathon, you’ll need to run this event on the road; by training using road running, you can build up the strength and endurance you’ll need to participate in the event. You can also test out the equipment and nutrition you’ll use as part of the event; many participants use gels for running to keep up their energy levels throughout the race. Training indoors on a treadmill won’t give you the same experience and preparation you’ll need to take on your chosen event. Many people also like to run together as a group for health reasons and as a way to socialise. They will then meet up after the run at a local pub or cafe to get together and discuss their progress. This type of socialisation is more likely to happen when running on the road compared to running on a treadmill. Road running is great for getting outdoors, socialising and practising for events.
Both road running and treadmill running have their benefits, as discussed above. The choice between the two will depend on your goals and your preferences. Many runners choose to combine road running and treadmill running into their schedule to benefit from what each offers. If the weather is particularly bad, or they’re short on time, they may choose to head inside and run on the treadmill. Alternatively, if the weather is nice and they’re training for an event, they may choose to run outside on the road. Whatever you choose, make sure you always stretch and warm up before running to prevent any injuries.
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