The reason running outside is harder is because the treadmill is carrying your feet back, so the leg lift is the same action, but you need to push off more to move forward.

If running up a hill, pretend you have a rope directly in front of you and pull yourself up the hill hand over hand.

Watch for bouncing (or running like a 'rabbit'). You expend extra energy and there is extra force on your legs if you are getting to much up and down motion in your running. Easiest to focus on whether your head is at the same height with each step to minimize this.

Start by walking a couple of minutes. When you feel ready, start a little shuffle. Ease into the run slowly. As you continue the pace will come.

Be sure you are comfortably dressed. You should feel chilly the first 10 or 15 minutes. Then as your body warms up you won't be too hot or cold.

Make sure you have professionally fitted running shoes, from a running store. Crap shoes that don't suit your gait will lead to injury.

Thanks for the tips! Ran outside today and it was MUCH better. I think I was trying to go too fast. If you have any more inspiration, keep it coming!

Outside running is physically harder than a treadmill. However, I find it nearly impossible to run on a treadmill because it bores me to death.

I could not do my runs without good music. I also have to admit that I like to pick a route as flat as possible. In addition to being hard, hills kill my hamstrings.

Once you get used to running outside, it becomes so mentally painful to running on a treadmill. I'm actually beginning to hate all indoor exercise and much prefer my bike or running and I do it year round-except in the dead heat of summer.

I also had trouble transitioning to outside running. A few things that helped

-Looked up the C25K training plan and picked it up at week 4 or 5
-On rainy days when I was back on the treadmill, I set the incline to 3. Originally I had just run at 0 and that is too easy.
-as someone else said, I slowed my pace way down.
-ran with a friend. Also reminds you to go slow enough to hold a conversation.
-someone told me to imagine I was on a tow rope when running uphill. Helped.
-I don't advocate running with an iPod outdoors for safety reasons...but confess that when I first started I used it, volume low, in one ear only. Helped get me over the transition.

Take it slow and enjoy!I now love running outside.

Enjoy


Take it slow

Anonymous wrote:Know that it's just in your head. Focus on music or your thoughts. Or, focus on my favorite part of outdoor running: people watching and people dodging! I make a sport of it. Sometimes I even pretend I am a lion stalking a deer when I see someone a block or so away who I want to pass (okay, over share?!).


Frankly, I find it much easier to run outside than on the treadmill. The treadmill eats my ankles up, but outside running is far less painful. No idea why.

NP. you are funny. I will have to try the lion thing.

Know that it's just in your head. Focus on music or your thoughts. Or, focus on my favorite part of outdoor running: people watching and people dodging! I make a sport of it. Sometimes I even pretend I am a lion stalking a deer when I see someone a block or so away who I want to pass (okay, over share?!).


Frankly, I find it much easier to run outside than on the treadmill. The treadmill eats my ankles up, but outside running is far less painful. No idea why.

Definitely start out slow. Make yourself go slower than you think you can go. I also agree the first 10 are the worst. Start on a flat surface. and go ten out and then home. don't let yourself stop -just go as slow as you need to.

What happens to you? The first 5-10 minutes of a run are generally the worst, until you get into a rhythm. Keep going. Are you starting out too slow? There is a definitely difference running outside, but if you can do 25-30 on a treadmill you should be able to run for more than a few minutes. Slow it down, put on some music and try to push through the problem.

I've built up to running 25-30 minutes on the treadmill, but when I get outside, it seems like I can only go a few minutes. Any tips to overcome this block? Thanks!