For the past week I have been getting up every morning before work and running (and walking when I’m about to pass out) a mile. (This is really good for me b/c I HATE running!)
I have no problem going 3 or 4 miles on an Eliptical machine but get me out on the road and I’m about to die after my first lap around my apartment complex.
Maybe this is a dumb question but does anyone know why it’s so much harder to run on the street as opposed to a treadmill or eliptical?
The eliptical…well there’s just no comparison with that machine to regular running. It’s just SO different…There really is no carry over I would say.
As for the treadmill…The machine is moving the ground under you so basically your lifting your legs and not pushing yourself forward as you would if you running regularly. To make up for that difference, it’s been said to have the incline on a treadmill up to level 1…Then you’re using muscles similar to regular running.
[quote]ecfluttrbye wrote:
For the past week I have been getting up every morning before work and running (and walking when I’m about to pass out) a mile. (This is really good for me b/c I HATE running!)
I have no problem going 3 or 4 miles on an Eliptical machine but get me out on the road and I’m about to die after my first lap around my apartment complex.
Maybe this is a dumb question but does anyone know why it’s so much harder to run on the street as opposed to a treadmill or eliptical?[/quote]
In an old Atomic Dog column, TC reported a study that found that eliptical trainers tend to over estimate the amount of calories burned (thus work done) by up to 20%.
Also you can just “bounce” on an eliptical trainger, using your weight to turn the eliptical thingie more than your muscles.
As for the treadmill, since the carpet is moving backwards, you don’t have the same amount of resistance as you would on the street (where you have to more actively push-off the road to more forward)… that’s why it’s easier.
Some people suggest running at a slight (1-2% incline) on a treadmill to help make-up for the lack of resistance.
ok, that makes sense. Thanks for the explanation! 
The Elyptical is great for a healthy heart and big lungs and I think better cardio wise than running on the street. You can go further on the elyptical because there is zero impact on your joints. The constant pounding of your bodyweight while running on the street is cardio + weight lifting. For straight cardio work I don’t think there is a better machine than an Elyptical.
there is also no wind resistance with the treadmill. The standard protocol used in Kinesiology to put a treadmill run at the same level as a flat ground run is to use 2% grade, and many runners will also use a large fan in front of them-but in a longer run, the improved cooling effect is believed to basically cancel out the wind resistance.
[quote]MaloVerde wrote:
The Elyptical is great for a healthy heart and big lungs and I think better cardio wise than running on the street. You can go further on the elyptical because there is zero impact on your joints. The constant pounding of your bodyweight while running on the street is cardio + weight lifting. For straight cardio work I don’t think there is a better machine than an Elyptical. [/quote]
While I think the Elyptical is a good machine, I’ll have to disagree with you.
As we all know the “pounding” actually helps build stronger and larger bones. This is something that will help you as you age.
If you are concerned about excessive “pounding” then by all means run on grass or a specially treated track, most Colleges and many High Schools have them.
I have never done anything that requires more heart/lung capacity than all the various forms of running. And best of all it can be performed outdoors where you can actually breath in fresh air (unlike gym atmospheres) and feel the sunshine.
It’s GOOD STUFF!
[quote]ZEB wrote:
MaloVerde wrote:
The Elyptical is great for a healthy heart and big lungs and I think better cardio wise than running on the street. You can go further on the elyptical because there is zero impact on your joints. The constant pounding of your bodyweight while running on the street is cardio + weight lifting. For straight cardio work I don’t think there is a better machine than an Elyptical.
While I think the Elyptical is a good machine, I’ll have to disagree with you.
As we all know the “pounding” actually helps build stronger and larger bones. This is something that will help you as you age.
If you are concerned about excessive “pounding” then by all means run on grass or a specially treated track, most Colleges and many High Schools have them.
I have never done anything that requires more heart/lung capacity than all the various forms of running. And best of all it can be performed outdoors where you can actually breath in fresh air (unlike gym atmospheres) and feel the sunshine.
It’s GOOD STUFF!
[/quote]
I think you are disagreeing just to disagree with me. My opinion wasn’t about what builds bigger bones or that I had a problem with excessive pounding. My opinion was about straight cardio. Just like I posted.
Enjoy your run and I am still waiting for your offer for my boat.
If it’s an option for you, swim. No impact, so it’s great for the joints, it gives you a decent full-body workout (workout here being the “I’m more toned now” variety, not the “I can deadlift my Buick” variety), and it will absolutly kick your butt, cardio-wise.
For straight cardio running blows the the elliptical machine away.
Unfortunately running is hard on the joints. For this reason the elliptical may often be a better choice for big guys, people with problem knees etc.
[quote]MaloVerde wrote:
ZEB wrote:
MaloVerde wrote:
The Elyptical is great for a healthy heart and big lungs and I think better cardio wise than running on the street. You can go further on the elyptical because there is zero impact on your joints. The constant pounding of your bodyweight while running on the street is cardio + weight lifting. For straight cardio work I don’t think there is a better machine than an Elyptical.
While I think the Elyptical is a good machine, I’ll have to disagree with you.
As we all know the “pounding” actually helps build stronger and larger bones. This is something that will help you as you age.
If you are concerned about excessive “pounding” then by all means run on grass or a specially treated track, most Colleges and many High Schools have them.
I have never done anything that requires more heart/lung capacity than all the various forms of running. And best of all it can be performed outdoors where you can actually breath in fresh air (unlike gym atmospheres) and feel the sunshine.
It’s GOOD STUFF!
I think you are disagreeing just to disagree with me. My opinion wasn’t about what builds bigger bones or that I had a problem with excessive pounding. My opinion was about straight cardio. Just like I posted.
Enjoy your run and I am still waiting for your offer for my boat.
[/quote]
lol…