The treadmill gets dismissed as a last-resort option-or worse, as “not real running.” In this episode, we take a deeper look at what treadmill training actually does, what the research says about how it compares to running outdoors, and why it can feel harder even when the physiology is similar.
We talk about biomechanics, heat stress, pacing perception, and injury risk, explain where treadmill running truly differs from outdoor running, and walk through when those differences help versus hurt. You’ll learn why the 1% incline rule isn’t a universal fix, how indoor heat load quietly changes training stress, and why the treadmill can be one of the best tools for threshold work, hill training, winter consistency, and race simulation-if it’s used correctly.
