Pure Pedantry : Running Outside Burns a Smidgeon More Calories

Reality is always more complicated than you think.

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Jake Young is a MD/PhD student at Mount Sinai School of Medicine focusing in Neuroscience. He is due to graduate in 2032. He received a BS and a MS in Biological Sciences from Stanford University -- where he spent most of his time drinking heavily and building vegetable catapults instead of learning information that would now be eminently useful. When he is not failing terrifically to perform his sworn duties, he enjoys watching bad movies, ethnic food, and running.

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Running Outside Burns a Smidgeon More Calories

Category: Exercise
Posted on: May 8, 2008 12:57 PM, by Jake Young

Thank you, NYTimes, for clarifying something I have always wondered about: how does running outside compare to running on a treadmill?

A number of studies have shown that in general, outdoor running burns about 5 percent more calories than treadmills do, in part because there is greater wind resistance and no assistance from the treadmill belt. Some studies show, for example, that when adults are allowed to set their own paces on treadmills and on tracks, they move more slowly and with shorter strides when they train on treadmills.

I will say that in my case outside running burns more calories because I go much farther. Running on a treadmill bores me to death, so I don't do it.

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Comments

I tried balancing running with more swimming a month ago. Could not do it: every time a runner passed me on the sidewalk, I couldn't wait for my next run. Since my town is basically bi-level - one big hill, with a harbour at the bottom - outdoor running is very challenging. It kinda sucks...and now excuse me as I go for a run.

Posted by: Eileen | May 8, 2008 3:59 PM

Well, that's good to know, but ultimately doesn't matter to me. It's too hot to run in the daytime most of the time (in the South), and too dangerous for a woman to run at night.

Posted by: microbiologychick | May 8, 2008 5:01 PM

Good to know. Of course, I wonder whether it would be more than a 5% difference for me personally- since I won't use the incline on a treadmill but live in a moderately hilly area. Still, 5% is not worth the increase risk of problems with heat and roughness on my knees a lot of the time.

Posted by: Becca | May 8, 2008 6:43 PM

I once fell off the end of a treadmill.

I was training for a marathon, so I can blame it on being distracted by my newfound ability to read entire books while running indoors. It was still embarrassing.

Hadn't seen this study - thanks for the link :)

Posted by: co-blogger kate | May 14, 2008 5:54 PM