"Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise." Psalm 47:6-7
Per a study by exercise physiologist Reed Ferber, who is the director of the running injury clinic at the University of Calgary in Canada reported that treadmill running has a few negligible variations in biomechanics compared to outdoor running. Here's the breakdown:
Biomechanics- “You have more forward lean from your trunk and more flexion at the hips and knees when you run on a treadmill because you don’t need to generate as much power at the same speed as you do running on level ground outdoors,” he said. “For the average runner, this doesn’t mean much.”
Calorie Burn- Studies show there are miniscule differences in calorie burn when running at the same speed and incline on a treadmill compared to outdoors. These differences only become meaningful at speeds faster than about 8.5 miles per hour -- which, let’s face it, is way faster than an average runner’s pace, Ferber noted.
*Ferber said that speedsters can incline their treadmill by 1 or 2 percent to make up the difference.
Injury- There are no studies comparing the injury rate or types of injuries you get on a treadmill versus running outdoors. However, Ferber still cautions runners who spend their winters on the treadmill to cut their mileage in half when they finally get back out on the road.
*“When you run outdoors, your calf muscles produce about 80 percent of the forward propulsion power but this drops significantly on a treadmill because the ground moves underneath you,” he said. “When you transition from the treadmill to the road, you could be at risk for calf strains, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.”
Boredom- Treadmill workouts are the exercise equivalent to watching paint dry for many people, Ferber admitted. Some exercisers tend to cut their workouts short out of sheer boredom.
*But studies have shown distraction techniques like listening to music or watching a movie can help speed up time. Ferber also recommended playing around with any preprogrammed workouts that automatically change speed and incline to help keep the brain engaged.
Just remember that our bodies are gifts from God and it's important to take care of them... physically, spiritually and emotionally. It's easy to find excuses but, by staying fit and healthy, we are better equipped to carry out our God-given vocation on earth. So go ahead and jump on that treadmill. Sing praises that God has given you good health and start dreaming of Spring. It will be here soon enough and, by not abandoning the run, you will be ready!!
Heavenly Father, thank you for designing our bodies so wonderfully. Help us to remember that the body, mind and spirit work together and that we need to work daily to keep them healthy. May we strive to daily strengthen our body as a whole giving you the glory for the ability to do so. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Happy Running!!!
Designed to Run- hope it reignites your desire to stay fit in anticipation of warmer running weather.
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