Running on concrete..

ebixa82

Hi,
I'm training for Connemara full in April. I currently do two runs on the road (10 mile Weds. and up to 17 mile so far on Sat.)

I do two other 5 mile runs mid week on the threadmill.

I've no problem doing more on the road but am wondering if running constantly on hard surface might increase my risk of injury. Are threadmills any less likely to cause injury compared to the road?

Thanks

BeepBeep67

Variety is always good.
While it's important you train for the surface you will be racing on, you should try and get onto grass, trail or even the treadmill to mix it up.

Cabaal

You mention your running on the road but yet your mentioning concrete? Surely the roads your running on are tarmac as its pretty unusual to come across concrete roads?

If its tarmac then I'm pretty sure there is a little bit more give on tarmac compared to concrete (v small bit mind you but there's plenty of stuff on google you'll find about this),

I know from experience anytime I've switched to running on concrete footpaths v roads (which i run on 98% of the time) I start to get shin splints again.

At the end of the day though its best to train on the surface you are going to be racing on, you'll never be able to train properly for Connemara on a threadmill as you'll never be able to do the down and up hills,

ebixa82

Cabaal wrote: »

You mention your running on the road but yet your mentioning concrete? Surely the roads your running on are tarmac as its pretty unusual to come across concrete roads?

If its tarmac then I'm pretty sure there is a little bit more give on tarmac compared to concrete (v small bit mind you but there's plenty of stuff on google you'll find about this),

I know from experience anytime I've switched to running on concrete footpaths v roads (which i run on 98% of the time) I start to get shin splints again.

At the end of the day though its best to train on the surface you are going to be racing on, you'll never be able to train properly for Connemara on a threadmill as you'll never be able to do the down and up hills,

Sorry concrete was the wrong choice of word. Running on roads and paths I mean.

Will running on a threadmill a couple of times per week reduce the stress of running 25-30 miles/week on a road?

TFBubendorfer

It entirely depends on what you're used to.

I run 60-70 miles per week on average virtually all on roads and haven't been injured in years.

If I tried that as a new runner I'd be injured in no time at all, though. As long as you work up gradually your body will get used to and adapt to just about anything.

NoGutsNoGlory

if your doing connamara full. scrap the thread mill .. .. get out on the roads and the worse the weather the better... 5 miles into the wind beats 5 miles on a threadmill hands down... add a few hills to your runs as well .. you will need the practise come april in the west.

ebixa82

NoGutsNoGlory wrote: »

if your doing connamara full. scrap the thread mill .. .. get out on the roads and the worse the weather the better... 5 miles into the wind beats 5 miles on a threadmill hands down... add a few hills to your runs as well .. you will need the practise come april in the west.

My 10 mile and long weekend runs both incorporate running from Sutton around the hill and into Howth which is supposed to be very similar to the hell of the west hill.

As I've already said, I've no problem doing all road work but it's my first full marathon and don't want to risk injuring myself by constantly running on hard ground. My query was basically will doing some running on threadmills reduce the impact and hence reduce the risk of injury. Or is there nothing to worry about?

TFBubendorfer

ebixa82 wrote: »

My query was basically will doing some running on threadmills reduce the impact and hence reduce the risk of injury. Or is there nothing to worry about?

The general wisdom is that, yes, running on a treadmill will reduce the impact forces compared to running on a road, and might therefore reduce your injury risk in training.

However, you should still do the majority of your miles on the road because your legs will have to get used to running on roads if you are training for a road marathon.

ebixa82

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

The general wisdom is that, yes, running on a treadmill will reduce the impact forces compared to running on a road, and might therefore reduce your injury risk in training.

However, you should still do the majority of your miles on the road because your legs will have to get used to running on roads if you are training for a road marathon.

Yep, that makes sense. Thanks for the advice.