Perception of Time

Edwin Croucher

I just came in from a run. It was fairly cool out, around 26 degrees Fahrenheit with a light breeze. It was snowing lightly as is normal here. Today it was a 10K with the pace essentially at my goal race pace. I run this distance often both outside and on the treadmill. Hands down I always prefer to run outside for any workout. This year I have committed to consistency in my training and so to that I have been running on the treadmill much more often. This thought has struck me before, but today it was very strong. When I run outside, I have very little concept of the overall time that workout is taking. I am always aware of my pace. I focus all my runs on pace and have a goal for every mile. However, even with that, as I run it almost feel like time has stopped. I spend the time trying to resolve the issues of my day, planning events and picturing outcomes. When I am on the treadmill, I never get this feeling. When I am running on the treadmill, the miles seem to take forever no matter how fast I am running. I still focus on pace and I constantly think about my running form. However, I never have a feeling of being removed from the workout. During my bike workouts, I do have a similar feeling riding outside as I do running outside. However, when I am doing an indoor bike workout, I am completely focused on the individual interval. I have not just hopped on the trainer and rode a computrainer real course for 2 hours at 80% in so long, I am not sure if I would fall into the same trance as an outdoors run. I was wondering what everyone else thinks and feels when they are doing their various workouts.

Brad Marcus

@Ed - in 100% agreement with everything you've said. I can ride the trainer effectively to a point by just concentrating on the intervals or task at hand. At or around 2 hours, I start time watching. However, I am a horrible treadmill runner. I will only use my TM, if I'm doing a brick from bike to run and it's very cold outside. This is strictly out of convenience. Other than that, I run outside, rain, snow, cold weather, etc. Although I'm in CT, I realize that my westher usually isn't as severe as yours. But, I will watch the forecast and move things around if needed. Time seems to completely stand still for me on the TM and unlike almost everyone, I cannot run same pace indoors as I can outside. My HR is higher and I just can't keep my turnover at a fast enough pace forcing me to only use HR on The TM. I really believe running outdoors (and biking too), is just more therapeutic, even as you've mentioned, when you are running at set paces. I also lose track of time on most occasions.

morpheus

Same here.

An outside run gets Main Set attention and extra time or miles. But, the treadmill usually gets a slower paced 2mi warmup, then the main set, a quick cool down, and that's a wrap. It serves a purpose, function only. My treadmill runs check the box, at best.

Mark Cardinale

Same here too....

On the treadmill, I have tried music, movies, ironman coverage and in all cases, within 20minutes i'm checking the time and counting down the minutes until i'm done.  I also try to look at it from the perspective of building my mental fitness and that helps some, but bottomline treadmill running just sucks.  The treadmill is a last resort for me when the temps get chilly or in the winter when there is less daylight.  The bike trainer for me is similar, but as long as the intervals are on the shorter side there is enough variety to help the time pass.  I'm always amazed when i start riding outside again in the spring how quickly 20min intervals fly by.  It always feels like i just pressed start and before i know it, 20 min has passed.

Al Truscott

I only step on the treadmill if (a) it is raining and (b) I can;t love my run to another proximate time when it won't be raining. Even so, here in the Pac NW, I spend a few trips indoors running, and have used the following to deal with the lack of changing scenery... listen to my iPod shuffle, and (more important) raise the speed one notch every minute, usually until about 18-19 minutes, then drop it down for a few minutes. Then, do a few strides x 20 seconds, then do whatever intervals I've got scheduled. All that keeps my mind occupied enough to avoid any case of the drearies.

I actually like riding on my trainer in the winter. I set it up on an upstairs deck which opens off of the room where I have my Big Screen. Play with Trainer Road, watch TV series or movie. More enjoyable to do hi intensity intervals that way that fighting cold, rain, dark, traffic lights, cars, and road debris. But, I don't go more than about 100-110 minutes max. Steady state rides on the trainer are a no-go for me.

kimmydct

I do math when I'm on the treadmill to calculate the percentage of the workout that is completed. Demented, I know.

Coach Rich

I would rather chew glass than exercise on either a trainer or treadmill. No idea how you poor bastards with crappy weather do it 

I can disconnect my head much better on the bike than on the run. And the clock goes backwards on flat interval runs vs hilly tempo runs where I'm chasing a Strava segment PR, etc. 

Steve West

It's simple.... Time flies when your having fun.... for most folks the DM is no fun, therefore the clock slows down and outside there is no clock.

Guess I am one of the odd types that don't mind the treadmill. Not that I love it or wouldn't rather run outside, but I can be a wimp in crappy weather so I have made friends with my DM....

Edwin Croucher

Great responses from everyone. It is always amazing to me what we will put ourselves through. I ran in sleet and freezing rain yesterday. Of course, I still would choose any weather to be able to run with family and friends.

Scott Alexander

Pretty crazy, but I actually can (and frequently do) run 2-3 hours on the treadmill, due to lovely TX weather. But, I can't stand more than 90 minutes on the drainer. I'm reverse of most.