Is the treadmill an alternative for running?

Question

Is the treadmill an alternative for running outside? How much should i juggle on it each day to gain more stamina and lung capacity?

I dont have the option to go run outside and/or go swimming, i need to know if i can replace running outside with running on the treadmill, and how much i should use it for each day if my goal is to get a bigger lung capacity so i dont feel tired as hell in a middle of a kumite fight or after only a few minutes of running.

And how much time untill i start noticing some changes?

Thanks.

Am 15 years old.

q6656303: I dont think running gives you pain in the knees...

Well am not trying to lose weight, i think i weigh 44 kilos but as for my height i haven't measured myself since a very long time.

Answer 1

yes it is an alternative
for a head start try this:
week one: run half an hour daily at a reasonable speed

week two: run one hour on alternate days and set machine to bit of incline (do not run daily so as to let your body rest and get stronger)

week three: run for 2hours on alternate days and set machine to more incline, increase your speed as well

week four: increase speed, time and incline

continue doing these till you reach your goal
cheers

as the time past you should be able to see some results during the 2nd or 3rd week

Answer 2

Sure. Make sure you talk to a doctor before hopping up on one, but treadmills these days have options that will let you simulate the different types of inclines that you may want to incur while running out in the real world (like hills). While you won't have the great outdoors to look at (yes, treadmill running can get BORING) you won't have to worry about things like rain, ice, gum, poo, or traffic. You won't be able to turn like you would on a track or outside. The treadmill is also a lot better on your joints than concrete.

Treadmills will also let you run time over distance if you want (you can still do distance) This way is preferable to me. I chose to jog 10 minutes straight the first week. Depending on your lungs, you might be able to do more. Just pick a time that is reasonable to you. Then, the next week, bump it up 5 minutes. If that is too much, try three. Add some inclines in there to help get your blood pressure up periodically. You will find that after the first week, you will notice progress.

Answer 3

Running is often advised for weight loss, because it activates large muscles in your thighs and buttocks, which use up a lot of energy. This is not necessary for weight loss; it just means that you use a lot of calories in a short time, but you can do this by activating a large number of small muscles, too. Walking, cycling, rowing and stepping can all be made more difficult (increased resistance or gradient, carrying weight, etc.) BUT the energy used is proportionate to the amount of strain on your knees (your knee is used to turn the 'pull' from your thigh muscle into a 'push' from your foot). You can do 'cardio' exercise with your whole body, and improve your fitness by doing this; you'll be exercising other muscles more, instead of focussing on the large muscles in your legs. Moving from machine to machine without a rest will achieve this. Each machine (or weight exercise) increases your pulse rate, and by adjusting the amount of weight you use, you can find an intensity that keeps your HR at the level you choose. A heart rate monitor can be useful for finding the right intensity. By reducing the resistance for some exercises, and increasing it for others, you can focus your workout on different parts of your body. Ideally, you should keep alternating, or rotating, the parts that you work 'aerobically', and those that you work more heavily. For example, doing long sets (timed) on the split'n'squeeze (thigh abductor/adductor) machine will work your legs aerobically in a way that you might not be used to, and using the same machine with more weight (numbered reps) will build muscles that stabilise your recovering knees. Some gyms have an aerobic machine for your upper body only. This is properly called a 'windlass', and it simulates the machinery for handling ropes on a racing yacht, but it is more commonly labelled 'hand crank' or 'arm spinner'.

Answer 4

I have been running all my life and I use a treadmill in place of running outside when I don't want to be outside when it is raining or too hot or too cold, etc. Running outside is harder than running on a treadmill...because a treadmill propels you. But you can get just as good a workout on a treadmill. Start out slow in the beginning like 4 mph for a couple miles. When you find that the workout is becoming easy....increase your speed, increase your mileage and also add inclines! Good Luck and Happy Running!

Answer 5

It would help if you let us know your height and weight. I do not know about increasing lung capacity, but treadmill is an alternative to running outdoor. If your not trying to lose weight then I'd say run 20 to 30 minutes a day. Run fast and get your heart rate up. Maybe this will improve your lung capacity.

Answer 6

Yes it is an alternative and there should be a conversion chart with the treadmill for determining how far you are running and how to progress.

Answer 7

YES
Atleast 4 miles to get good results with an incline of 3
speed 3 mph

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

too young to damage your knees like this