It’s a Monday morning in the middle of July in Cape Town, South Africa. 7am I drive to the gym in the dark to get my first run in of the week.
But, on this Monday morning, where it should be the depth of winter… I quickly come to realise that this will be the most beautiful sunrise, it’s already 20 degrees outside and there is no wind blowing. (Rare for this part of the world). I take a sharp left on the R44 and drive down to the beach, for my first outdoor/coastal run since moving back to South Africa.
And what a good call it turned out to be
Breathing in the fresh ocean air first thing in the morning and feeling you shoes hitting the side walk definitely has a few if not a lot more physiological benefits than running on a treadmill looking straight in front of you in the gym.
I soon as I get comfortable with my pace, I start looking around, noticing details on the buildings I’ve never bothered looking up to, waves crashing next to me, people commuting to work. But I feel like I’m flying. Sure, I have loads of work to do, but this feeling, I want it to last a bit longer. It was only a short run as I didn’t have much time but the time definitely flew 100 times faster than running on a treadmill. I feel addicted to this feeling now and I can’ wait to go on another unplanned perfect weather run. Until then, you will find me on the treadmill. My safe space.
Here are the pros of both though:
Treadmill:
- You can keep your phone, keys, water, towel at hand without running with stuff in your hands.
- You set your speed/pace and tend to stick to it better.
- Safety (It’s South Africa after all)
- It’s easier, the treadmill belt assists your leg turnover.
Outdoor:
- Scenery. So much to look at and take in, it makes time go faster.
- Fresh air. (Totally underrated)
- You adapt to your surrounding better incl. weather and running around people.
- Soft tissue conditioning that occurs with road running. (Does not occur with treadmill running because the plate or base on the treadmill 'gives' more than road surfaces).
