Treadmill or Track?

I was just recently asked which is better running on the Treadmill or Running on the track? And if I can't get to a treadmill what should I do if my neighborhood is hilly and doesn't have any straight aways?

Well to answer the first question which is better Treadmill or Track? I would say it depends on your goals. Participates of the First Responder TRX program or trying to improve both their performance and appearance. If the goal is appearance alone it doesn't really matter which one you choose because both running on the treadmill and running outdoors will help shed unwanted pounds. Running on the treadmill however typically helps more people expand more calories. This is due to the fact once you set the speed on the treadmill even when you get tired it remains the same. When your outdoors and running if you get tired you slow down and may not push yourself which would lead to not expending as much energy or calories as on the treadmill. So for aesthetics (appearance) I would typically recommend you spend more time on the treadmill.

Performance on the other hand is work specific. SAID - specific Adaptations to imposed demands. What the hell does that mean Joey? In plain English It means if you want to improve your run time on the track you have to run on the track. Running on the treadmill although beneficially will not help you nearly as much in chasing the bad guys as running on the track. At the end of the day the treadmill is propelled by electricity and you running outdoors on the other hand is propelled by your heart and soul (your desire to want to get the job done!).

The second question on should I run outdoors if I live in a hilly area with no straight aways? Well we have 2 options. 1st option measure 1/4 mile and hill no hill give your best effort and you will still improve on your 1/4 mile sprints. As far as for your other interval training the hills will actually make the sprints more interesting. It will be just like adding extra resistance.

Option 2 all of you have a copy of the DVD which has a total body fitness circuit workout on it. In a crunch when you cant get to a treadmill or track by all means perform one of these circuits as fast as possible with good technique. Guaranteed to keep your heart rate up! No one says cardio or aerobic training has to always be on a piece of equipment :)