I love running outdoors come hail or high water! I am in Texas though and haven't seen either in months!

C25K question..I want to start my daughter on this program...she is almost ten and wants to run a 5K in Fall. My question is silly but this...how the HECK do I time it if I am running? I mean, I can't look at my watch the whole time and I hate holding things--like a timer. Are their belt clip timers and if so where do I find it?

As far as running indoors..I think I dislike it because the only place I can run indoors is the gym. Honestly the whole time I am running in there I can smell the odors sucking up inside my nose at each breath and it grosses me out.

Originally Posted by pandadawn:
I always get crap for this, but when it comes to running, INDOORS, please. No matter the distance.
I really don't mind running in ovals all day or sticking to a treadmill. It's mindless running.. and I like that, because it means I can think about other things! If I focus on my running I get so down and tired.
I love to go for walks outdoors, (I actually just did! I have some fresh flowers in a vase/cup to prove it :) ) but only because that's so leisurely; you actually have the time to take it all in.

I'm going to be one of the two odd ones out here! :) I used to like running outside because it was harder to just stop. For instance, in the gym, if I want to stop running, I just step off the machine. Outside, I can stop running, but I still have to walk home. (In the gym though, I have the added incentive of staying on because - in my crazy world - I think people will notice if I didn't stay on the entire 30 minutes. So I've yet to stop before 30 minutes, but the possibility still exists.)

But this was all back when I lived in the scenic countryside with the family. Now I live in a city, and no way would my husband allow me to run alone outside in our neighborhood. (And no way would he go with me. ;) ) To be honest, I'm not sure that I'd be all that comfortable doing it either.

The other benefit for me is that I can do lower impact running in the gym. I'm a bit paranoid about having joint problems as I age, and I don't think trading the elliptical machine for pavement is worth that risk.

And because we have no equipment at home and I weight train, I need to go to the gym for that anyway. So I'm with pandadawn on this one. I LOVE to go for walks (when I'm in an area that is safe to walk in), but I'll run indoors!

I like both, but I feel like I push myself harder on a treadmill because I can look down & see how far I have gone/am going. Maybe if I had one of those cool little gadgets that tracks my distance, I would feel differently. :) Also, I don't like running outside by myself for a few different reasons. If I have my bf or a friend to run with me, running outside is fun.

TEN? Running three miles?

Do some research. It strikes me as the kind of thing that might be okay if the kid wants to do it, but only at kid-led distance progression.

Thighs Be Gone, I just used my wrist watch. It wasn't really a problem at all for me.

Originally Posted by MariaMaria:
TEN? Running three miles?

I think it is ok. Two of my second cousins have been running 5Ks and they are both under 12. They come from a very athletic family and enjoy running.

I second that, my older son is nine and sometimes comes with me. He doesn't always finish the three miles but comes pretty close. It depends on the child, I think.

I'm torn! I love to run outside. But during the summer it is so hot and humid here that I can't quite take it.
I love to run on the treadmill when it's too hot outside!

Originally Posted by MariaMaria:
TEN? Running three miles?

Do some research. It strikes me as the kind of thing that might be okay if the kid wants to do it, but only at kid-led distance progression.

Um..yeah..TEN...and yes plenty of research done on my end...and I know plenty of kids that have done it at even younger ages..in fact we have a Track team starting at age 6....

p.s. Kid-Led Progression? Is that what you do with all your parenting--allow a child to lead it? Um, okay.

I have only just started running about 5 months ago and almost all my runs have been indoors. I run 3 ways in order of frequency: 1) my house (41 laps from back door-front door-back door = 1 mile), 2) indoor track at community center and 3) treadmill. I have done a few outdoor runs but that was before this record setting Texas summer got started. Once the outside temp is at a reasonable to me 70s, then I'll consider heading back outside again.
BTW - my next door neighbor simply runs in place. I don't know how you compute mileage from that and I need the forward motion, but whatever gets you moving should work!

I don't have a treadmill (nor do I want one) I'm happy running trails outdoors. Lucky enough to have some trails handy to where I live so it's easy for me.

Only thing I hate is when it rains and it's ridiculous trying to run trails in the wet so I don't bother, and go back to doing DVD workouts indoors. It really sucks when I've been looking forward to a good run all week and then it rains on the weekend BOTH DAYS :mad:

I run outside... treadmills drive me nuts and I get bored and stop watching my breathing.

I enjoy the varied terrain and feeling of adventure that comes with running outside. I run early in the morning before work as the city I live in (safe neighbourhood) is just starting to wake up. I enjoy watching the sky get lighter and reveal the commuters waiting at bus stops and old ladies having their coffee on the front porch.

When I first started running we lived in a pretty flat area so it was easy to get enthusiastic. Now we live in a hilly neighbourhood. That combined with my foot problems rearing their head again has left me less motivated but I love the feeling of being out there when it's all going well... and sometimes I see local animals too.

I just started running outside after working my way up to 2 miles on the treadmill, and, wow, what a difference! I love it so much more than just hopping away on the treadmill. I actually have a faster pace outside compared to the tm.