Outdoor running vs. running on a treadmill?

Outdoor pro: Better scenery.
Outdoor con: Possible uneven footing.
Outdoor con: Traffic.
Outdoor con: Weather

I strongly prefer treadmills, although I am the only person I know who feels this way. Pros:

1. Easier on the knees.
2. Can keep track of and control over elevation, speed, and distance.
3. Don’t have to combat inclement weather.
4. Can run until you can’t move anymore and don’t have to worry about getting home.
5. I get really self-conscious about working out. In the gym, everyone else looks a bit like a doofus too. Outside, not so much.
6. No cat-calls inside the gym.
7. No safety concerns (running at night or through bad neighborhoods).
8. Don’t have to look out for cars, bikes, etc.
9. I kind of enjoy the ritual of going to the gym, being inside the gym, and being around other people who are all doing the same thing.

Cons:
1. Not as pretty as outside.

Tut tut, I daresay, @Marina, weather isn’t an Outdoor con… it’s part of the mystery and mystique!

< < ran in the rain and 38°F cold this morning at 6am.

Outdoor. Pros – Love being outside – fresh air, change of scenery.
Cons – as Marina had said traffic and a big one weather

For me, though, I would much rather run outdoors than use a treadmill.

I suppose running on a treadmill would be better when the weather’s bad (said the girl coming back from track on this fine 35 degree day), but when you’re running outside, as said before, you have scenery; also, you can change your pace more easily. I prefer outdoors.

outdoor hands down.

Treadmill cons:
There’s a timer right there reminding you of how far you’ve gone and have yet to go.
The speed adjustment isn’t natural.
No catcalls (to each their own, Nikipedia :) )

I waaay prefer running outside. It’s not so much reasons I can put in a pro/con list, I just plain like it more.

I don’t mind running in bad weather, I consider it something of a small test of will when stepping outside for a run in the rain or snow.

The one benefit that nikipedia mentioned, regarding running on treadmills, being that you can run until you can’t run any more is something I like and also it is noticeable easier on your knees, much less jarring.

The knee issue can be worked around though, run more, run often, do some leg exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knees.

The fresh air outside is a definite plus. Running outside seems all around better in terms of an overall workout: variety of terrain, the possibility of being ‘forced’ into running further than you may have expected, sun (Vitamin D!) and there are definite psychic benefits from running outdoors as opposed to inside a gym staring at a television or listening to your iPod, there’s a sense of achievement/completion that comes with turning the last corner and seeing your home come into view that you don’t get with running on a treadmill.

Treadmills are for warm-ups and cool downs.

I don’t like anything about a treadmill. It’s just boring to me. Rain, sleet, snow or shine.. I’d rather be running around outside.. actually going somewhere.. actually seeing something.

It really depends where you are. For me, living in Northern California it’s wonderful to run outside. It’s never muggy and I even love running in the rain. The fresh air is wonderful. Running indoors is stuffy and I find myself constantly checking the time and looking at the clock. Also, we have great bike paths and state parks where I live, so traffic isn’t much of an issue.

On the other hand, if you live somewhere where it snows in the winter and is hot and humid in the summer then this could be a problem. For me it just provides more excuses not to go out and run.

When I lived in Costa Rica I had a multitude of problems running outdoors along with the heat: poor footing on the sidewalks, the fear of getting mugged, men’s unwanted attention, and the horrible pollution.

So, in the end it’s really up to you, but it depends where you are.

I think both are good, training-wise. On a treadmill I can work on my speed by only needing to focus on how fast I am going.

Outside I work on my endurance and running “strength”. All of the ups and downs, the turns, jumping over a curb, gravel, grass, dirt, concrete. Your body becomes stronger when you have a variety of forces against it.

Any health benefits?

The treadmill is incredibly boring but if my knee decides to give out at least I’m not stranded several miles away from home.

Outside (especially if the weather is nice) is a lot more interesting but I have more of a risk of further injury to my knees.

On the whole I would rather swim.

Treadmill pros: you can burn a specific number of calories and run a specific distance…...more goal oriented.

I solved this problem by installing my treadmill in the back of a pickup truck. Now I get the best of both worlds.

based on @nikipedia‘s quip

Outdoor Pro: (for me) getting catcalls… man, that’s AWESOME! :-P

Well it really depends with this question.

I run on the treadmill if:
1. Its cold outside
2. Its raining
3. If i want to couple my cardio with intense running.

I prefer to run outside, well i live in San Diego and the beach is couple of minutes away. I like it because its sand. But running around the block? NO. I would rather use the treadmill because the impact on your knees hitting the ground is very hard.

Cardio wise, i just use elliptical and cross ramp mostly, very short 10 minute if I use the treadmill.