[th0br0]

Out of curiosity, what was the motivation for doing this? What is so bad about running too fast? How is "too fast" defined?

[vinnycoyne]

I've just started long-distance running, and when I run too fast, I tend to burn out long before my target distance (and end up walking the rest of the way home).

With Pace.fm, I can set a desired speed and the app will help me stay approximately on-pace.

[ScottWhigham]

I always try for a negative split (slower first half than second half). It's always better to have that extra energy to burn - which feels better: passing 50 people during your last five miles of the half marathon or getting passed by 50 people? Most people start out too fast - just let them pass you and smile as they do. Deep down you'll know that you will pass them in mile 10.

[vinnycoyne]

Thanks for the tip! :)

[mikegriff]

Have you tried running with a club?

There's usually someone there who takes it upon themselves to rein in the speed on longer runs.

[vinnycoyne]

I've tried running with a club, and it's been a great help. Unfortunately, my schedule frequently clashes with theirs - hence the app ;)

[mikegriff]

Ah yeah, that'll happen. :)

[k-mcgrady]

I find that I can run much longer on a treadmill because the pace is set for me. I can't manage it as well myself when running outside and burn myself out too quickly.

[netrus]

Think about the physics of running on a treadmill. The only part of your body constantly accelerating are your legs - your upper body hardly moves. When running outside, you have air resistance, speeding up / slowing down to avoid obstacles, slight side-movements .... Your body simply is working harder.

[ScottWhigham]

Everyone can run much longer on a treadmill though. That's not unique to you. I always wondered just how much of a marketing ploy that was - "I love my Acme Fitrun machine - I can do 12 miles in just under 1:30!" Meanwhile that person finishes a half marathon in 3:14.

[marknutter]

It's true that running on a treadmill is easier, mainly due to the lack of wind resistance (which is a bigger factor for running than you would think), but also due to the artificially perfectly flat surface; you have to make far fewer micro-adjustments to the terrain when you're on a treadmill, and like everything in distance running, those adjustments add up over time.

It's said that putting the treadmill at a 1-2 degree incline can correct for this discrepancy, and there's actually been a few scientific studies on this as well (e.g. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8887211).

[brewdad]

I've found this chart handy for setting the right effort on those days where a treadmill is my only viable option. http://www.hillrunner.com/training/tmillchart.php

[marknutter]

Haha, I refer to that chart often!

[gambogi]

I'm an avid runner, but I can't go more than four miles on a treadmill due to boredom