running is torture.

hehe

Not hot, low humididty. No refinery smell

totally agree with you, the impact of the road is much harder on your body then what the threadmill offers.
I have ditched my threadmill and trainer and got used to being outside since I thought they were no true substitute for me.

I love to run on the treadmill in the winter, but come spring I find myself increasingly bored on it, even with good TV on TiVo. In any case, I think the key advantage of the treadmill is the opportunity to do intervals and hill work. During the winter I start at 0 and move up 0.5 degrees every 1.5 minutes, so at 45 minutes I am at 15 degrees. Then I reduce it one-degree per minute, and stop at 60 minutes. If I'm doing ninety minutes or two hours, I stretch it out accordingly. I use my heart rate monitor to set my speed to accomplish whatever my goals are. So I think the key point is not to ask which is better or faster (road work or the treadmill), but really, how can use each to accomplish one's goal. I really like doing intervals on the treadmill, as I feel I can really push myself harder than on the road, and in a similar fashion to an actual race. On the other hand, for doing long distances, I love to just set a goal for a distance going out on the roads, like 6 or 7 miles, run to that point, and then I have no choice but to run back. I certainly can't do that on a treadmill. But treadmills are great for bathroom breaks, and I see some great shows on TV... So I think its not as if one is better or worse, or even faster or slower, its how you use it.