Running (possibly dumb question)

[Aubrey]

Every summer, my neighbors go on vacation for a week & pay me to look after their dogs. However, this year they offered to either give me $100 or their unused treadmill. I've always wanted to run on a regular basis, but my neighborhood poses more than a few safety concerns, so I'm thinking about taking the treadmill.

I have a question though, since I know nothing about running: Will it make my legs bulk up?

I have fairly thin legs, and I'd like them to get toned but stay the same size, or get smaller (I have chubby thighs).

[Trueveggie14]

It shouldn't bulk up your legs.

When I ran track, my legs did "bulk up". However the training regimen included running backwards up and down bleachers and hills as well as pumping massive amounts of weight on the leg press machine. Those are the things that make your legs look bigger.

The thing most people worry about with treadmills is pressure / damage to the knees and /or shin splints.

[Dirty Martini]

Running shouldn't bulk up your legs. If anything, it will tone them (reduce fat, build lean muscle). And on a treadmill, you should be able to minimize shock impact & avoid severe knee injuries (waaaa, I hate my knee :cry: )

[ProudVegan]

I learned that its better to run on the road than on the treadmills. I got shin splint from running on the treadmill and hurt my knee running on a steep hill or just twisting my knees when I was running up to the sidewalk.

Running on the treadmill might as well work for you. It certainly will help you burn fat and tone your thighs.

using weights will make your thighs "bulk up."

[Gita]

Weight lifting bulks up your legs-- running and anorexic activity don't. The treadmill would be a better deal if you want it.

[healthnut32]

Running shouldn't bulk up your legs. If anything, it will tone them (reduce fat, build lean muscle). And on a treadmill, you should be able to minimize shock impact & avoid severe knee injuries (waaaa, I hate my knee :cry: )

The danger with a treadmill, though, is that you can increase the speed faster tahn your body can handle it. That's how I injured my knees. Take the treadmill, but take it slowly.

[annabanana]

Weight lifting bulks up your legs-- running and anorexic activity don't.

Please tell me you mean anaerobic activity or something. I'm not really sure what you imply with "anorexic activity".

[Dirty Martini]

:lol: that's hilarious. I'm sure she meant anaerobic. But still... great mixup. (not that anorexia is funny, but... you know what i mean).

[Gnome Chomsky]

can anyone tell me what I can expect from pushing long lines of shopping carts for 8 hours, 4 times a week? :)

ebola

[bigdufstuff]

can anyone tell me what I can expect from pushing long lines of shopping carts for 8 hours, 4 times a week? :)

ebola

A disgruntled employee.

[Gnome Chomsky]

They had that at "you're hired".

ebola

[bamavegetarian]

Take the treadmill. I live in a community where I would not feel comfortable walking. Running/ Walking on a treadmill will shape/tone your legs. If the treadmill has an incline, don't use it. I used an incline on my treadmill, and it did hurt my knee. Always keep the treadmill flat!

[RunsWithFoxes]

I used to run on a treadmill. The problem is that a treadmill does not duplicate the "real" running experience. In "real" running, you push off with your own muscles; with a treadmill, the motor does the "pushing". The situation is helped a bit if you get one of the treadmill models that lets you adjust the slope. Nevertheless, I now use a treadmill only for walking, and with a significant slope this feels more-or-less natural.

Good luck!
:rockon: