Treadmill

Question
Hi
(carissa is my god daughters name BTW!)
I want to improve my running so I will be able to keep up with my kids playing soccer.
I dont feel comfortable about running inside and prefer to run on our treadmill.
I can run for 45 minutes at a good pace on the treadmill but get winded pretty quickly running outside.
I assume its because the belt is doing most of the work and I am pretty much just lifting my feet.
If I ran on the treadmill on an incline, although I couldnt run as fast, would this be more like running outdoors?

Answer
Ok, so I don't have huge experience with treadmills, but I have been reading up a little about it lately.

You are partially right that it has to do with lifting up your feet, and the belt moving.
But think about this:
When you are outside, what is different than the treadmill?
-you got that you have to propel all of your body weight forward
-but you also have different terrain
-and winds/temperatures play a part

Those are the only factors I can think of right now.

When I was reading some of the articles, they did mention, in fact, to run on an incline.
Although it doesn't make up for the climate, or winds, or moving your whole body forward; it does help with the terrain. This is because it is on an incline, basically a hill. Imagine a big belt on a slight hill that goes on for miles, this is why it works you more.

As always, the more you can do, the better you will become, the stronger you will be. However, if you can, I would suggest trying to run outside. Maybe rotate days or try for once or twice a week. Running outside will make you better able to run outside with your kids. Just like if somebody on a stationary bike rode the same as someone on a real bike, obviously, the one on the real bike will be better off. The incline will make a difference, but not as big as difference as actually getting out there and running.

Good luck, and hopefully you will be able to keep up with your kids (and god kids) whatever you decide to do.

P.S.
(If you don't feel comfortable about running outside[what I assume you meant], you can make this a follow-up, and I will try to address whatever concerns you have about it. I am a huge supporter of running outside, and if there are just a few fixable problems, then I could try and help).