This is some stuck up shit right here. People are getting out and exercising and we're judging them for not doing it how we like. Gyms are much more than treadmills, treadmills are easier and more consistent for people starting out, the summer heat is brutal and gyms are air conditioned, or maybe you just wanna watch something to take your mind off the run itself. There's lots of great reasons to use a treadmill at the gym.
I live in Phoenix, Arizona and this post can go fuck itself. I TRIED to go for a walk outside the other day, and it was 109F with 40% humidity. I can do that, or I can go to the air conditioned gym...
Then I drive another 3 miles to taco bell then I drive 20 miles to save 3 cents per gallon on $50 worth of gas, then I do workout victory burnouts in the parking lot. I DO IT BIG NINJA
Outside of temperature control as others have mentioned, there's also a greater sense of security while exercising, showers available, and seeing others train can motivate you if you're the competitive or visual sort. Plus treadmills are less impactful to your knees compared to trail runs so they are good for recovery/casual runners.
In all honesty, gym memberships are terrible value for money by itself. Its value comes from convenience and saving time for a person who wants to train with some consistency.
one of the best working situations I had was being 3 miles from work. Walking was a nice workout and faster than most folks commutes. Would pass 3 parks btw during the stroll that had water fountains in the summer. If I was running late could bike it which was so quick it felt I was getting off my bike just after I got on. If the weather was bad or I just felt inclined to the bus was a straight shot.
One of the many benefits of living in a walkable area. I'll get a mile or two of walking in just going about my business. Walk to the grocery, walk to the subway, whatever.
if it's 0° outside (or 90°+), then yea, i'll drive to the treadmill. otherwise there's no benefit a treadmill offers over walking/hiking/running outside. plus there's no downhill option on the treadmill, which exercises a different combination of muscles
There's got to be some psychological hack to this for some people, and I envy them. Imagine getting satisfaction from having gone to the gym just to walk... Gym is already a lazy form of workout even if you exert yourself.
Then again, the only people I see walking on treadmills are fairly in-shape young women, so it's hardly an issue