Versus

With the cold, dark mornings and my running buddy out with an IT band injury, I've been forced to do my weekday runs inside. In order to kill boredom, I've been experimenting with different paces, forms and techniques. I've been playing around with a heart rate monitor. I've ditched the shoes. Below are my thoughts on the popular running debates, according to my experiences:

Barefoot vs Shoe
Since I started running, I've been a heel striker. I didn't think I was, but after looking at a video of me running and the thumping sound I make it's clear. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but I'm starting to feel the pounding in my knees, my hamstrings are always tight and I have zero calves. On a short run, I decided to run on just the balls of my feet...and I could definitely feel it in my calves. The next treadmill run, I took off my shoes. I loved the way it felt! I could instantly tell I was using many more muscles in my lower legs and feet that had been completely ignored. The pressure on my knees was gone. And I felt like I was running with perfect form, really using my legs as springs; coiling up then exploding with force. Unfortunately, after about 1.5-2 miles, I start forming blisters on my toes so I have to quit.
I don't think I'll ever run barefoot outside, especially in the winter!! But I do love the benefits Ive been getting from the short barefoot stints on the treadmill, and they are translating over into running in shoes; I'm depending less on my soft, cushy heels and more on the muscles in my lower legs. Hopefully pretty soon, I'll start seeing some calf definition!  
Conclusion: Outdoor runs in shoes, treadmill runs barefoot (for the last two miles).

Outside vs Treadmill
Of course running outside is preferred. Actually covering distance, changes in scenery, breathing the fresh air, the ups and downs of the terrain, the feeling of freedom... this is why I started running! When you run on the treadmill, you can't help but feel like a hamster on a wheel. But there are still many positives that help me to enjoy an indoor workout.
As mentioned above, I can go barefoot. It's easier to force myself to go faster on the treadmill (I don't know if I could make myself run at a 7:30min/mile pace for very long outside). And I like to do pyramids; start at a slow pace, then increase every "lap" until I'm really huffing it for a mile, then drop back down and start again. It's not as easy to maintain the right pacing outside.
Conclusion: Treadmill on the shorter weekday runs, outside for the weekend long runs.

Tech vs Intuition
There is some sweet running technology out there. From watches to monitors to apps to gadgets. You can go crazy anazlying every aspect of your running. You can check your feedback to make sure you're training at the right pace and make sure you're meeting all your goals. I love my Garmin watch that always displays my pace, distance, time, etc. It's cool to use a heart rate monitor to make sure I'm the right zone and to stay just under my lactate threshold on a speed run. I love seeing the miles rack up on RunKeeper.
But sometimes, I just want to run. Especially on long runs. And especially at races. I don't want anything holding me back or pushing me too hard. I just want to listen to my body to do my best and to enjoy the experience.
Conclusion: Use tech to train, but for races and every few runs, just unplug and go.