The Crazy Thing
It might not surprise readers to learn that, after years of running, I found new motivation, changed my workout approach and achieved better results. But here’s the crazy thing: I’m running less and having more fun! It would be great to live in an area where soft terrain and trails are easy to get to, but in my city, the fact is that I have to drive 30 minutes or more each direction to find trails for running. It is something I do on occasion and I really enjoy, but it is impractical for most weekday workouts. Most of my running is done on pavement, and there is a cumulative effect to that pounding. To this point, I have been fortunate not to have any major injuries, but as I age, I feel like
running on pavement requires more recovery time, so I rarely run on consecutive days. Part of the motivation for getting a Peloton was to try to exercise more consistently without the impact of running on pavement.
A Change in Thought Process
In nearly every aspect of my life I’m a slow and steady planner. I like making gradual changes to achieve long term goals. As a runner, its been 20 years since I’ve done interval or speed training. Running less and running faster means having a different purpose for each workout and allowing one or two days for cross training. What makes this so fun is that after years of long, slow plodding, I now look forward to a shorter, more intense speed day each week and a Tempo workout where I work on maintaining my goal “race pace” for extended efforts.
What is the Peloton Program?
About a year ago my wife encouraged me to get a
Peloton bike. You’ve seen the cool commercials with super fit people in their home getting a great workout. Part of the challenge with exercising in Louisiana is that the brutally hot summer and long stretches of heavy rain throughout the year make consistency difficult. Curating a music playlist on your phone or a streaming service can be fun, but it can also become a hassle and a burden. Those were my other initial motivations for the Peloton bike: convenience, weather, playlist burden, and consistency.
With
Peloton, you can select an instructor, a music genre and a length of workout. As you get more familiar, you can also select a workout type which steers the intensity for intervals, recovery, or just a fun ride. I was hooked from the first ride. The instructors are like having a personal trainer in your house, telling you when to increase the speed of your pedals or the resistance on the bike. Being able to vary the instructor makes it fun too; each one has their own personality and style.
I Thought this was About Running?
So how does this make me a better runner? First, the bike allows me to run three times a week and bike once or twice a week. That’s one or two more workouts a week without the pounding of running on pavement (I’ll do more rides when weather interferes). That adds up over time. Last year I did over a hundred rides, which helps my overall consistency and fitness level.
Second, the bike workouts have really helped my leg strength. It makes sense that cycling 30 to 45 minutes once or twice a week with fun music and a professional trainer motivating them for a year will make someone stronger and faster, but it wasn’t my original intention. It was an accidental byproduct of how much fun the workouts are.
Third, there’s a
Peloton digital app. The Peloton digital app is easy to use and has outdoor running workouts and programs. I’m completely addicted to these workouts, and I have a hard time running now without them. It sounds weird but the Peloton digital trainers have become like my training partners. These workouts range from 20 to 60 minutes and have a variety of music and intensity options. For example, I can select 45 minutes and Tempo and get a workout. Or I can select 30 minutes and Hip Hop and get a different workout. Similar to the bike workouts, having a professional coach tell you when to increase or decrease speed and talking about form and nutrition allows me to train much harder and smarter than I’m capable of on my own.
Do I Need a Peloton Bike?
Yes and no. If you can motivate yourself and be deliberate on your own with your own workouts, then obviously not. I need a Peloton to accomplish my goals right now and to be continually motivated, because I don’t have the time or expertise to create a program on my own. I have friends who participate in running clubs and love it. Unfortunately, my work schedule makes that commitment difficult for me. Also, there are other similar companies that might provide a comparable experience, but I have not tried those. I believe you can subscribe to the content and do the workouts through the digital app on a regular exercise bike or at a gym by using your phone or tablet as your screen, but the experience probably isn’t as seamless.
What's Next?
For the past year, I’ve really enjoyed how Peloton has helped motivate me to workout harder and more efficiently. I’m having more fun running and working out than I have in a long time. My workouts are more consistent, and I don’t have to go to a gym. I’m also getting faster. I’d really like to break 1:50 in the half marathon distance this year. As someone who’s been running regularly since 6th grade and has the knowledge of board-certified Podiatrist who treats runners regularly, I’ve found Peloton to be a safe, effective way to improve my running and my overall fitness.
**I’m a paying customer. This is in no way a paid endorsement. I just wanted to share my experience.
