Everyone that knows me, knows I don’t do classes, I hate treadmills (haven’t been on one in 4 years, when I flew off it), I hate working out, more so if it’s indoors. Not doing it. Remember when I tried spinning and hated it so much??? Ugh, I still shudder, ugh.

Enter the new thing in NYC, the “treadmill studios”. What? Yeah. There was an article in the NY  Times (so you know it’s serious) called Happily Going Nowhere fast. Interesting, I thought. As in: no way. Ms. Warner’s studio (the Mile High Run Club, there’s a few others) provides an indoor service for which busy New Yorkers seem to be desperate: a high-intensity interval workout in 45 minutes. The 4,000-square-foot space has ample room for 30 Woodway treadmills, which have a running surface like tank treads that is supposed to mimic the feel of trail running.

OMG. NO. SO NOT. Come on, it is a GYM, people!!! Just go outside. I know, I know, not everyone hates gyms as much as I do. But EVERYTHING in me just goes against the concept. Even if I hate the weather from October to May, I still can’t consider working out indoors a possibility, but I got an invite to try the Mile High Run Club (from our friends at Finish Line!) and, for the sake of ridiculous or investigation, I accepted. I managed to drag Juan with me, and met up Simon (an awesome Whippet team mate there who I LOVE) which made it a lot less scary.

The Mile High Run Club, looks like a regular studio, nice, clean, with cute showers and lockers and I have to say, the name is genius. They have two types of classes. The Dash 28 and the Distance. I had no idea about any of that, but we were invited to the Dash28 Run.

We get there and there’s about 15-20 people, we change, we chat, we head in, voila!

I had tried one of those Woodways before, the Eco Mill, that is curved up and doesn’t use electricity and is self-propelled. These were the flat version, but probably still better than your regular gym treadmill.

Soon, Debora, our Coach but also Founder of the MHRC, starts the class. She’s super nice! There’s low colored lights that keep changing and music. Nothing crazy loud but fun. And soon she says we’re gonna warm up. Oh God. Jumping Jacks and the rest is a messy blur. We did stuff like that for a few minutes and I remember being exhausted by the time we had to get up on the treadmill -I am toast. Can I just tell her I did the marathon a week ago and I am still exhausted and bail out??? coward, stay there!!!!

We get on the treadmills and she explains we’re going to warm up first. (I was sweating profusely already from the warm up). The treadmill stays on 1 incline for the easy parts. We then pick our intensity level from a little cheat chart there is on every machine, super easy, and when she says it’s lap one, you crank up the incline to 6 or what she says and start on your level one, whatever that is.

Then she counts down, you reduce the speed again and the incline, slowrun for a bit, and then again up, to your level 2, whatever that is!

I really liked that you could manage your intensity level, which means you can head to the class with any friend and “workout together” even if you’re really not the same speed. Awesome. What I didn’t like: the treadmills shook a LOT!!!! I asked Debora if they all did that, and yes, I could see everyone was shaking. For someone like me, who hates treadmills, and quite probably I am was scared to death because I fell off one 4 years ago and broke some bones, and haven’t been on once since then, this was terrifying. I held onto the front bars the whole session. There goes my form!!!! Debora did say they were coming that day to affix them to the floor or something, so I’d definitely check back with them before I do this again.

Now, if you know me, you know I really HATE treadmills (hey, FALL, and 4 YEARS!!!) so I was ready to HATE HATE this. And you know, when I went to Soulcycle, I really hated it. Really hated it. Now, this felt very different. For once, my heart rate was high at all times. YEY. Like 180s and 190s. Second, I was running hard and up and because I was being told what to do, I didn’t worry much about keeping up pace (the machine does it for you!) or felt as hard as when  you tryi to pace yourself outdoors. I don’t know that this would become something I’d do (at $34 dollars a class, I’d definitely would think about it) a lot of but I think, during the winter months, sometimes I just really really want to sweat a lot, and wear little clothes, you know? I can definitely see this as something I’d do with my friends, instead of happy hour! Because I can go in there with ANY of my friends, not just the ones that are about the same speed as me or training for the same distance.

I really did like that I was pouring in 5 minutes. I was sweating the whole classe!! You can make the workout as hard or easy as you want! I also liked that Juan was by me and we kept upping our numbers to beat each other, ha, best motivation ever!!!

After we finished all 4 intervals, I was dizzy and thought that would have thrown up if I had eaten anything that morning. I needed a minute. Oh and then more drills (like burpees and other “amazing” things) and some stretching. Loved the drills part too. She was ON POINT. And you know I am a little snob-drill!!

The total mileage was about 3:xx, and my heart rate was high up! I was so hungry after!!! Those drills, some with kettle bells, were a bit murderous for me, but so happy I didn’t run out!!!

That’s the class after the session, there were smoothies and chia bars and coffee! YEY, I needed food and a shower FAST!

So, there’s my take. It’s interesting and I think I’d definitely go back, mostly in the winter. And I think it’s the best way to get “that”friend of yours who is not so sure they want to run yet, to try running! Sometimes a treadmill is less scary than the road and you can be right by their side 😉

And the Giveaway part!

You know we love to do a giveaway or two a week, so, here’s an awesome one! If you’re not following this blog, do so you don’t miss out on these opportunities! I’ll be selecting 10 winners to get a free class, to use before December 31st, randomly!

All you have to do to enter for a chance to win ONE of the TEN free classes. Each one of these gives you one shot at a win!

• Like MHRC on Facebook, then comment below that you liked it and include your fbook name
• Follow MHRC on Twitter, then comment below that you followed and include your twitter handle
• Follow MHRC on Instagram, then comment below that you followed and include your Instagram handle

When you do any of those above, make sure you post/tweet about your best #runnershigh and tag MHRC

• Subscribe to this blog
• Like this post
• Include a question about the experience

I’ll pick TEN winners randomly on November 24th, at noon. Good Luck!