Fitness, Peloton, Weight Loss

My Peloton Tread Review as an Outdoor Runner

18 March

I have always been an outside runner. I LOVE running outdoors, feeling the fresh air, and ultimately just going somehwere. Running in one place on a treadmill was pretty dreadful, and I luckily didn’t have to do that much considering I live in South Florida. But, having 4 kids now as a single mom, I wasn’t able to just run out my door whenever I wanted. I also prefer to run in the morning, and I couldn’t leave my children alone in the house, so I was forced to look into treadmills as my next running option. If you are a runner, you know the addiction is strong, and will find any way to get your runs in. I started with the Peloton Bike as a way to supplement my like of running. With 4 little ones by myself, I would maybe get a couple miles in with the stroller, sometimes pushing three kids. I got the Peloton Bike to help me get more cardio and exercise in without having to leave my house. I fell in love with the Peloton workouts right away. The music, the instructors, everything. I knew I had to get a Peloton Tread at some point, but they are so expensive! I started with a super small treadmill of of Facebook market place, and I used that with the Peloton App to make sure I would use a treadmill. I wanted to make sure that I would use the treadmill consistently before I let myself make a big purchase. I consistently used my bike and treadmill for 6 months or so before I started looking at the Peloton Treadmill. I was so excited when I finally made the purchase, and I LOVE running on the tread mill now. The Peloton Tread is not like other treadmills, and there is something about the screens, workouts, bootcamps, hikes and so many options in the Peloton community that I’m obsessed. I even listen to Peloton Treadmill runs when I’m running outside because I love my favorite instructors and their music.

The Peloton Tread is amazing for moms!

I HIGHLY recommend the Peloton Tread for moms. It is so convenient when you have little ones to just jump on the treadmill before everyone wakes up, during show time, nap times, or maybe play time. When I had a newborn, I would put the newborn to sleep in a small crib right next to the treadmill, so I could pat their back or they could hopefully smell me to stay asleep longer. Because there is such a huge range of classes for the treadmill, and you have the hikes, bootcamps, walks and more on the screen, it is really a great workout piece even if you aren’t a runner. You may not love running, but when you do the hikes or walks, you still get a workout in that is really enjoyable, and you can pair that with strength training. I was even a little late to the Peloton scene. I wish I would’ve jumped on it earlier because I’ve enjoyed it so much.

The Peloton Treadmill is super high-quality, and there is so much it offers, that I never get bored! It isn’t just another exercise bike or a simple treadmill. No, the Peloton Tread represents a leap towards a future where your home gym isn’t just about the equipment but about an entire ecosystem. Integrating the renowned Peloton app with strength training sessions, scenic runs, and even compatibility with my Apple Watch, this smart treadmill seemed like the missing piece in my home workout puzzle. With its safety key and on-demand classes, I envisioned the Peloton Tread as not just an addition to my living room, but as a cornerstone of my personal fitness journey. And let’s not forget, the promise of a seamless experience with the high-end treadmill features like guided workouts on the HD touchscreen. It’s like having a personal trainer, but in my own private space, truly encapsulating the innovation Peloton is known for.

Key Takeaways:

Seamless Integration: The Peloton Tread is not just a piece of equipment but a complete fitness ecosystem.
Safety and Variety: Features like the safety key, along with access to various classes, make workouts safe and diverse.
High-Tech Fitness at Home: With the Peloton app, HD touchscreen, and compatibility with devices like the Apple Watch, it brings a futuristic home gym experience.

My Favorite Peloton Tread Instructors (Right Now!):

I have not tried every instructor because I’ve found my top 5, and I tend to just stick with them. Between the 5 of them, there is always a run I want to do, or pretty much like! These instructors are largey hip/hop current music focused, with a love for 2000s hip hop. This tends to be my favorite music to run too, so I found the instructors that also like the same music as me! I also like their style of running. I typically do interval running because it makes the time go by faster, and HIIT running is so hard! I do a HIIT run maybe once a week because it kills me, but I should be doing it more. Here are my favorite instructors right now.

Kirsten Ferguson:

Kirsten is queen of the music. I just love al lher play lists, and I really enjoy the way she programs her runs. She always has a great mix of speed ups, jogging, hill runs, endurance runs and sprints mixed in one run. I typically do her 20-30 min runs. I have yet to do a 45 minute run. Mentally those are long for me, but I often do a 30 min run followed by an extra 10 min run. Those seem to work better for my brain. Kirsten has a great story of getting through injury and back into running, how she became a Peloton instructor, and more that she gives tidbits in while you’re running with her. She also a bit of attitude, and I respond really well to it!

Jess Sims

Jess is your glazed donut girl! She always gets you to your “glazed donut” look in the warm up, and let’s you do a little tantrum before the run really starts. She has you shake it out, throw a tantrum, then get right into it. She is sweet and spicy at the same time, all with super fun music. She does a great mix of hills, jogs, runs and sprints in one run, which really helps the time fly by.

Robin Arzon

Robin is a queen! She is always tell you to sharpen your crown and wear your jewels because you are royalty. She has a grit to her that she shares in a very nurturing, tough love way. She loves 90s hip hop, so I’m sold on that alone, but she pushses you to push yourself. She tells you not to waste your time and go for it. She also has amazing running stories of all her ultras and marathons, and her Burning Man stories are really good too. She is full of heat, and I’ve done some of my best runs with her. I also LOVE her on the bike. I do her rides all the time (along with Cody, Kendal and Ali Love!).

Alex Touissant

Okay, I was so excited when Alex hopped on the tread. His Bike classes are some of my FAVORITE! The Club Bangers rides are like the only ones I like to do, and then he brough the club to the treadmill. He doesn’t have as many runs, and doesn’t come out with as many, but I’ve done every single one. He usually does a long endurance section, followed by some intervals and springs, which really makes the time fly by. The key on the treadmill is to not feel like you’re on there forever, and he does a great job of that. I definitely suggest doing all of his club bangers runs!

Adrian Williams

Okay Adrian is funny, kinda laid back, and does a lot of live DJ runs. These are fun and he interacts and flirts with the runners in the studios, and it really entertaining. He also talks about his mama a lot, and he’s fairly self-depricating which is also funny. He isn’t too intense with his runs, but one of my favorite ways to get some miles in. He has much more intense Tread Bootcamp classes where he is really in his element. I haven’t tried his thunder 45 classes yet, but they look intense and amazing at the same time!

Bonus: Becs Gentry

Becs is actually the first intsructor I ran with using the Peloton App and a treadmill. I really like her style of runs, and she is hard. She pushes your paces and her running expertise is wow. I’m actually in a Facebook group for everyone that loves to run with Becs, but I can’t always get on board with her music choices. So I love some good beats, and sometimes I just hate her play lists. That is a me thing, so I wanted to put her on here because I know her runs are really good and challenging if you are working to push your pace and train for a race.

The Peloton Tread Design:

When I first laid eyes on the Peloton Tread, it was clear that this wasn’t just any exercise bike turned treadmill. The compact design stood out immediately – it’s relatively small and neat, fitting seamlessly into my living room without overtaking the space. I actually have mine in my bedroom right next to my Peloton Bike, and it doesn’t take much space at all! This is a far cry from the bulky machines that mark the NordicTrack Commercial series or the traditional gym equipment feel. Yet, what truly caught my attention was the huge HD touchscreen perched at the front. It felt like stepping into the future of fitness, where every metric, from my heart rate to my incline range, was right before my eyes in vibrant clarity.

However, the Peloton Tread isn’t without its compromises. The sleek, carbon steel frame lacks a foldable design, which means what space it occupies, it occupies permanently. I did have a small, foldable treadmill before my Peloton, and I NEVER folded it up and put it away, so I knew it wasn’t a huge deal that the Peloton Tread doesn’t fold.

The Peloton Tread Set Up and Delivery:

I remember the day my new Peloton Tread arrived, and the delivery guys took care of everything. I didn’t have to do anything, and they calibrated it and made sure everything was working before I got on. They did have to carry it up stairs too, and because it comes in pieces, it wasn’t too bad. They took all the boxes and once it was set up, I was on my way!

What impressed me was that, from unboxing to the first run, it was just a matter of minutes. The initial setup required me to connect to Wi-Fi and log into my Peloton account. If I had any doubts, the touch screen on the Peloton Tread made navigation seamless, almost like using a smart treadmill for the first time. The delivery guys made sure I was logged in and on before they left.

First Peloton Run:

I was so happy to see my instructors running right in front of me, rather than on my app! It makes such a difference! And the runs that have studio runners too are really fun. There’s something about the extra energy that I really respond too. I also had to guess speeds and incline based on the treadmill I was on before, so now I could actually run according to what was perscribed. The knobs are super easy to use also. I like rolling forward to the next speed or incline, and the jump buttons allow you to jump to higher speeds and inclines faster, which area really good for HIIT runs. The Tread as a sleek user interface, and the touch screen was like something out of a sci-fi movie – a massive HD touchscreen that responded to my every swipe and tap with zero lag. I could dive into a world of Peloton’s classes, selecting anything from high-energy bootcamp classes to serene scenic runs. It felt like having a personal trainer and a gateway to scenic landscapes right in my living room. They thought of everything – down to the small detail of a red line on the incline dial to mark your progress. It was a game-changer for me, making every workout feel tailored and seamless. Truly, Peloton has set a new industry standard with this smart treadmill, integrating both form and function in a way that respects the modern design of a home gym.

Price Tag vs. Gym Membership

When I set out on this review, I kept turning over one question in my mind: Is the Peloton Tread and its monthly subscription really worth it when stacked against the cost of a traditional gym membership? At first glance, the ledger seems to tilt heavily towards extravagance. The Tread’s price tag can really be offputting, but there are some great finance options, so your monthly payment is like the same as a gym membership, and then you get to keep your Peloton Treadmill forever. I personally don’t ever use a gym any more because I don’t need the childcare with the treadmill in my bedroom, and the extra strength workouts and my Bike. I literally have everything I need at my house, and my boys are really accostomed to me working out or doing my runs now. They actually look forward to it because it usually means they get tech time or tv time. I do not miss the days of trying to keep them busy in a stroller while running.

Soemtimes just driving to the gym can be a chore, and now there’s no excuse. If you can get yourself on a routine, where you run at the same time every day too, you will start to look foward to it. I typically run in the mornings before my kids wake up, or after I drop the older three off at school. If I don’t get my morning run in now, I feel like I missed seeing my friends (my favorite instructors!), and my day is off. The only reason to pay for a gym is iff they have amazing classes you really want to take, or they have amazing child care that your kids love. My kids have never loved going to childcare at any gym, and I like being able to see what my kids are doing, so it just made a lot of sense for me to have a treadmill at home.

It is a little annoying that you have to pay for the memberhip on top of the Peloton. I personally think it should be included for a year or two with the purchase of equipment, but I love it enough to pay for it. Maybe down the road they will offer it as included, but they do continue to add more artist serious, programs, upgrades and entertainment options, so you still feel like you are getting a lot. The extra artist serious are fun, they have a lot of new years classes with top 50 countdowns, and they’ve added Netflix if you want to just chill and run or walk!

Music, Motivation and Entertainment:

One of the best parts about hopping on my Peloton Tread for a long run or a high-intensity interval session isn’t just the cutting-edge, high-end treadmill experience or the scenic runs that whisk me away to breathtaking landscapes. It’s the music and motivation that truly elevate the experience. With a few taps on the HD touchscreen, I dive into the world of Peloton’s classes, guided by front-facing stereo speakers that fill the room, carrying the invigorating beats and the inspirational words of my favorite Peloton instructor. I have the power to tailor my auditory landscape, adjusting the mix between the energizing playlists and the instructor’s voice. Some days, it’s the music that pushes me to hit those higher speeds or the steep incline dials, pushing my limits on the compact design of this smart treadmill. Other days, it’s the motivational talks that keep my legs moving, reminding me why I started my fitness journey. This personal touch in choosing my workout’s soundtrack makes every sweat session on my Peloton Tread feel like a new adventure, driving me towards my fitness goals, one beat at a time. I also haven’t even gotten into the new entertainment options. I am really excited to just walk and watch a netflix show at the same time. Sometimes it feels good to check out with a good show and get some steps in.

Join OnePeloton: Community & Competition

Peloton is also such a great community. I’ve joined some amazing Peloton Mama Facebook groups, and some groups for people who love to run with Becs. You can connect with members on and off the platform, and find people local to connect with. Peloton does a lot of challenges and programs that you can do with others or jupm into them by yourself. You never feel alone with Peloton. You don’t even know how excited I get when I see someone wearing Peloton gear. You can immediately connect with someone on their favorite workouts and instructors. Especially as a mom, if you are working out at home by yourself and working hard to raise little ones, Peloton is a nice way to feel a part of something without having to really committ and show up to everything. Joining the Peloton community transformed my home workouts from lonely slogs to thrilling races and shared accomplishments. In each class on my Peloton treadmill, I’m not just running; I’m competing, cheering, and scaling new heights with countless others. When I see I am close to beating a record for myself, it pushes me so much. I literally run so hard if I can see that I’m almost to my best run. You can watch your stats with Peloton so much easier than just watching your time per mile. There is the output stat, which is basically how hard and fast you run. This pushes you to add more hills and resistance, while keeping your speed, and ultimately making you a much faster runner.

The class structure, ingeniously designed, offers a broad spectrum from heart-pumping indoor cycling classes to scenic runs and bootcamp classes, ensuring you’re never short of options or motivation. What’s magical is the interactive leaderboard—seeing my name climb as I push the pace, giving and receiving high fives, it fosters a fierce but friendly competition. This camaraderie extends beyond the treadmill; workouts turn into shared victories, as we all chase our personal bests but also celebrate every member’s progress. It’s this sense of community among users that makes me excited to lace up and log on for every session, making the Peloton more than just an exercise bike or treadmill; it’s a gateway to an enthusiastic, global fitness community.

The Verdict: Is the Peloton Tread for You?

If you’ve been on the fence about whether the Peloton Tread is right for you, let’s break it down. On the plus side, this high-end treadmill brings a gym-quality experience into the comfort of your home, complete with guided workouts, on-demand classes, and scenic runs that keep your training sessions fresh and motivating. The HD touchscreen and front-facing speakers offer a level of immersion that can make a long run feel like a breeze, and the compact design means it fits nicely in your living room or home gym. However, the monthly subscription cost and initial high price point could give you pause, and the lack of a foldable design might be a consideration for smaller spaces. Ultimately, if you’re passionate about keeping fit and crave that interactive, connected experience with a community, the Peloton Tread could indeed be worth the investment. For others, who might not use the wide range of classes or prioritize strength training over cardio, a less expensive option might align better with your fitness goals and budget.

I have a lot of free workout plans and nutrition guides you can pair with your Peloton Tread, where you can have all the tools you need to set yourself up for success!