Zwift, The Treadmill Running App You Can Take With You

Are you one of those individuals that constantly finds yourself on the road? Maybe you travel for work, maybe you just like to travel, or maybe you are constantly visiting friends and family out of state. 

Whatever the situation is, there is no denying that traveling can make things tough. It might be fun and enjoyable at times, but it makes taking care of yourself more difficult. Not only in terms of hygiene, but in terms of fitness as well. 

You combine this with all the eating on the go and it will be easy to see how one could easily get out of shape. Well, this doesn’t have to be the case anymore because there is a new on the go fitness app called Zwift and now Zwift is available for runners because they have now made their app compatible with treadmills with their latest product, the Zwift treadmill footpods.

The good thing is, you no longer have to own a Zwift treadmill just to get started. With their foot pods you can get started on any treadmill at any gym.

What Is Zwift?

Zwift is a revolutionary new working and gaming app that is going to transform the way you are working out. Whether you haven’t been working or slacking off, this app is going to completely change everything for you. 

Not only will it make your workout funner, but it is going to make them more effective. Simply put, Zwift is where it is at when it comes to fitness. 

All that aside, Zwift really isn’t something that is all that new. In fact, it was founded and released in 2014 as a massive multiplayer online game focused solely through cycling with indoor exercise bikes, not yet available for treadmill runners.

The game allowed players to cycle through 7 different virtual worlds. It was available on devices like PC, iOS, and Android.

Regardless to say, the thing was an instant hit. It wasn’t long before the app started gaining major recognition. By 2018 the number had risen to more than half a million. And, this is why the company decided to extend the app to include running so that people could use Zwift with their treadmills at home. 

The Zwift treadmill app is still in beta, but it sure is looking more than promising to be a huge success with indoor treadmill runners. Zwift’s treadmill running programs were specifically designed by elite coaches from around the world to ensure that you become the best version of yourself possible. It was designed to remove the guesswork. And, the best part is that you can customize it to your specific fitness level. Are you a fast runner? Are you a slow treadmill walker? Or anything in between? Zwift has got you covered.

It doesn’t matter if you are just starting or have been running for years, Zwift is going to make the entire process all that more exciting. While the app is still in beta, it pretty much has everything covered.

Maybe you are prepping for an upcoming 5k. No problem, because the app has that covered. It gives you the option to go at it alone or join a group as you run in the real world while you watch your avatar make its way through the virtual world. The worlds are designed to keep you engaged while talking you through varying environments.

You can explore everything from jungles to just sprinting along the countryside. Whatever your pleasure is, Zwift has you covered. 

Excited? Wondering how to get started and what you need?

Do I Need A Zwift Treadmill? Or Does It Work With Any Treadmill?

This is where things get kind of confusing, but not to worry because everything will be broken down for you here. The short answer to this question is yes, but the best answer would probably be no. What exactly does this mean? Well, it means that Zwift will work with any treadmill.

However, you will not get 100% compatibility. This means that you won’t be privy to all the awesome features. You simply won’t get the best experience possible if you do not have a Zwift compatible treadmill, but you can still use the app and still enjoy most of its features. And, while just a fraction of Zwift is awesome, if you want to experience it to the fullest, you will want to take advantage of everything that it has to offer.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to run out and buy a new treadmill or a treadmill at all. You will, however, need to purchase a small device known as a foot pod. Footpods are small devices that allow you to measure and broadcast your speed, cadence, and distance.

These devices can sync up with your Zwift app via Bluetooth. Foot pods have also been around for some time now, but the newer versions are the ones that will calibrate with this app.

There is one slight disadvantage and that disadvantage is the inaccuracy. If you simply change running shoes, you will need to recalibrate. You will also need to ensure that the pod is attached in the same position every time you run.

Why Is Zwift Good For People Who Travel?

Simply put, Zwift is good for anyone, but it is especially good for the constant traveler. And, the main reason for this is because it is so versatile. You can literally take it with you anywhere. Connect anywhere, monitor your results anywhere, get inspired anywhere, and best of all, you can use it anywhere. You can even use it indoors on a treadmill if you choose to do so. In fact, Zwift will make indoor training all that much funner and exciting. The foot pod sends all the data from an accelerometer to the app.

As mentioned above, Zwift was designed by some of the most knowledgeable running coaches in the world. They got together and came up with a fitness plan and routines to help beginners from long time runners to improve on what they already know. With Zwift, there will be no more excuses. You can literally carry the entire setup in one small travel bag, purse, or briefcase.

In addition to this, Zwift allows you to lose yourself. It doesn’t matter how far away you are from your family or what kind of day you’ve had, Zwift will virtually transfer you to environments of your choosing. 

What Do I Need To Get Started With Zwift?

So, right now you are probably pretty excited and raring to go. This is a good thing, as you should be. However, you won’t be able to just run out there and get started. There are some things that you are going to need to do and get in check beforehand.

Luckily, there isn’t too much that you need to get started. And, when you have everything in hand, it won’t be hard or take you long at all to get set up. As you have probably already guessed, you are going to need the app first and foremost.

After this, you are going to need foot pods. Once you have the app and the foot pods, it will be as simple as syncing the two devices together via Bluetooth.

You should also be aware of the fact that Zwift also has a companion app for smartphones. This companion app acts as a separate display for workouts, a Bluetooth connection bridge, and an event interface.

All of this might sound a bit complicated, but the official website does an incredible good job of laying everything out for you. In addition to this, this companion app is something that you need to get started. It is just there as extra incentive if you want to take advantage of it.

Choosing Your Zwift Treadmill Foot Pods

When it comes right down to it, the value of running on Zwift really comes from how much you achieve. And, you simply aren’t going to know how much you achieved if you can’t accurately monitor your running. Did you stretch the goal for today? Maybe you came in a little under distance? These are things that you are going to need to know if you want to track, meet, and exceed your fitness goal. You simply cannot do that without the right foot pod. So, what is the right foot pod?

First and foremost, you are going to need to buy one of the newer treadmill foot pod models. I would recommend that you get a foot pod made in 2020 or newer but any pod that was designed and developed in the last 2 years will do, it will just not be as accurate as the newest ones. Secondly, the treadmill foot pod is obviously going to need Bluetooth. If you don’t have Bluetooth then you won’t be able to sync it up with the app. That aside, there are some other key features that you are going to want to consider when shopping for a foot pod.

Weight

Weight is sometimes a good thing when running, but you do not want something that is going to deter your progress. You pretty much want something that you won’t even notice or feel. That being said, most of these devices are incredibly lightweight and can easily be pinned to your shoes for maximum benefit. 

Functionality

Choosing the right foot pod that is going to fully serve your needs might take time. It might even take more than one purchase and return, so make sure this is something that you are looking for in a manufacturer when choosing a device. You want your foot pod to become a tool that you can trust and rely on. It will be able to track and capture your real-time cadence.

Waterproof

The thing about running outdoors is you never know what you are going to run into. You might get caught in the rain. This is why you want a device that is rugged and waterproof. A device that you know will be able to withstand punishment. In addition to this, you are going to be sweating, so you simply want something you don’t have to worry about.

Conclusion

Staying in shape is important for you, your health, and your family. Just because you are constantly on the road it doesn’t mean that you can get or stay in shape. With the Zwift, there will be no more excuses. You can see that it doesn’t take much to get started, and once you get started it will be easier than ever to stay motivated.