Presenting the Treadmill That Made Me Not Hate Running
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At the beginning of this year, I made one big resolution for myself: I would commit to moving at least one mile per day. It didn’t matter if it was a run, a walk, or bopping from bar to bar while day drinking. I wanted to commit to a goal that encouraged me to be active every single day without it being too, too strenuous.
But come early Jan, I realized there were two major issues. For one, I live in the midwest, which means the weather wasn't (and still isn't) exactly conducive for outdoor, hot-girl podcast walks. And secondly, I didn’t want to commit to a gym membership because, hi, global pandemic. So how was I supposed to get my one mile a day in? Insert: The Bowflex Treadmill 22.
This beauty came into my life right when I needed it. And while I did receive this treadmill for free, courtesy of Bowflex, in exchange for this review (I know, I’m blessed), free or not, it has totally changed my workout game. Allow me to explain why.
The Pros
1. It's nice and wide.
The treadmill’s running path—aka the space I was actually moving on—is 22-inches wide and 60-inches long, which left a ton of room for my stride. This was great because my uncoordinated ass can’t run in a straight line, and I didn’t want to accidentally slip off the treadmill. (Yes, this has happened before. No, I’m not ready to talk about it.)
2. Four words: "Comfort Tech deck cushioning."
This basically means it won’t leave your joints feeling wobbly and weak. Trust me, as someone who has an 80-year-old’s knees, its bouncy, padded deck was refreshingly painless.
3. The touch screen perfectly aligns with your face.
Basically, there's no squinting or neck strain when I wanted to watch Succession (or any other show) while logging my daily mile.
4. She's got range.
The speed goes up to 12 mph and the incline goes from -5 percent to 20 percent. So, yes, this worked for me when I wanted to be a 12-3-30 baddie, a 6.0 mph baddie, or a 1.0 mph baddie.
5. It has an app.
Bowflex's JRNY app is compatible with the treadmill, and it’s a big component of what makes it so great. Through the app, you can connect the tread to streaming services like HBO Max, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu, find trainer-led classes for all skill levels, and use the “Explore the world” function to run wherever (I chose Rome and Chicago). In other words, it's got plenty of distractions.
It also offers a complimentary AI fitness assessment so the system can offer personalized workouts. Here's how it worked for me: After logging in with my free JRNY account (all Bowflex treadmill purchases come with a free one-year subscription, but after that, it's $149 annually), I was directed to the 15-minute assessment where I spent some time walking, jogging, and "push" running.
When I was finished, JRNY created personalized running workouts based on my performance. There's a good mix of interval training and steady jogs. It gauged my fitness level well, and I felt challenged during these workouts, which is about as close as I'm going to get to hiring a personal trainer without actually hiring a personal trainer.
When I wasn’t in the mood to do a personalized workout, I used JRNY’s “manual” function to set my own pace *and* watch Succession simultaneously. But if you don't love watching a movie or TV while running, they also offer some fire playlists.
Lastly, JRNY keeps a “journal” of your workouts, so you can go back and see how your previous sessions compared. I’m a numbers person, so I loved seeing my mile time improve.
The Cons
1. You can’t watch live TV.
Honestly, sometimes a girl just wants to stroll while watching The Bachelor. And even though the JRNY app lets you stream plenty of TV shows and movies via other services, I really missed the live TV experience you get with treadmills at the gym.
2. It's big.
The Bowflex makes my second bedroom look tiny as hell. It’s 85-inches long, 39.6-inches wide, 70-inches tall, and weighs almost 340 pounds. Obviously, I highly recommend you measure the room before adding to cart.
3. Sometimes there are sound issues.
There were a few times when I was working out and the volume from the show I was watching stopped working. I figured out this most likely happened because the apps on the treadmill needed to be updated or the JRNY app itself needed to be updated. This was annoying when it happened mid-Gossip Girl drama, but staying up-to-date with the software will help you avoid this problem.
The Verdict
I was never a treadmill girl before the Bowflex 22—and I didn't even run that often. But with all its great features and a set-up that doesn't completely kill my joints, how could I not?
It may be a little on the pricier side at $2700, but if you have the means, this will be the best purchase for your mental and physical health.
I’ve been able to stick with my resolution because, as it turns out, it’s a lot easier to get one mile in when you don’t have to worry about the temps outside—or contracting COVID-19 because people at the gym aren’t wearing their masks properly. Win, win!
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