Disclaimer: I received a Zwift RunPod to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!
I’m going to start this post with the simplest question, a question which I have been asked by family and friends when I mention it - What is Zwift?
To put it simply, Zwift is a virtual training platform, that helps to alleviate the boredom that can usually be associated with running on a treadmill, or biking on a trainer. When you log in the game drops you into one of six virtual worlds, where you can run or bike along various paths. There are even training programs and guided workouts in the program, that will bring you through a workout step by step.
While I had been using Zwift since getting my bike trainer last fall for workouts on my bike, I had never tried the running function, largely because I didn’t have the necessary equipment to use zwift for running. So when the opportunity to test a Zwift RunPod came up through BibRave, I signed up. The RunPod would enable me to use the Zwift app with my treadmill, and try out the the Zwift platform for running
When I got my RunPod in the mail, it came with stickers! Okay, that was not my initial intent for that sentence, but it did come with stickers and I was excited about it. Lets try that again - When I got my RunPod in the mail, I opened the box immediately to check it out. I was still limited in my running at the time due to a knee injury, but I wanted to get my new toy all set up.
I popped the RunPod and the battery that it came with out of its box, and read the instructions on how to open the pod. I didn’t want to accidentally break it, so I also watched a video on how to open it. Once it was all open I was able to install the battery, and then install it on my sneakers. It was a simple process, and once it was on my sneaker it could easily be moved to another shoe, just by twisting the back housing off.
About a week passed before I was able to get on the treadmill, and I was excited to try out Zwift as a runner! I already had the Zwift app downloaded on my iPad, and it was a simple tap to switch it from bike mode to run mode. The first thing that needed to be done in the run mode was calibrating my foot pod. This involved setting my “standard” paces, and then running at three paces - one easy, one medium, and one hard. In retrospect, I probably should have taken a minute to warm up before jumping into the hard pace that the calibration called for, but I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I clicked the “calibrate” button. After the calibration was complete I did an easy jog for a few minutes, but saved my first workout experience for a group run that I was set to attend.
As a part of the BibRavePro campaign for this product, there was a weekly run set up for the Pros to take part in - I was excited to get to “run” with my team mates, who I often get to chat with online about running, but who I have never actually met! The runs that were setup for us were interval workouts, and the first week I had Zwift all loaded up and ready to go about 10 minutes before the workout was set to start. 5 minutes before the workout started I got a pop up, asking if I wanted to join the group. When I clicked yes, it whisked me away to one of the other Zwift worlds, and dropped me into a virtual waiting zone as I waited for the event to begin.
The structure of the group workout usually consisted of a warmup, and then about a half hour of intervals, before entering a cooldown. The intervals could be tough at times, but Zwift offered guidance on the paces and motivational quotes across the screen. It also is always cool to get to check out the virtual world that you’re running though! I loved the structure of the workouts, and the team mentality- it’s great to have virtual accountability buddies.
Now, I think the software side of Zwift is great when it comes to the app/program that you use for running, but I had a few technical difficulties with the runpod that I attached to my sneaker. I found that despite calibrating the pod, my paces often did not match between my treadmills reading, and the in game speed that my food pod evaluated. At times, I also had an issue where my runpod would say it was connected, but when I started running my avatar went nowhere. It seems like they are just a few kinks that need to be worked out, and I will continue to use Zwift on running mode to spice up my indoor runs as the temperatures drop.
Overall, I am looking forward to taking advantage of the Zwift app going forward, and hoping that as I continue to use the workout feature, I get stronger and faster.
