Running on the streets of New York can be risky, but the first indoor running studio in the city’s history is helping thousands of people to get their daily dose of aerobics in a safe place.
According to local news affiliate Fox 5, Mile High Run Club, a group treadmill studio on East 4th St., has expanded so quickly that its owner is opening a second location in Manhattan.
Debora Warner, founder of Mile High Run Club, knew she had an uphill climb to succeed in the competitive world of fitness. With some help from friends, family, and angel investors, the treadmill studio has exceeded her wildest expectations.
The fitness guru said she started the club to take the “I” out of running on treadmills, adding that group fitness classes allow runners to feed on the energy of others and push themselves harder than they would on their own.
Mile High Run Club’s intense aerobic workouts cater to all types of people, including runners, non-runners, children, and the elderly. Running is especially beneficial to those in their golden years, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that people age 65 or older should get two hours and thirty minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity per week.
For those who aren’t quite ready for 150 minutes of intense aerobic action, Warner suggests trying her Dash 28 class. It’s only 28 minutes long and covers just two to three miles, making it ideal for beginners.
Due to its sudden success, the new group treadmill studio has garnered comparisons to another rapidly-growing fitness center founded in NYC: SoulCycle.
According to 24/7 Wall St., the indoor cycling studio has grown into a community of more than 300,000 riders in 38 studios across the country. SoulCycle has become so popular that it recently filed for its initial public offering (IPO) with the SEC.
While Warner knows her treadmill studio isn’t quite on SoulCycle’s level yet, she’s happy with how much her company has grown in such a short period of time. She said her club has seen over 60,000 visits from 15,000 unique customers in just one year.
The club’s founder is particularly proud of its equipment, which is much more comfortable to run on than normal treadmills. Mile High Run Club uses Woodway treadmills, which Warner said are built like tanks and make customers feel like they’re running on a trail — perfect for runners who love the outdoors but can’t always get there.
NYC residents can try their first class at Mile High Run Club for $25. Single classes start at $32, and an unlimited monthly plan goes for $199.
