Roam149 is one of the latest gyms to open in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Inside, there’s a wall lined with gear like weights, Bosus, and a squat rack.
Brittany Chang/Insider
On the other side of the small gym, there are rows of treadmills that are individually separated by a thin “wall.”
Brittany Chang/Insider
These aren’t your typical treadmills available at everyday gym.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Sounds intriguing? I agree. And that’s why I decided to visit for a Wednesday afternoon workout.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I had my doubts (and by that, I mean my confusions). But now that I’ve tried the tech out, I’m hooked.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The use of virtual reality in fitness isn’t a new concept, but until Roam149, I had never visited a conventional gym that integrated this tech into its equipment.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Source: Insider
I work out at least five days a week and often find myself bored with strict monotonous workout routines, so variety is definitely an important factor for me.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Luckily, variety is built into Roam149’s workouts, which center around an “immersive” treadmill.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Sure there are plenty of treadmill-driven fitness boutiques around New York City.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But none have Roam149’s pièce de résistance, its “versafit pods.”
Brittany Chang/Insider
I’ve personally never enjoyed running on a treadmill. “Just run outside,” I used to say despite knowing treadmills put less stress on runners’ joints.
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
But when the weather is blistering hot or insufferably cold, running outdoors can be intolerable for many people.
Brittany Chang/Insider
A normal treadmill will suffice. But many experienced runners will tell you it’s not the same experience as running outdoors, especially if you’re a trail runner who likes battling the terrain’s uphills and downhills.
Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images
That’s where Roam149 comes in.
Brittany Chang/Insider
To create a more immersive run, every treadmill faces a large monitor and is separated from its neighboring equipment with tall black barriers to “create an illusion of light flow,” Sid Raman, the founder of Roam149 and a passionate trail runner.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Raman, who has a background in robotics, thought of the idea behind the treadmill in July 2020.
Brittany Chang/Insider
“It was my goal to see if I can bring the person as close to being immersed into the scene [as possible],” Raman said.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Runners can use the rail-mounted touch screen to select a course, whether it be the full New York City Marathon route, a tropical beach, or even the moon.
Brittany Chang/Insider
From there, all controls are managed through arm movements via the wall-mounted camera. There’s no need to look down to select a specific button.
Brittany Chang/Insider
For example, to start the course or increase the treadmill’s speed, raise your right arm to a 90-degree angle.
Brittany Chang/Insider
To stop, extend both arms out.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And unlike the traditional treadmill, there’s no need to manually adjust the incline or decline. Roam149’s platform automatically tilts to mimic the uphill and downhill slopes you see on the monitor as you’re running.
Brittany Chang/Insider
It’s these shifts that make running on the treadmill feel like you’re running the actual course.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I was amazed by how gently the treadmill moved with the terrain. During the moon path, it felt like I was actually running on a rocky environment, just without the fear of twisting my ankle.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And as I navigated the map and its slopes, I felt the uphills and downhills changing as quickly as I could move.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The flat sandals kept me on the balls of my feet. And the morning after, I woke up with unusually sore calves.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Outside of this virtual space, running in Manhattan can be tricky. You have to battle the packs of slow walkers who take up an entire sidewalk, streetlights, and worst of all, severe harassment.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But at Roam149, I didn’t have to deal with any of this …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and I was still able to run a dynamic course that was more entertaining than my typical running path around the city.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Being able to explore new trails — whether it be underwater or through a Tibetan monastery — kept the run engaging, fun, and game-like. And that’s not an easy task for people who enjoy long runs.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Don’t get me wrong — I still love my morning jogs outside.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But Roam149 showed me a side of VR-integrated running I never knew could exist. It felt like I was experiencing what could be the future of the fitness industry.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The gym turns running into a game with limitless possibilities.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And you’ll never be bored: The team can add trails and courses “by the dozen” monthly, Raman said.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And these possibilities are endless. Roam149’s designers and engineers can create whatever trail your heart desires (they already did the moon, after all).
Brittany Chang/Insider
But if you’re more interested in the multiplayer gamification of fitness, Roam149 also has the perfect team-building platform for your interests.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Every course has two options: a pre-set trail or a free run with no path.
Brittany Chang/Insider
When you’re on a free run, you can explore the entire map by changing your direction using intuitive gestures (pointing your arm in the direction you want to run in).
Brittany Chang/Insider
And if you want to race other pod-goers, you can go into the multiplayer mode to see the other runners on your screen.
Brittany Chang/Insider
“What we want to achieve is bringing together exercise, fitness, and entertainment,” Raman said, noting that he wants to integrate more tasks like jumping to make it more game-like.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And it’s not just running.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Roam149 also has “fusion” group classes starting at $40.
Brittany Chang/Insider
These classes integrate strength and bodyweight workouts, yoga, and meditation with sound healing and color therapy to create a diverse workout that targets cardio, strength, and relaxation.
Brittany Chang/Insider
