Yesterday was a banner day for my running! I know it was a Monday and nothing exciting happens on Mondays, but I had two really cool running related opportunities. I got to test an AlterG Anti Gravity Treadmill at lunch time and to do a small Q & A with 2014 Boston Marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo, at Nike Running in Bucktown!
I heard about people using the AlterG treadmill in physical therapy and for pro athletes, but I did not expect to try one anytime soon. I was contacted by my friends at Outside PR to see if I wanted to try it myself. Yes, please!
Before I tell you what I thought, I will tell you a bit about the AlterG!
The AlterG’s patented Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology was developed at NASA. Integrated into a treadmill, it applies a “comfortable and uniform” force, that enables you to run with a full range of motion at a reduced body weight. The treadmill has some amazing features and benefits. It helps you to:
- Reduce gravity’s impact by selecting any weight between 20% and 100% of your body weight by 1% increments
- Rehabilitate lower extremity injuries with less pain and less impact
- Improve mobility, strength and safety for those with neurological conditions
- Provide a safe way to lose weight and exercise more intensively while unweighted
- Train without pain and reduce the stress to joints and muscles and improved your form and technique
- Recover effectively and with less pain after training or competition
Pretty cool, no? Learn more on their website.
I went to Midwest Orthopedics and had the opportunity to meet Chad from AlterG to test the treadmill. He gave me the overview of the cool, space age looking machine. Then, he brought me a pair of special shorts that zip into the top of the gravity chamber. We went over all of the features and I got ready to run. Basically, I zipped in and then the machine weighed me, filled with air and then calibrated to 100% of my body weight. (Happily, it did not display my weight – they changed that from early versions.)
Once the machine was calibrated, Chad started me at 90% of my body weight to get the swing of things. At first, it was a bit strange and I had to get used to the shorts being attached to the machine and being “zipped in.” Then, he moved me to 85% and I moved the pace to 8 minute miles (7.5 mph) which is a comfortable ‘mill pace for me. He explained that I should move the pace up .6 mph faster to accomodate for the 15% “weight loss” to get the same training benefit. I moved the machine to 8.2 and got in the groove. I was able to work on my form – especially the forward lean.
Chad explained that the machine is excellent for recovery and also for training longer without the pounding. I ran for 20 minutes, but I felt like I could have kept up at the pace for a good long while. While I was running, Chad told me some awesome stories about brain injury patients and people with immobility who are able to use the machine to truly advance their rehab. Amazing.
Want to try this for yourself? AlterG has an awesome program running now – no pun intended. Find an AlterG near you and buy 2 – 30 minute sessions for $50 and get one free (A $75 value). Chad told me about some runners that were investing in these for their own training or sharing with their running clubs. If only we did not live in an apartment… I would love one of these babies for myself!
Please note: I was given the opportunity to try the AlterG at no cost in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
If that was not cool enough for one day, in the evening, I had the opportunity to go to Nike Running in Bucktown to participate in a blogger Q & A with Rita Jeptoo! Rita Jeptoo is planning to try to defend her 2013 Chicago Marathon victory this year, so she stopped by to say hi and participate in some Q & A.
A few local bloggers got the VIP treatment and got some nice Nike gear for attending the event, too. When Rita arrived, she was shy and softspoken, but answered our questions with a smile. We asked about her training and how she was feeling after such a strong start to the year. She told us about her regimen. It sounds like she works very hard, but she truly enjoys her profession. We asked what her favorite marathons have been. She smiled and told us “Boston” and “New York.” She likes hills like me. She did say that the crowds in Chicago made her feel like a hometown favorite, but since it is so flat, you have to run so fast the entire time and that is “hard.” She’s not wrong.
We then joined the larger running club group and learned more about her training and history. She used to run 10K four times and day to get to and from school and to and from lunch! Almost a marathon, five days a week! She also said that she did many running events in school because she was “the only one” on the team. That is some team. Her advice to us, “cook and eat healthy food to fuel our bodies like athletes.” Solid!
She was so approachable. We took a group photo after the event and then we had a quick moment to snap individual photos. And then this happened:
I showed Rita my photo with Meb from a few years ago and said that now my championship collection was complete. She beamed. Thank you Nike Running and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for this opportunity! It was awesome.
I know who I will be cheering for on October 12th! Who is with me?
PS. Don’t forget my active giveaways!