Anyone here knowledgeable about Orangetheory Fitness? How does it stack up to other programs?

For some reason many of my non-runner friends insist that I try it.

Meh

Grassrunner wrote:

I've had a few people mention it to me with enthusiasm about their ability to regain fitness and lose weight. Could it have any benefit for distance runners as a supplemental activity?

Meh.

It's great for suburban moms but there is no programming or periodization scheme. All workouts are some form of HIIT.

Better would be to contact an actual S&C and get something written to work with your running program.

ok, thanks for your thoughts!

This is another company that hires "part time employees " so they dont had to pay benifits. Classes have disinterested instructors . I was one of them. I used my positions for dating hot women. offereing personal training that leads to sex is the main objective .

There’s nothing special about the workouts or science behind them that hasn’t been done before, but they market their brand like no other and they make the workouts and sessions feel special so people are more likely to commit to them and stick with it. Plus there is a social aspect to it and people I’ve met who are into OT are REALLY into it like it’s a badge of honor.

My wife runs more than I do and she went for a class once bc her friend was newly dating a trainer there yadda yadda yadda...

It was all based on hitting some "orange theory" HR zone. She got on a treadmill to knock out a workout and was getting yelled at for going above their targeted HR zone. She was annoyed and vowed never to go back.

Their 12-minute runs are interesting in that it seems arbitrary--can't they go with 1-mile, 2-mile and 5k params?

It seems more sprint-focused; if you are trying just to get to 12 mins but not much more. But then again, I'm a slow-twitch guy.

It seems to be an average fitness program. Most athletes wouldn't find it does enough. For those not involved in sport its an ok way to gain or maintain some fitness, but an athlete could use it as a supplemental activity at best.

Its a good workout but any halfway serious runner won't be overly challenged by the running part which is really the key part to getting your heartrate into the "zone". I've done it maybe a half dozen times and the first couple I was pretty beat, laregly from the rowing and lifting. By the end I was struggling to get my rate up because the treadmill doesn't go much faster than 5min mile pace which I am and decent runner would need. Per the heartrate monitor they give you i was burning ~400 ish calories.

Bottom line, for the average person it is a good workout and will get you into shape if you stick with it which is more than you can say for many programs.

I will say it is very popular with attractive women which is reason enough to go.

I would also add that i think it has value as a supplemental activity especially if you aren't doing anything but running. The times i went I used it as a way to get some excercise in on a day i wasn't running.

Yes, cycling can be a great supplemental activity for distance runners. It provides a low-impact cardiovascular workout that can help improve endurance and overall fitness, while also allowing the legs to recover from the high-impact stress of running. Cycling can also be an effective way to cross-train and prevent overuse injuries that can result from running. Additionally, it can help improve leg strength, particularly in the quadriceps and glutes, which can translate to better running performance. It's important to note that while cycling can be a great addition to a distance runner's training regimen, it should not replace running completely. Running-specific training is still necessary to build the specific muscles and mechanics required for successful distance running.